The private college sector in South Africa has grown steadily in recent times and provides an array of top quality options for young people who are searhing for an alternative choice to public universities and TVET Colleges.
Private colleges can give programs for college students who are studying after Matric and these can range between Certificate, to diploma, degree and all the way up to Doctorate degree.
These colleges will be accredited Along with the official South African authorities which might be liable for quality assurance of educational qualifications in South Africa.
This might either be the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Umalusi, or the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council for Higher Education.
These are typically same bodies that supplier quality assurance with the universities and TVET Colleges.
In this way it makes certain that the common of a Certificate, Diploma or{Degree that is awarded by a private establishment is at precisely the same academic level as one awarded by a university or TVET College.
Colleges vs Higher Education Institutions
Under South African legislation just the 26 public universities are able to use that phrase 'university' inside their name. They cannot call themselves 'private universities'.
So the private colleges which provide degrees and diplomas which can be at the same academic stage as universities are formally known as 'Higher Education Institutions'.
Colleges that offer Certificates and Diplomas that are at the same level as TVET Colleges are generally referred to as private colleges.
Accreditation and Registration
Private companies have a right to operate as colleges in SA but they must by law be registered and accredited with the government. Accreditation is about ensuring that the teaching is at the same standard as that offered at universities or TVET Colleges. It mustn't be easier or harder when studying at a private college.
This is to ensure that as a society we can have faith in the educational value of the qualifications earned by students at these private institutions.
The process of registration is more focused on ensuring that the college is financially viable and well run. This is to ensure that students are protected and can private colleges have some security that the college is reliable and will continue in operation for a number of years.
This is particularly important when a student registers for a multi-year course. You don't want to come back next year and find that private universities the college has closed down, leaving you with only one year's study towards a three-year qualification.
This does mean that students entering the private education sector must make certain that the college they want to study at is fully registered and accredited. That means investigating and checking the credentials of the college, and ensuring that they are currently accredited for the specific course that you want to study.
Private Colleges Offer General or Specific Study Options
Some private colleges, and Higher Education Institutions, offer a wide range of courses and will be similar to the offerings of a university or TVET College. However there are also private colleges that are able to specialise and provide a greater degree of specialisation than is normally available at a university or College.
Common areas of specialisations for colleges include fashion colleges, sound colleges, marketing/advertising colleges, cooking schools, and others.