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 Social Work (B7025Q)
- Whole degree
- roughly R199 200 to R246 080over 4 years
- In pay
- 5 to 8 monthsof Social Work 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 × 4; 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 Pretoria
R56 000 to R68 000 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Whole degree
- roughly R224 000 to R272 000over 4 years
- In pay
- 6 to 8 monthsof Social Work 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 × 4; 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.
North-West University
R57 802 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Whole degree
- roughly R231 208over 4 years
- In pay
- 6 to 7 monthsof Social Work pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R31,050-R55,080
Whole degree = first-year fee × 4; later years can cost more or less.
Stellenbosch University
R60 275 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Whole degree
- roughly R241 100over 4 years
- In pay
- 6 to 7 monthsof Social Work pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R49,482-R84,796
Whole degree = first-year fee × 4; later years can cost more or less.
University of KwaZulu-Natal
R66 030 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (KN-H-BSX, Howard College)
- Whole degree
- roughly R264 120over 4 years
- In pay
- 7 to 8 monthsof Social Work 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 × 4; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
R68 060 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Whole degree
- roughly R272 240over 4 years
- In pay
- 7 to 8 monthsof Social Work pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R55,685-R117,962
Whole degree = first-year fee × 4; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: entry requirements and dates
University of Cape Town
R69 200 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Whole degree
- roughly R276 800over 4 years
- In pay
- 7 to 9 monthsof Social Work 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 × 4; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Free State
R72 230 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), academic plan BC140250
- Whole degree
- roughly R288 920over 4 years
- In pay
- 8 to 9 monthsof Social Work pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R38,050-R59,435
Whole degree = first-year fee × 4; 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.