Study in the Northern Cape: 9 Real Reasons to Go Big

Two young South African students on a red Kalahari sand dune at dusk, with a camel thorn tree and the first stars behind them.

Most people think of the Northern Cape as the place you drive through on the way to somewhere else. Long roads, red sand, a farm stall if you're lucky.

But if you're thinking about whether to study in the Northern Cape, there's more here than the road trip suggests. It's the biggest province in South Africa, taking up almost a third of the country's land, and it has the fewest people of all nine provinces (about 1.36 million in Census 2022). That shapes everything: huge skies, real industries on your doorstep, quiet towns and long drives.

Here's the real picture, including the parts nobody puts on a poster.

1. Kimberley: a student city built on diamonds

Kimberley is the provincial capital and the biggest city, and it was built on a diamond rush. The Big Hole, an old open diamond mine, covers 17 hectares at the surface with a perimeter of about 1.6 km, and mining there stopped in 1914. You can look into it from the viewing platform at the Kimberley Mine Museum. (Fun fact to win an argument: the claim that it's the world's biggest hand-dug hole is probably a myth.)

Kimberley also switched on electric street lights on 2 September 1882 and is widely credited as the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to do it. Add a restored heritage tram and the McGregor Museum, and if you're into history, heritage or teaching, having all this a taxi ride away is lekker.

2. Some of the world's biggest telescopes are here

Near Sutherland sits SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope, the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. About 90 km from Carnarvon, out in the Karoo, are the 64 dishes of MeerKAT, which will become part of the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

That means real careers in physics, engineering, computer science and data, and the project also runs an artisan training centre in Carnarvon. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) offers undergraduate scholarships for degrees like Physics and Astronomy, Computer Science and Maths, and Electronic or Computer Engineering. The 2027 round closed on 14 August 2026, so watch for the next one.

3. Jobs and industries you can see from the road

The economy runs on mining, energy and farming, and you can see it out of the car window.

Mining: diamonds around Kimberley, a huge iron ore mine at Sishen near Kathu, and manganese in the Kalahari.
Renewable energy: the province has some of the best sunshine for solar power in the world. By 2016 it already hosted 51 of the 102 projects in the government's renewable energy programme, including all of the concentrated solar power plants.
Farming: vineyards along the Orange River supply most of South Africa's sultanas.

If you like hands-on work, practical trades like electrical and mechanical make a lot of sense here. Ask about work placements and learnerships when you apply.

4. Upington: a green river town in the desert

Upington sits on the northern bank of the Orange River, and the strip along the water is green with irrigated vineyards in the middle of all that semi-desert. It's also the closest big town to Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi, so it makes a natural base for weekends away. Airlink flies in, which makes the trip home a lot shorter for anyone from far away.

5. Weekend trips that don't look real

Long weekends here are epic. You just need to plan the driving.

Augrabies Falls National Park, close to Upington, where the Orange River drops 56 metres into a rocky gorge.
Rafting the Orange River: guided 2 to 6 day trips from base camps like Onseepkans and Vioolsdrif, sleeping under the stars.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, shared with Botswana, famous for lions, cheetahs and red dunes.
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld, a mountain desert co-managed with the Nama people (4x4 only).

6. Spring flowers and the darkest skies you've seen

Namaqualand turns orange and white with wild flowers in spring. In Namaqua National Park near Kamieskroon, the 2025 season was in full swing by mid-August. Pack padkos and accept that every photo will look fake.

At night, the dry air and lack of city lights make the sky unreal. Sutherland, often called the coldest town in South Africa, runs day tours at SALT and night-time stargazing sessions at the visitor centre. Book ahead.

7. Getting around the Northern Cape (with and without a car)

Kimberley Airport has scheduled flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town. By road, the N12 runs through Kimberley, and Bloemfontein is about 150 km away on the N8, which is handy for a Free State weekend. Intercape buses link Kimberley and Upington, but the trip takes around six and a half to seven hours.

In Kimberley, minibus taxis get you around. Between towns, a car (or a friend with one) helps a lot.

8. You can study here without moving at all

In a province this size, the nearest campus might be hundreds of kilometres from home. That's where distance learning comes in. You can study online from Springbok, Kuruman or De Aar, keep your part-time job, live with family and skip the rent.

It takes discipline and reliable data, so check what support, study centres and exam venues are available near you before you sign up. But for a lot of people in the Northern Cape, it's the most realistic way to get a qualification.

9. A smaller community where you'll pick up a language

Afrikaans is the most spoken home language in the Northern Cape, with Setswana second, and isiXhosa and English also common. You'll probably leave with better Afrikaans or Setswana than you arrived with, which helps on a CV here. A small community also means people notice you, which is how you end up at someone's family braai by second year.

The not-so-great bits (be honest)

Fewer study options. Campuses are few and far apart. For some courses you'll need to move to another province or study online.
Massive distances. Going home for the weekend can mean a full day of travel, especially if home is in Namaqualand or the Kalahari.
Thin public transport. Buses and flights exist, but not many.
The heat is no joke. Upington's average January high is about 36°C, and it has hit 44.4°C. Winters are frosty, and Sutherland can drop below -10°C.
A small social scene. Kimberley is not Joburg. If you need clubs, concerts and new restaurants every week, this will feel quiet.

Your study options in the Northern Cape

You can study at a public university, a TVET college, a private college or a nursing college, or by distance learning from anywhere in the province. Short courses and learnerships are worth a look too. See all Northern Cape options, or browse universities, TVET colleges, private colleges, nursing colleges and distance learning. If you're looking at a private college, make sure it's registered with the DHET (you can check this on our listings).

Want more choice nearby? See studying in the Free State and studying in the Western Cape.

What to do next

Pick a direction. Browse careers to see what to study.
Shortlist where to study. Compare institutions or start with the Northern Cape page.
Sort out funding early. Check NSFAS and bursaries and apply alongside your study applications.
Zoom out. Read why study in South Africa for the bigger picture.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in the Northern Cape without moving there?

Yes. Distance learning lets you study online from anywhere in the province, which suits people far from a campus or who need to keep working. You'll need steady data and self-discipline.

What is there to do in the Northern Cape on weekends?

Look into the Big Hole in Kimberley, see Augrabies Falls near Upington, raft the Orange River, go stargazing at Sutherland or road-trip to Namaqualand in flower season.

How do I get around the Northern Cape without a car?

Minibus taxis work inside Kimberley. Intercape buses link Kimberley and Upington, and both towns have flights to bigger cities. Between small towns, it's slow, so plan ahead.

Can I get NSFAS funding to study in the Northern Cape?

Yes, if you qualify. NSFAS covers public universities and public TVET colleges in every province. Apply at the same time you apply to study.

How hot does the Northern Cape get?

Very. Summer highs are often over 30°C and can pass 40°C (Upington's record is 44.4°C). Winter nights are frosty, especially in the Karoo.