Fees

An international student is defined as a student who is not a national or permanent resident of South Africa at the time of registration.

All international students (those who are not South African citizens or who do not have permanent residence status in South Africa) are required by the Department of Home Affairs to provide proof of available funds for the full tuition fee for the academic year prior to receiving their study visa.

All fees are due and must be paid in full (Excludes Refugees) before an International Clearance is issued by the Wits International Office. Without an International Clearance certificate you will not be able to register for your studies.

Students from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries and Rwanda pay a different type of fee to other international students. The SADC member countries are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

All international Students pay either an International Registration Fee or an International Term Fee, where appropriate.

Who pays International Fees?

• People married to SA Citizens or Permanent Residents: pay International fees until they themselves have obtained SA Citizenship or Permanent Residency
• Same sex marriages to SA Citizen or Permanent Resident: pay International fees until they themselves have obtained SA Citizenship or Permanent Residency
• Life partnerships to SA Citizen or Permanent Resident: pay International fees until they themselves have obtained SA Citizenship or Permanent Residency
• SA Taxpayers: (i.e. only pay SA Tax. E.g. Contract workers or Temporary residents) The criterion of paying tax in South Africa does not change your immigration status and as such it is not sufficient for a reduction in international fees
• SADC Taxpayers: Taxpaying per se in a SADC country does not change your immigration status and as such it is not a sufficient condition for exemption from international fees.
• SA & SADC Temporary Residents: If there is an expiry visa date and if they are required to renew residence status periodically, then such individuals are not permanent residents of the country and do not qualify to pay local fees.
• SA Permanent Resident Applicants under Review (including those married to SA resident / citizen): There is no guarantee that Permanent Residence status will be granted. Until such status is granted, International Fees apply. Note that immigration status at registration determines the annual fees.
• Employees and dependants of above categories pay international fees; however the fees will be addressed through their employee status and managed via the CLTD department.

International Affiliates - Enter South Africa on a Visitors Visa, as such they cannot register for courses. They pay an International Affiliate Fee for their association with the institution.

1. International Undergraduate students
   
   • Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, and the Faculty of Science: R94 590*
   • Faculty of Health Sciences: R164 600*
   • All Other faculties: R87 690*
     *These amounts include the International Registration Fee.
   • Students from Rwanda & SADC member countries pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
   • Diplomats & their dependants stationed in the Republic of South Africa ? Local fees only apply whilst diplomatic status is valid. Such benefits are not transferable and proof is required each year; when diplomatic status ends, the student will revert to their nationality status and all regular international fees will apply accordingly.
     - pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
   • Refugees pay local tuition only
   • Asylum Seekers pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
2. Postgraduate students outside of SADC and Rwanda
   An out-of state fee or international levy called the International Term Fee will be charged in addition to local fees. Both categories of fees must be paid in advance. The separate and existing fee requirements for residences apply. 2012 pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Fee of R20,120 when registering in January and pay local tuition fees plus the non-refundable International Fee of R10,000 when registering in July
   
   Undergraduate and Postgraduate
   
   • Diplomats & their dependants stationed in the Republic of South Africa: Local fees only apply whilst diplomatic status is valid. Such benefits are not transferable and proof is required each year; when diplomatic status ends, the student/s will revert to their nationality status and all regular international fees will apply accordingly.
     - pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
   • Refugees: pay local tuition only
   • Asylum Seekers: pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
   • Part Time: pay local tuition fees as listed in the current Fees Booklet plus the non-refundable International Registration Fee R3,920
   • Study Abroad/Occasional International Students: For every semester registered, the fee will be R47 000. This fee includes the non-refundable International Registration Fee.
   • Wits employees and dependants: Academic and the refundable International Registration Fees are managed via a CLTD application for permanent employees of Wits ? in terms of their contract of employment.
     
     
3. International Affiliates
   All visiting international students and academics who are not registering for degree courses but wish to be affiliated to Wits whilst pursuing their own research towards studies at their own university will pay fees, in advance, as follows:
   o R1700 per month
   o R19600 per annum

Fees breakdown for International Students for 2012 

¹ Diplomats & their dependants stationed in the Republic of South Africa - Local fees and the R3920 apply whilst diplomatic status is valid. Such benefits are not transferable and proof is required each year; when diplomatic status ends, the student will revert to their nationality status and all regular international fees will apply accordingly.

² Subject to WIO verification of full time visa status and verification with Faculty of part-time academic program.

³ Fees are managed via a CLTD application process for permanent employees of the University.

Please note that fees are increased annually depending on the inflation and University operational needs.