Study costs
Compare published tuition and estimated study costs.
First-year tuition, lowest first
University of Johannesburg Lowest
R53 000 to R75 540 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- B Architecture (B8BA3Q)
- Whole degree
- roughly R159 000 to R226 620over 3 years
- In pay
- 2 to 4 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R39,240-R63,480 for undergraduate rooms (meals excluded; most Kingsway, APB and DFC residences R41,940-R46,940 double and R48,090-R50,400 single); off-campus Sophia Town R69,920; postgraduate and postdoc flats up to R74,640
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less. The university publishes only a faculty fee range, not a programme fee, so each end of the range is shown.
University of the Free State
R63 590 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), academic plan BC430114 / programme code B4391
- Whole degree
- roughly R190 770over 3 years
- In pay
- 3 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R38,050-R59,435
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of Pretoria
R65 000 to R72 000 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Whole degree
- roughly R195 000 to R216 000over 3 years
- In pay
- 3 to 4 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R65,700-R105,800 (room only), plus a R14,400 meals charge listed for every undergraduate residence, including self-catering ones; the full (100%) meal fee is R65,000
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less. The university publishes only a faculty fee range, not a programme fee, so each end of the range is shown.
University of KwaZulu-Natal
R68 224 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies - BAS (KN-H-BAR, Howard College)
- Whole degree
- roughly R204 672over 3 years
- In pay
- 3 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R48,896 per year for all degrees (2026 residence fee, self-catering, excludes meals; R6,800 residence registration deposit). The 2027 prospectus estimates about R85,000 for tuition, a bed in residence and food in 2027.
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of Cape Town
R75 610 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS)
- Whole degree
- roughly R226 830over 3 years
- In pay
- 4 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R61,300-R120,910 for the room alone; a typical first-tier catering single room is R89,520 and a compulsory meal option adds R25,520-R45,390
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
R78 140 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS)
- Whole degree
- roughly R234 420over 3 years
- In pay
- 4 monthsof Architecture pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R55,685-R117,962
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: entry requirements and dates
Rough guide: whole degree = first-year tuition × years. Fees rise every year; add books, equipment, transport and living costs.