Fee Structure for International Students

• International Students who are married (including same sex marriages) to SA citizens or permanent residents - pay international fees until they have obtained SA citizenship or permanent residency.

• International Students who are in life partnerships with SA citizens or permanent residents - pay international fees until they have obtained SA citizenship or permanent residency. 

• International Students who pay SA taxes (e.g. contract workers or temporary residents) - the criterion of paying tax in South Africa does not change a person¡¯s immigration status and as such it is not sufficient for a reduction in international fees.

• International Students who pay SADC taxes - paying tax in a SADC country does not change a person¡¯s immigration status and as such does not qualify for exemption from international fees.

• SA & SADC Temporary Residents - If there is an expiry visa date and if individuals are required to renew residence status periodically, then such individuals are not permanent residents of the country and do not qualify to pay local fees.

• SA Permanent Resident Applicants under Review (including those married to SA residents/citizens) - there is no guarantee that permanent residence status will be granted. Until such status is granted, international fees apply.

• International Students who are children of South African citizens or Permanent Residents - pay international fees until they themselves have obtained SA citizenship or permanent residency.

Note:

The immigration status at the time of registration determines the annual fees.
If you are granted permanent residence status during the course of your year of study, your citizenship details must be updated at the International Students Office.
However, your fees paid at the beginning of the year will not be refunded or amended.  The new fees will only apply in the next academic year. 

International undergraduate students from countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) must pay:

• International Registration Fee (IRF) of R6 970.00.  This fee is non refundable.
• Tuition fees for individual courses
• 75% of total cost is payable before registration. The balance of the fees is payable by 31 May. 
• Any applicable residence fees

The SADC member countries are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

• ¹Part-time: local tuition plus IRF fees apply; to all students (SADC, Africa and Rest of the World).

Undergraduate international students from Africa (Beyond SADC) & the Rest of the World must pay the following fees:

• Double tuition for individual courses
• 75% of total cost is payable before registration. The balance of the fees is payable by 31 May.
• Any applicable residence fees

• ¹Part-time: local tuition plus IRF fees apply; to all students (SADC, Africa and Rest of the World).

Postgraduate international students must pay:

• International Registration Fee (IRF) of R6 970.00.  This fee is non refundable.
• Tuition fees for individual courses
• 75% of total cost is payable before registration. The balance of the fees is payable by 31 May. 
• Any applicable residence fees

International students who are officially recognised as Refugees pay local tuition fees.  Payment terms apply as per South African students:

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• Any applicable residence fees

International students who are officially recognised as Asylum Seekers pay:

• International Registration Fee (IRF) of R6 970.00. This fee is non refundable.
• Tuition fees for individual courses
• 75% of total cost is payable before registration. The balance of the fees is payable by 31 May. 
• Any applicable residence fees

Accredited diplomatic representatives of a foreign government stationed in South Africa pay fees at the same rate as students from SADC countries:

• International Registration Fee (IRF) of R6 970.00. This fee is non refundable.
• 75% of total cost is payable before registration. The balance of the fees is payable by 31 May. 
• Any applicable residence fees

Diplomats and their dependents stationed in South Africa: Fees apply whilst a student’s diplomatic status is valid; proof is required for each year of registration. Should this status end, the student will revert to his/her nationality status and all regular international registration fees will apply accordingly.

Occasional students from:

SADC pay:

• International Registration Fee (IRF) of R6 970.00. This fee is non refundable.
• 100% of total cost is payable before registration
• Any applicable residence fees

Outside of SADC pay:

• R54,820 per semester
• 100% of the total cost is payable before registration.
• Any applicable residence fees

International Wits employees and their dependents Staff bursaries are for permanent employees of the University and managed via Human Resources.