How many private higher education institutions are in South Africa?

The Higher Education is a growing field of study in South Africa, with increased applications and demand for graduates. Although public universities dominate higher education in the country, several private higher education institutions and colleges also offer degree-level courses. These educational institutions provide several course disciplines. Some specialize in specific areas of study, while others have more broad areas of study. This article will define private colleges, Business schools, and Higher education institutions in South Africa with some being for-profit or non-profit but are registered accredited higher certificate and degree-granting institutions.

In this article, you will learn about the number of private accredited universities such as colleges or higher learning & training institutions and business schools in South Africa, but also the top 10 best private colleges, institutions, and business schools in the country.

Private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa

This section will address the question of how many private higher education institutions exist in South Africa. In South Africa, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) implements the registration and regulatory functions for private higher education institutions following the requirements of the Higher Education Act, 1997 and the Regulations for the Registration of Private Higher Education Institutions, published in Government Gazette No.39880dated 31 March 2016.

The granting of registration means that the Registrar grants the higher learning institution the legal authority to teach higher education programs and award higher education qualifications (DHET). The DHET register is available at dhet.gov.za, below is the list of private accredited higher education institutions in South Africa.

List of private accredited higher education institutions in South Africa

According to the South African DHET, the are over 90 privates accredited, degree-granting, post-secondary institutions, colleges, institutes, and at least 15 Business schools register in the country.

1. AAA School of Advertising (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Bryanston, 2191

Only has qualifications in Higher Certificate, Diploma & Bachelor of Art.

2. Academy For Environmental Leadership SA (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, MENLOPARK, 0102

Has a Higher Certificate

3. Academy for Facilities Management (Pty) Ltd (A4FM)

Gauteng, Waterkloof Ridge X2, Pretoria, 0181.

Offers qualifications in Higher Certificate & Advance Certificate

4. Academy of Sound Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2001.

Higher Certificate

5. ACT Cape Town (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town, 8001.

Awards Higher Certificate and Advance Certificate

6. Afrikaanse Protestantse Akademie (Die) NPC

Gauteng, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0001.

Awards Postgraduate Certificate & Bachelor qualifications

7. Akademia NPC

Gauteng, Pretoria, & Centurion

Offers qualifications in Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor

8. Akademiese Reformatoriese Opleiding en Studies (AROS) NPC

Gauteng, Waverley, Pretoria, 0001.

Offers Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate & Bachelor

9. Animation School (Pty) Ltd (The)

Western Cape, City of Cape Town

Has a Diploma qualification

10. Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa (The) NPC

Gauteng, Randburg, 2194

Has qualifications in Higher Certificate, Bachelor, & Masters

11. Belgium Campus I ITVERSITY NPC

Gauteng, Akasia, Pretoria, 0001.

Only offers Diploma & Bachelor qualifications

12. Berea College of Technology (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001

Higher Certificate & Diploma

13. BHC School of Design (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town,8000.

Higher Certificate & Diploma

14. Boston City Campus (Pty) Ltd (Previously Boston City Campus and Business College (Pty) Ltd)

Gauteng, Orchards, 2192, Johannesburg & Stellenbosch, 7600

Awards qualifications in Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

15. Boston Media House (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng (Pretoria) and KwaZulu Natal (Durban)

Has a Diploma & Bachelor

16. Business Management Training College (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Johannesburg, 2001.

Offers Higher Certificate & Diploma qualifications

17. Cape Audio College (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Mowbray, 7700.

Only awards Higher Certificate & Diploma qualifications

18. Cape Town Baptist Seminary NPC

Western Cape, Cape Town, 7764

Only a Bachelor degree qualification

19. Cape Town College of Fashion Design (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town, 7801

has a Diploma & Advance Diploma

20. Centre for Creative Education/Iziko La Bantu Be Afrika NPC

Western Cape, Plumstead, 7801.

Awards qualifications in Higher Certificate & Bachelor

21. Centurion Akademie (Edms)Bpk/Centurion Academy (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Centurion, 0157

Has a Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor degrees

22. Christ Baptist Church Seminary NPC

Limpopo, Polokwane, 0700

Offers degrees in Diploma & Bachelor

23. Christian Reformed Theological Seminary/Christelike Gereformeerde Teologie Seminarium NPC

Mpumalanga, Bronkhorstspruit, 1020

Bachelor

24. City Varsity (Pty) Ltd

Cape Town, 8001 & Braamfontein, 2001.

Has qualifications in Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor

25. College of Transfiguration NPC

Eastern Cape, Grahamstown, 6139.

Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor

26. Concept Interactive (Cape) Pty Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town, 8000.

Higher Certificate & Diploma

27. Cornerstone Institute (RF) NPC

Western Cape, Cape Town, 8000

Offers qualifications in Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, & Bachelor degree levels

28. Cranefield College (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Midrand, 1725.

Has qualifications from the level of Advance Certificate, Advance Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, & Doctorate

29. Damelin (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape & Northwest

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, & Postgraduate Diploma

30. Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Modderfontein, 1609

Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, & Doctorate

31. Dermatech (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Blouberg Road, Table View, 7441.

Higher Certificate & Advance Certificate

32. Design Academy of Fashion (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town, 7195

Diploma in fashion

33. Edutel Higher Education (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Roodepoort, 1724.

Advance Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor

34. Emendy (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028.

Offers qualifications in Higher Certificate & Diploma

35. Eduvos (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Western Cape & KwaZulu Natal

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

36. Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion Design (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Stellenbosch, 7600

Diploma & Advance Diploma

37. Empilweni Education (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Randburg, 2001.

Offers a qualification of Higher Certificate in auxiliary nursing

38. Exercise Teachers Academy (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, & Bloemfontein

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

39. Friends of Design Academy of Digital Arts (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Cape Town, 8001.

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, & Masters

40. George Whitefield College NPC

Western Cape, 7945, Cape Town.

Higher Certificate, Bachelor, & Masters

41. Greenside Design Center College of Design (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Greenside, 2193.

Higher Certificate, Bachelor. & Postgraduate Diploma

42.Health and Fitness Professionals Academy (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Claremont, 7708

Higher Certificate & Advance Certificate

43. Helderberg College of Higher Education NPC

Western Cape, Somerset West, 7130

Higher Certificate & Bachelor

44. Henley Business School Limited

Western Cape, Cape Town, 7135.

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Advance Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, & Masters

45. ICESA City Campus (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000, & Pietermaritzburg, 3201

Higher Certificate & Diploma

46. IHT Hotel School (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Bellville,7536.

Diploma in Hospitality

47. IMM Graduate School of Marketing (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Braamfontein, 2092

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, & Masters

48. Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Western Cape, & Eastern Cape

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, Doctorate

49. Inscape Education Group (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, & Western Cape

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

50. International Hotel School (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Benoni, & Western Cape

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

51. International Trade Institute of Southern Africa NPC

Gauteng, Rivonia, 2191

Higher Certificate & Diploma

52. IQ Academy (Pty) Ltd (Previously Fernwood Business College)

Eastern Cape, East London, 5200.

Higher Certificate & Diploma

53. Isa Carstens Academy (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Stellenbosch, 8000 & Gauteng, Pretoria,

0081.

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma

54. Life Healthcare Group (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, & Eastern Cape

Higher Certificate & Diploma in nursing

55. LISOF (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Johannesburg, 2194 &Pretoria, 2121.

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

56. Lyceum College (Pty) Ltd.

Braamfontein, 2017

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, and Bachelor

57. MANCOSA (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4000

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Advance Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, & Doctorate

58. MEDICLINIC (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Limpopo, Western Cape, & Nelspruit

Higher Certificate & Diploma

59. Milpark Education (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape & Gauteng

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, & Doctorate

60. Mukhanyo Theological College NPC

Mpumalanga & Gauteng

Offers Higher Certificate, Diploma & Bachelor qualifications.

61Nazarene Theological College NPC

Gauteng

Offers only Higher Certificate

62. Netcare Education (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, & Eastern Cape

offers Higher Certificate & Diploma

63. Oakfields College (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria, 008

Offers Diploma qualification only.

64. Open Learning Group (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2196.

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

65. Open Window (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, South Downs, Irene, 0169

Offers a Bachelor degree in Films

66. Potchefstroom Akademie (Edms) Bpk/Potchefstroom Academy (Pty) Ltd

Northwest, Potchefstroom, 2531.

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma

67. Production Management Institute of Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd (PMI)

KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, & Gauteng

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma & Bachelor

68.Red and Yellow Creative School of Business (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape & Gauteng

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor

69. Regenesys Management (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Sandton, 2196

Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, & doctorate

70. Regent Business School (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters, Doctorate

71. Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd

KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, & Limpopo

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, & Masters

72. Ruth Prowse School of Art NPC

Western Cape, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7925

Diploma in Fine art & Jewellery

73. SAE Institute of South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Woodstock, 7925 & Gauteng Johannesburg, 2196.

Higher Certificate & Bachelor Fine Art and Amination

74. SANTS Private Higher Education Institution (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040

Diploma & Bachelor

75. Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary NPC

KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

76. South African College of Applied Psychology (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Gauteng, & KwaZulu-Natal

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor

77. South African School of Motion Picture Medium & Live Performance (Pty) Ltd/AFDA

Western Cape, Gauteng, & Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal

Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Bachelor, & Masters

78. South African Theological Seminary NPC

Gauteng, Sandton, 2191.

Higher Certificate, Bachelor, & Masters

79. Southern Africa Bible College NPC

Gauteng, Clover, Benoni, 1501.

Higher Certificate & Bachelor of art

80. Southern African Wildlife College NPC

Limpopo, Open Road, Kruger National Park

Higher Certificate & Advance Certificate

81. Stadio (Pty) Ltd (Previously Embury Institute for Higher Education)

KwaZulu-Natal & Gauteng

Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Advance Diploma, Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, & Doctorate

82. St. Augustine College of South Africa NPC

Gauteng, Johannesburg, 2195

Higher Certificate, Bachelor, Masters, & Doctorate

83. Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, Techno Park, Stellenbosch, 7600

Higher Certificate & Bachelor of Art

84. Stenden South Africa BV (Incorporated in the Netherlands)

Eastern Cape, Port Alfred, 6170

Bachelor of Commerce in Hospitality and Business Management

85. St John Vianney Seminary NPC

Gauteng, Waterkloof, Pretoria, 0181.

Bachelor of Philosophy

86. St Joseph’s Theological Institute NPC

KwaZulu-Natal, Cedara, Pietermaritzburg, 3201.

Postgraduate Diploma & Bachelor of Art

87. Foundation for Professional Development

Gauteng, Pretoria

Offers institutionally based Professional courses and Business School

88. Theological Education by Extension College NPC

Gauteng, Johannesburg, Gantner Street: Haddon, 2091.

Higher Certificate & Bachelor of Theology

88. IIE Monash South Africa

Gauteng, Johannesburg

Teachers qualifications in Higher Certificate, Foundation Degrees, Diploma, Diploma, Bachelor, Postgraduate Degrees, & Executive programs

89. Towerstone (Pty) Ltd

Western Cape, 21 New Street, Durbanville, 7550

Has qualifications in Higher Certificate in Management Practice

90. The Swiss Hotel School SA (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Corner Surrey Avenue, Ferndale, 2194

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor qualifications

91 TSIBA Education NPC

Western Cape, Pinelands, 7501.

Higher Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, & Bachelor

92. IIE Varsity college

Cape Town, Durban North, Durban Westville, Pretoria, Midrand, Sandton, Pietermaritzburg, and Port Elizabeth.

Has qualifications in Short Learning Programs, Higher certificates, Diploma, Degrees, & Postgraduate Degrees qualifications.

93. Villioti Fashion Institute (Pty) Ltd

Gauteng, Johannesburg, Hyde Park, 2196.

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor qualifications

94. Pearson Institute of Higher Education

Bedfordview, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Durbanville, East London, Midrand, Nelspruit, Port Elizabeth, Potchefstroom, Pretoria, and Vanderbijlpark.

Has qualifications in Higher Certificate, Advance Certificate, Part-time course, Foundation programs, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelor degrees.

95. Vega School

Has campuses National

Offers a variety of degrees and higher certificates.

96. CTU Training Solutions

Gauteng, Free State, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Kwazulu Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga.

Has Corporate training and development solutions, Part-Time and Online Course

97. Union Bible Institute NPC

KwaZulu-Natal, Dennis Shepstone Drive, Hilton, 3242

Higher Certificate, Diploma, & Bachelor

98. Qualitas Career Academy

Cape Town

Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advance Diploma, & Bachelors.

SCHOOL OF BUSINESSES/MBA

99. GIBS Business School

Gauteng. Illovo, Johannesburg, 2196

Business School (MBA)

100. University of Stellenbosch Business School

Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town, 7530

Business School

101 UCT Graduate School of Business

Western Cape, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002

Business School (MBA)

102. Wits Business School

Gauteng, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193

Business School (MBA)

103. (UJ) Johannesburg Business School

Gauteng, Johannesburg

Business School (MAPP, MBA, 4IR)

104. UKZN Westville Graduate School of Business & Leadership

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, Westville, 3630

Business and Management School

105. Nelson Mandela University Business School

Eastern Cape, Summerstrand, Gqeberha, 6001

Business School (MBA)

106. Two Oceans Graduate Institute

Western Cape, Cape Town

Business School (Distance/Online)

107. UWC School of Business and Finance

Western Cape, Bellville, 7535

Business School

108. DUT Business School

KwaZulu-Natal, Durban

Business School (MBA)

109. Regent Business School

National

Business School

110. Foundation for Professional Development

Gauteng, Pretoria

Business School

111 NWU Business School

Northwest, Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark

Business School (MBA)

112. Milpark Business School

Gauteng

Business School

113. STADIO (formerly Southern Business School

Krugersdorp, 1739

Business school

Top 10 best private colleges & institutions in South Africa.

Ranking some of the best private universities and colleges above is difficult, according to kiiky.com. This is because there is no grading/statistical procedure in South Africa for ranking these colleges, and while some deserve university status, the South African government restricts tertiary institutions to private colleges, institutions, and business schools. The DHET in South Africa requires that institutions of higher learning in South Africa be accredited by one of the 33 Education & Training Quality Assurance bodies (ETQAs).

These South African colleges and institutions are thus ranked based on the breadth of their offered courses, the technique of teaching and learning for these programs, the number of campus locations, and the number of students enrolled. As a result, while the business schools on the list above may be the best in the country, they would not make our list due to course limitations and will have their own dedicated top 5 list.

List of Top 10 best private colleges/Institutions of Higher learning in South Africa.

1. IIE Varsity College

2. Damelin (Pty) Ltd

3. Richfield Graduate Institute of Technology (Pty) Ltd

4. MANCOSA (Pty) Ltd

5. Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd

6. Pearson Institute of Higher Education

7. IIE Monash South Africa

8. Production Management Institute of Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd (PMI)

9. Exercise Teachers Academy (Pty) Ltd

10. ICESA City Campus (Pty) Ltd

Top 5 best Business Schools in South Africa.

1. NWU Business School

2. Regent Business School

3. Wits Business School

4. UCT Graduate School of Business

5. GIBS Business School

Conclusion

Education in South Africa is provided by both public and private bodies, who work with the Department of Basic Education. The Ministry of Education is charged with creating policy for national education and mandating best teaching and learning practices. There are over 110 private colleges, Business schools, and higher education institutions in the country. Most of these institutions focus on the technical and vocational sectors, while a fairly big portion of them offer a full academic curriculum including higher and advance certificate, degrees, and postgraduate degrees plus a doctorate degree.

Our social media accounts are:

@TtlaWebsite on Twitter

@TrainTravelandLearnAfrica on Facebook

Check out our YouTube channel and subscribe & like it

Here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-uAGplhSRcoyrxhpa_-gghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-uAGplhSRcoyrxhpa_-gg