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While maybe not the first choice destination for students seeking to study at a university overseas, South Africa nonetheless has lots to offer students from surrounding African countries and further afield. One of the principal factors that attracts overseas students, according to the universities themselves, is their reputation for academic excellence, particularly in certain fields of study.
Wallace Isaacs from the University of Pretoria, says, “The University of Pretoria is one of the leading research universities in South Africa and was ranked by the Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Institute for Higher Education as one of the top 500 universities in the world. We take pride in providing quality education to almost 40,000 students on campus.”
At the University of Cape Town (UCT), Gerda Kruger points out that the university’s facilities, including libraries and science laboratories, are of “world-class standard” and she notes that 24 of South Africa’s 59 A-rated scientists are based at the university. She adds, “South Africa’s history, geographical location and cultural diversity also play a role in attracting international students.”
Aldo Stroebel from the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein says that South Africa provides a unique study environment for students. “The country has a diverse population that offers students a first world infrastructure but also exposes them to the realities of a developing world,” he says. “South Africa can also be seen as a gateway to Africa, offering staff and students the chance to explore this continent and experience the global village.”
While international students from outside the African continent do choose to study at higher education institutes in South Africa, the largest nationalities tend to be from other African countries, according to Randall Trautmann from the University of Johannesburg. “Most of our foreign students are from Africa and in particular the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries,” he says. “South Africa is logistically easily accessible to them and offers education of a high standard at an affordable cost. At the moment, students from Gabon make up the largest number of international students.”
South Africa’s closest neighbours are Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho and Isaacs says that proximity is a key reason why they have high numbers of students from Botswana and Namibia studying at the university. However, he adds, “We have about 4,000 non-South African citizens on campus and they come from almost every corner of the world. However, the number of students from Europe and the USA is improving.”
Kruger at UCT reports a similar story and says, “Outside of Africa, the majority of international students at UCT come from the USA – mainly for non-degree purposes such as our semester study abroad and exchange programme – Norway, the UK and Germany. This has remained pretty consistent in recent years.”
Having such a favourable exchange rate compared to countries in Europe and North America, South Africa is a good choice for students wanting to experience the country’s unique cultural mix on a low budget. Anine Swanpoel from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth says that their European students are mostly from Germany, with popular courses being business, South African politics, cultural studies and public health.
However, universities in the country point out that growth in international enrolments is often hampered by a number of factors. Swanepoel notes that students from some countries experience difficulties in getting a visa due to the lack of a South African embassy in every country, while Kruger points out that “perceptions of crime and safety in South Africa” have a negative effect on international students’ views of the country. Isaacs asserts, “If South Africa’s political and economic stability and progress continue I can only assume that internationalisation within the higher education sector will continue to develop. The exchange rate and easy availability of the bush, sea, sun and city life are all selling points.”
Marketing overseas
When marketing their courses to overseas students, universities in South Africa report that they use a variety of methods. Gerda Kruger from the University of Cape Town (UCT) says, “[We have recruited] international full degree students via recruitment fairs [and] have had some level of success. We find that most students choose UCT owing to their own research or word-of-mouth recommendations.” Semester study abroad students are recruited through agents and through established partner universities worldwide, but again, many choose UCT on their own initiative and independent of any formal partnerships.
Agent usage among university international offices is low, overall. Randall Trautmann from the University of Johannesburg says, “We advertise in selected publications. The university does not make use of education agents currently. It has been found that word-of-mouth is the most effective way of recruiting.”
Wallace Isaacs from the University of Pretoria says that their international marketing is mostly reliant on collaboration agreements with tertiary institutions worldwide, yet a not-for-profit marketing association, established in 1997, is having a positive effect on raising South Africa’s profile overseas. “The University of Pretoria is a member of the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA),” he says. “This organisation has done excellent work in promoting the South African higher education sector as a preferred study destination [for international students].”
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