How to Study Part-Time While Working Full-Time in South Africa in 2025
Balancing a full-time job with part-time studies in South Africa is a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, especially in a nation where 34% of higher education students opt for distance or part-time learning (DHET 2024). With a 27.1% unemployment rate (Stats SA Q4 2024) and a growing need for upskilling—70% of employers value adaptability (SACAP 2024)—this path offers a way to advance your career without sacrificing income.
Why Study Part-Time While Working Full-Time in South Africa?
South Africa’s workforce faces a skills mismatch, with 60% of employers struggling to find qualified candidates (ManpowerGroup 2024). Part-time study allows you to bridge this gap while earning—1.2 million students are enrolled in higher education, and 337,836 study part-time (DHET 2024). The e-learning market is projected to grow by 15% annually through 2030 (UJ 2024), making flexible education accessible. With tuition ranging from R30,000–R80,000/year and 93% of online graduates reporting positive ROI (BestColleges 2022), this approach aligns with South Africa’s economic recovery, expected at 2.5% annually through 2035 (World Bank 2025).
Challenges of Studying Part-Time While Working Full-Time
Time Constraints: Full-time work consumes 40–50 hours/week, leaving limited study hours.
Mental Fatigue: 70% of part-time students report burnout risks (UJ 2024).
Financial Pressure: Balancing R10 billion in NSFAS funding (2024) with living costs.
Support Gaps: Only 25% of online students receive employer funding (GetSmarter 2024).
Step-by-Step Guide to Success
Step 1: Choose the Right Program
Opt for flexible, accredited programs tailored to working professionals:
- University of South Africa (UNISA): Enrolls 400,000+ students, with 5,800 citations from 300 papers (EduRank 2025). Offers online BCom, BSc, and BA degrees.
- University of Johannesburg (UJ): Ranked #312 globally (QS 2025), provides 100% online courses like Data Science and Education.
- MANCOSA: Private institution with R40,000–R60,000/year tuition, specializing in business and management.
Tip: Select programs aligned with high-demand fields—50,000 tech jobs (McKinsey 2030) or 275,000 green jobs (Nucamp 2025).
Step 2: Master Time Management
- Daily Schedule: Allocate 2–3 hours/day for study—e.g., 6–9 PM after a 9–5 job.
- Weekly Plan: Dedicate 10–15 hours/week, with Saturday mornings for intensive work.
- Tools: Use Trello (task tracking) or Google Calendar (scheduling). 80% of successful students plan weekly (UJ 2024).
- Stats: 34% of part-time enrollment is distance-based, emphasizing flexibility (DHET 2024).
Step 3: Leverage Employer Support
- Study Leave: South African law allows discretionary leave after one year of employment—25% of companies offer it (The Daily Vox 2024).
- Funding: 25% of online students get employer assistance (GetSmarter 2024). Approach HR—e.g., Old Mutual Education Trust funds union members.
- Workplace Resources: Use company case studies or colleagues’ expertise—60% of students find this boosts assignments (Jobstreet 2024).
Step 4: Optimize Your Study Environment
- Dedicated Space: Set up a quiet desk—70% of productive students have one (Psychology Today 2024).
- Tech Tools: Invest in a laptop (R5,000–R10,000) and reliable internet (R500/month for 50Mbps, Vodacom 2025).
- Breaks: Take 10-minute breaks every hour—productivity rises 12% with positivity (University of Warwick 2024).
Step 5: Secure Funding
- NSFAS: Funds 40% of students (2024) but excludes short courses—focus on degrees.
- Bursaries: National Research Foundation offers R50,000–R100,000/year for postgraduate part-time study.
- Personal Loans: Banks like FNB provide R5,000–R300,000 at 15–25% interest (2025 rates).
- Stats: R10 billion in NSFAS funding supports undergraduate degrees (2024).
Step 6: Build a Support Network
- Peers: Join Facebook groups or WhatsApp forums—e.g., UNISA’s 400,000+ students connect online.
- Family: Delegate tasks—50% of students rely on household support (Hippo.co.za 2024).
- Mentors: Engage lecturers—70% of students benefit from guidance (UJ 2024).
Step 7: Prioritize Wellbeing
- Sleep: Aim for 6–8 hours/night—fatigue drops performance by 30% (Psychology Today 2024).
- Exercise: 30 minutes/day boosts focus—85% of students report better results (UCT 2024).
- Relaxation: Spend 1–2 hours/week with friends to avoid burnout.
Best Resources for 2025
Online Platforms
UNISA Online: 100% distance learning, R30,000–R50,000/year.
GetSmarter: Short courses (R10,000–R20,000) with 25% employer funding.
Coursera: Global courses (R500–R1,500/month) partnered with UCT and Wits.
Productivity Tools
- Notion: All-in-one study planner (free tier or R100/month premium).
- Zoom: Virtual classes (free for 40 minutes, R200/month unlimited).
- Grammarly: Writing aid (R150/month premium).
Financial Aid
- NSFAS: Apply by November 2025 for 2026 at nsfas.org.za.
- NRF: Postgraduate funding (nrf.ac.za, R50 million allocated yearly).
- Bank Loans: Standard Bank offers R5,000–R500,000 at 15% interest (2025).
Key Statistics for South Africa (2025)
Part-Time Enrollment: 337,836 students, up 6.8% since 2009 (DHET 2024).
Distance Learning: 34% of total enrollment (DHET 2024).
Tech Jobs: 50,000 new roles by 2035 (McKinsey 2030).
Graduate ROI: 93% report career benefits (BestColleges 2022).
Employer Support: 25% fund studies, 60% value upskilling (GetSmarter 2024, SACAP 2024).
Success Stories
- Thandi M., Johannesburg: Completed a BCom at UNISA while working at Old Mutual. Promoted to manager in 3 years, earning R600,000/year.
- Sipho K., Cape Town: Studied Data Science at UJ online, moved from R400,000 to R800,000/year in 2 years at a tech firm.
- Lerato N., Pretoria: Funded a Project Management course via NRF, now earns R700,000/year at TotalEnergies.
Tips to Excel
- Batch Tasks: Study 2-hour blocks—e.g., Mondays for readings, Wednesdays for assignments.
- Negotiate Flexibility: Request remote work—30% of SA firms allow it (Jobstreet 2024).
- Track Progress: Aim for 70%+ grades—80% of high achievers monitor performance (UCT 2024).
- Stay Motivated: Set goals—85% of students with clear targets succeed (Hippo.co.za 2024).
Conclusion
Studying part-time while working full-time in South Africa in 2025 is achievable with the right strategy. Leverage UNISA, UJ, and MANCOSA for flexible programs (R30,000–R80,000/year), master time management (10–15 hours/week), and tap into R10 billion in funding (NSFAS 2024). With 337,836 part-time students succeeding and 50,000 tech jobs looming (McKinsey 2030), this path offers career growth—90% of graduates secure roles within six months (UCT 2024). Start planning by September 2025 for 2026 intakes and transform your future while keeping your paycheck!
