Private Colleges

Private colleges in South Africa give you another route into higher education and skills training, alongside public universities and TVET colleges — and there are 200 DHET-registered private institutions nationally to choose from: 144 private higher education institutions (offering degrees, diplomas and higher certificates)

and 56 private colleges (offering occupational and other non-degree, FET-band qualifications). Some names you'll recognise, like Varsity College, Damelin, Boston, Rosebank College, Milpark Education and AFDA — but this category covers a huge range, from big national brands to small specialist colleges.

Here's the single most important thing to check before you enrol or pay anyone: is this college DHET registered? There are actually two separate registers run by the Department of Higher Education and Training — the Register of Private Higher Education Institutions (for degrees and diplomas) and the Register of Private Colleges (for occupational, non-degree qualifications). A legitimate college must appear on the register that matches what it's offering you. DHET itself regularly publishes warnings about "bogus colleges" — places that aren't registered at all, take your money, and leave you with a qualification that means nothing. Checking the register takes minutes and could save you thousands of rand.

Being on the DHET list isn't the whole story either. It confirms the institution is allowed to operate — it doesn't automatically mean every qualification it offers is properly accredited. Always check the specific qualification you want is registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) via SAQA, and for degree-level study, that it's accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE). So the real question isn't just "is this college legit?" — it's "is this specific qualification legit?"

Private colleges are concentrated where the population and job markets are biggest — Gauteng has 98, by far the most, followed by the Western Cape with 55. Every other province has far fewer, so where you live can genuinely affect your options. Many larger private colleges also run multiple campuses across several provinces, so it's worth checking whether one near you offers what you need.

Weighing up private college vs university? Private colleges are often more flexible on entry requirements and timetables, but always come back to the same two checks — DHET registration and qualification accreditation — before you commit. Browse the private college listings below to see what's registered and available near you.

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