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CAO HANDBOOK ENTRY 2014
50
A
n international applicant is a person who
is not a citizen or permanent resident of
South Africa or a refugee/asylum seeker
with a permit allowing study.
The higher education institutions of KwaZulu-
Natal welcome applications from international
applicants for their formal Degree, Diploma and
Certificate programmes. Some institutions also
offer the opportunity of study in South Africa for
one semester or one year. Durban University of
Technology and the University of KwaZulu-Natal
do not
accept international applicants into their
access programmes.
Applications to study Medicine at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal are considered
ONLY
from citizens of Botswana, Lesotho and Mauritius
and applicants must apply via their governments.
Where to send your application
If you are applying for short-term study, apply
directly to the institution.
If you are applying to Mangosuthu
University of Technology or the University
of KwaZulu-Natal only, apply directly to the
institution.
For other institutions and for choices
at more than one institution, apply through the
CAO. To send us a fax from outside South Africa,
use +27 31 268 4422.
8. International applicants
Language skills necessary
The language of instruction at all these
institutions is English, and students need to
demonstrate proficiency in this language.
Deadlines for applications
International applicants should apply as early
as possible, as communication and processing
can take a long time.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal will not
consider international applications received
after 30 September.
Study Permits
You will require a study permit if you wish to
come to South Africa to study. This does not
apply to distance learning students who study
in their home countries. Once you have a
letter of acceptance from the further or higher
education institution you can apply to the South
African Embassy, High Commission, Consulate
orTrade Office for your Study Permit.The permit
application will take up to eight weeks to be
processed. Acceptance by an institution does
not place any obligation on the South African
government to issue or renew Study Permits.
Do NOT leave home before your Study
Permit is granted – you will not be allowed to
study on a Visitor’s Permit. You cannot apply
for your first permit after you arrive in South
Africa. People who are in South Africa for study
purposes are not eligible to apply for South
African citizenship.
Refugee and asylum seeker applicants
require documentation from the Department
of Home Affairs granting permission to study
in South Africa.
Costs
Institutions can advise on the fees charged to
international students and the cost of living.
All international students who come to South
Africa to study are required by the South African
government to take out private healthcare
insurance, which can normally be arranged
through the institution you are attending. Make
sure you are insured for the entire period of study,
as you will not receive subsidised treatment in
South African government hospitals. If you are
not sponsored by a South African organisation
or citizen, you will have to deposit cash or a
bank guarantee equivalent of the airfare to your
country of origin. International students do not
normally qualify for financial assistance from
South African institutions.