FAQ



 

Applying to study at VC

You apply for admission to Varsity College online here.

Hard copies of the application form may be obtained by contacting Varsity College using the details below:

Phone: +27 10 224 4300 (Ask for Sergio or Peter)
Email: internationalstudents@varsitycollege.co.za

Alternatively, you may pick up an application form from a Varsity College representative in your city.

Varsity College representatives can give you more information about Varsity College and The IIE programmes you can study with us. They will also be able to submit your application for admission.

Please note for full time contact undergraduate study the application fee is R 400 however – After 27 October – R 1750 will be levied as a late application fee. The application fee for distance (online) study is also R400.

Late applications will be accepted and considered after the closing date, however, there is no guarantee that there will be space available in your selected program.

All applications received on time will be assessed before late applications.

Varsity College will accept applications without final results and process them as far as possible. However, it is your responsibility to provide Varsity College with a certified copy of your final results as soon as they become available so the assessment of your application may be completed. Your application should be as complete as possible and you should include as much of the requested information as you can. If further information is required you will be contacted.

Do not send original copies of your documents, you must rather submit certified copies of documents such as your academic transcripts, identity documents and exemption documents. There is no guarantee that original documents will be returned to you.

The following persons can certify your documents:

  • Notary Public
  • Commissioner of Oaths
  • Police station
  • Principals
  1. Applications processed by campus selected
  2. Confirmation of application and offer letter sent if space is available
  3. Letter for medical aid / study visa sent
  4. Registration pack sent.

It may take up to three weeks to process and assess your application in peak application periods. You are encouraged to follow up on your application by sending an email to: internationalstudents@varsitycollege.co.za or through your local Varsity College representative.

Once you have decided to accept your offer of admission at Varsity College, you may begin your registration process. The registration pack will be emailed to you, however you may still complete your registration upon arrival on campus in South Africa.

A Conditional Offer is given for various reasons. You will need to ascertain what your conditions are by reading through the conditional offer letter. Often conditional offer letters are given to those whose final results and/or exemption certificates (USAF/SAQA) are pending.

As soon as all your outstanding documents are available, you will need to submit them to Varsity College.

All classes at Varsity College are conducted in English. All prospective students whose first language is not English will be required to provide satisfactory evidence of their proficiency in English in order for them to be granted their exemption certificates by USAF or SAQA. Exemption certificates are a mandatory requirement for all international students.

Fees and expenses

You are the person responsible for making sure your fees are paid on time, and in full.

You can pay either in full or you can pay a deposit plus 6 months fees with an international student levy fee.

Varsity College uses a single fee structure for international and domestic students.

Visas

International students are required to obtain a student visa in order to live and study in South Africa.

Further information and application forms may be obtained from your local South African embassy as well as on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Some of the documents that you will be required to have to apply for a study permit are listed below. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and you may be required to submit other documents.

The following documents must be submitted with the BI-1738 application form:

  • A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of intended visit
  • Payment of the prescribed fee
  • A vaccination certificate, if required by the Act
  • Proof of financial means to cover envisaged living expenses during the sojourn in the Republic and to also pay for the tuition fees. This should be in the form of:
    • bank statements
    • cash available,
    • or travellers’ cheques
  • Proof of medical cover
  • A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return ticket.
  • In the case of African students, an undertaking from the relevant government to take full responsibility of the student and to pay all costs, should it become necessary to deport the student
  • Medical and radiology reports
  • An unabridged birth certificate in the case of minors.
  • In the case of a minor, the particulars of the person in the Republic of South Africa who will act as the learner’s guardian and a letter from such person confirming guardianship
  • Consent from both parents for your stay in South Africa, or from the parent who has sole custody, along with proof of sole custody
  • An official letter from the educational institution, where you intend to study, confirming provisional acceptance and the duration of the course.
  • Proof of medical cover renewed annually for the period of study with a medical scheme registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act.
  • If you are 18 years and older, a police clearance certificate from each country in which you resided for 12 months or longer since the age of 18 years is required. This should be submitted with the application or within three months of submission
- Deparment of Home Affairs (South Africa): http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas

- South African embassies abroad: http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad/index.htm

Study visas are usually issued for the duration of course registered for.

Varsity College uses a single fee structure for international and domestic students.

Working in South Africa

Under South African Immigration laws, you may work for up to 20 hours per week as an International Student.

Study permits, are issued for the duration of the program a student has been accepted into. After completing studies, students wishing to stay on in South Africa are required to apply for a new visa or study permit depending on their circumstances.

The Varsity College Career Centre (VCCC) gives our students a professional head-start by:

  • assisting students to find part time work
  • assisting students to become work ready by teaching them important skills like interview techniques, time management and CV writing, to name a few
  • assisting students to secure a full time placement
Although the Varsity College Career Centre (VCCC) can’t guarantee you employment, we’re there to help you develop the skills to ultimately secure that career-launching first job.

Accommodation

Varsity College offers several student accommodation options for those studying full time, within the vicinity of its various campuses. These include self-catered flats or apartments.

It is strongly recommended that you talk to a student advisor if you would like assistance or guidance to the various options that are available.

It is important to apply as early as possible as it may be difficult to secure a place in your preferred accommodation choice

Medical Aid Requirements

Although Medical Aid is not a requirement for Varsity College applications and registrations, it is however compulsory with Home Affairs and the Embassies when applying for study permits. Here are some recommendations of companies that provide Medical cover for international students:

Hereford Group     Momentum Health     CompCare

About Varsity College

Yes, you may visit Varsity College or view our campuses virtually by clicking here. For a guided campus tour or appointment, contact a campus of your choice

For directions to our campuses, Click here.

An electronic copy of our prospectus is available on our website. Click here for electronic brochures and our prospectus. Hard copies of our various brochures and prospectus can also be obtained from any of our campuses or from a Varsity College agent in your country.

As part of Varsity College’s commitment to offering our students a more holistic educational experience, we provide a wide assortment of sporting activities. Get out there, get active, enjoy instruction from experts and take advantage of supplied equipment. Our sporting programmes cater for everyone! Events range from USSA (University Sports South Africa) inter-campus tournaments and serious “Big Team” league and club matches, to more laid-back, social sporting get-togethers and an array of “action” sports on campus. To take part in campus-offered sports, students must register with the Varsity College Sports Club. The Sports Club is managed by the campus Sports & Social Coordinator who works closely with student Club Captains – experienced and passionate young sportsmen and women who act as ambassadors for their discipline, and nurture their classmates.

Please confirm with your campus of choice.