Editor LauraIf you’re looking to study in South Africa, there are plenty of distance learning institutions that offer a wide range of degree programs. These schools will help you earn a degree without having to move away from your home country. The following are some of the most popular distance learning universities in South Africa:
Distance Learning Institutions In South Africa
1. UNISA
The University of South Africa is a distance learning university in South Africa. UNISA was established in 1975 by the apartheid government to serve as an alternative to traditional universities such as Stellenbosch University, which only allowed white students. Today, UNISA offers distance learning courses at all levels of study, from certificate courses through undergraduate degrees and postgraduate qualifications. The institution has over 70000 registered students making it one of the largest universities in South Africa today.
UNISA offers more than 350 different courses across a wide range of disciplines including business sciences, engineering & technology, humanities & social sciences and natural/applied sciences (see here). Most courses are offered both on campus and online with some also available via blended learning methods where students take part in face-to-face classes at regular intervals but have access to online course materials for most other parts of their studies (for example see this article about using blog posts in psychology degree programmes).
2. Boston City Campus
Boston City Campus is a private university located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was founded in 2004 and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) accredits the university. It is owned by the Boston Group of Companies.
3. Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Rhodes is the oldest and largest constituent campus of the University of Rhodes, which includes its medical school “Rhodes Medical School” and “Rhodes Inorganic Chemistry Institute”. It was founded in 1904 as ‘the University of South Africa’ (Unisa).
The institution has an undergraduate enrolment structure consisting of three colleges: College One (liberal arts), College Two (social sciences), College Three (business). Each college has particular strengths but offers a variety of disciplines.
4. The University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria was founded in 1904. It is the largest university in South Africa and Africa, as well as the largest university in the southern hemisphere and the fifth largest university in the world.
5. Wits University
Wits University (Afrikaans: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika) is a public research university located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It possesses the largest teaching hospital complex in Africa, which includes the Faculty of Health Sciences that offer both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Wits was the first university in Africa and the first English-speaking university outside Great Britain.
6. Monash South Africa
Monash South Africa is a branch of Monash University in Australia. The university has been offering distance learning programs since 2002, and has earned accreditation by the Council on Higher Education (CHE), which means that it meets the minimum requirements to be called a university.
Monash South Africa offers distance learning programs in business, engineering, science and law. The university also offers online degrees in education and public policy.
These are some of the popular distance learning universities in South Africa
- University of Johannesburg
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- University of Stellenbosch
Closing
Distance learning is a great way to learn about a subject, and it can also be used to improve your skills. It’s important to choose the right university for your needs as well as think about what kind of career path you want to go down in future. When looking at distance learning institutions, consider factors such as location and whether they offer subjects relevant to your field of work or study!