Study costs
Compare published tuition and estimated study costs.
First-year tuition, lowest first
University of Johannesburg Lowest
R49 800 to R61 520 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) (B7023Q)
- Whole degree
- roughly R149 400 to R184 560over 3 years
- In pay
- from 6 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- 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 KwaZulu-Natal
R54 065 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (KN-H-BA2 Howard College / KN-P-BA2 Pietermaritzburg)
- Whole degree
- roughly R162 195over 3 years
- In pay
- 6 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- 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.
Stellenbosch University
R57 767 2026 first year- Programme
- BA in Humanities
- Whole degree
- roughly R173 301over 3 years
- In pay
- 7 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- Residence, per year
- R49,482-R84,796
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Free State
R59 980 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) General, academic plan BC137000 (Bloemfontein) or QC137000 (QwaQwa)
- Whole degree
- roughly R179 940over 3 years
- In pay
- 7 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- Residence, per year
- R38,050-R59,435
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of Pretoria
R60 000 to R70 000 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts
- Whole degree
- roughly R180 000 to R210 000over 3 years
- In pay
- from 7 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- 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 the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
R61 480 to R77 250 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) General
- Whole degree
- roughly R184 440 to R231 750over 3 years
- In pay
- from 7 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- Residence, per year
- R55,685-R117,962
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 Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: entry requirements and dates
North-West University
R63 975 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Humanities
- Whole degree
- roughly R191 925over 3 years
- In pay
- 8 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- Residence, per year
- R31,050-R55,080
Whole degree = first-year fee × 3; later years can cost more or less.
University of Cape Town
R79 000 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSc), general degrees
- Whole degree
- roughly R237 000over 3 years
- In pay
- 9 monthsof typical Humanities (BA) pay in South Africa
- 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.
Rough guide: whole degree = first-year tuition × years. Fees rise every year; add books, equipment, transport and living costs.