Which Courses Have the Highest Dropout Rates in South Africa in 2025: The Ultimate Guide
As of March 20, 2025, South Africa’s tertiary education system faces a persistent challenge: high dropout rates. With over 60% of first-year university students dropping out (Universities South Africa, 2024) and an average completion rate of just 30% within the required time, certain courses stand out as particularly tough to finish.
Why Do Students Drop Out?
Dropout rates spike due to academic difficulty, financial strain, poor preparation, and misaligned expectations. In South Africa, where tuition averages R50,000–R100,000 annually and only 25% of African students in three-year degrees complete their first year (Government Review, 2019), course-specific challenges amplify these factors. Let’s uncover the top courses where students struggle most.
Courses with the Highest Dropout Rates in South Africa
1. Engineering (General and Specialized Streams)
- Dropout Rate: ~50–60% within the first two years (USAf, 2024).
- Why It’s Tough: Engineering demands rigorous math and physics mastery, with failure rates in first-year calculus exceeding 40% at institutions like Wits and UCT. Labs and projects add time pressure, while weak high school preparation (e.g., 30% NSC pass marks) leaves many unprepared.
- Top Universities: UCT, Stellenbosch, Wits.
- Cost Impact: R60,000–R120,000 lost if dropping out after a year.
- Student Feedback: “The workload was insane—12-hour days, no support,” says a 2024 Wits dropout on X.
Engineering’s technical intensity and steep learning curve make it a dropout hotspot.
2. Medicine (MBChB)
- Dropout Rate: ~40–50% before third year (HPCSA, 2023).
- Why It’s Tough: Six years of grueling schedules, high-stakes exams (e.g., anatomy pass rates below 60%), and emotional burnout from patient exposure weed out students. Entry is ultra-competitive (APS 42-48), but retention falters.
- Top Universities: UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch.
- Cost Impact: R80,000–R150,000 lost per year.
- Insight: Rural students often cite funding cuts (e.g., NSFAS caps) as a breaker.
Medicine’s unrelenting pace and resource demands push dropout rates sky-high.
3. Accounting (BCom Accounting, Non-CA Stream)
- Dropout Rate: ~45–55% in first two years (SAICA, 2024).
- Why It’s Tough: Non-CA tracks lack the prestige and support of CA routes, leaving students grappling with complex financial theory and repetitive coursework. Automation fears (e.g., AI tools like QuickBooks) also demotivate.
- Top Universities: UJ, Stellenbosch, UP.
- Cost Impact: R50,000–R90,000 lost.
- Trend: Dropout spikes after second-year tax modules, per X discussions.
Accounting’s dry rigor and uncertain payoff drive students away.
4. Computer Science
- Dropout Rate: ~40–50% in first year (Tech SA Report, 2024).
- Why It’s Tough: Coding requires logical leaps many matriculants can’t make—only 8% score 70%+ in NSC Maths (DBE, 2023). Abstract concepts like algorithms trip up novices, and group projects frustrate solo learners.
- Top Universities: UCT, Wits, UP.
- Cost Impact: R55,000–R100,000 lost.
- Student Voice: “I thought I’d love it, but I couldn’t debug to save my life,” a UCT dropout posted.
Computer Science’s steep skill gap fuels early exits.
5. Law (LLB)
- Dropout Rate: ~35–45% before third year (Law Society SA, 2023).
- Why It’s Tough: Dense reading (500+ pages weekly), legal jargon, and debate-heavy assessments overwhelm students expecting courtroom drama. High school essay skills don’t translate, and funding dries up mid-degree.
- Top Universities: UCT, UP, UJ.
- Cost Impact: R50,000–R110,000 lost.
- Insight: Dropout peaks after second-year contract law, per faculty data.
Law’s intellectual marathon catches many off guard.
6. Natural Sciences (BSc General)
- Dropout Rate: ~40–50% in first two years (NRF, 2024).
- Why It’s Tough: Broad BSc programs (e.g., Chemistry, Physics) throw unfocused curricula at students, with lab failures (e.g., 50% redo rates) and weak math foundations tanking progress.
- Top Universities: UCT, UKZN, Wits.
- Cost Impact: R50,000–R90,000 lost.
- Trend: Students pivot to applied fields like Biotech, per X chatter.
Natural Sciences’ lack of direction and academic hurdles bleed enrollment.
7. Education (BEd)
- Dropout Rate: ~30–40% in first two years (DBE, 2024).
- Why It’s Tough: Practical teaching placements expose students to classroom chaos they’re unprepared for, while low pay prospects (R200,000–R450,000) deter commitment. Rural postings add logistical strain.
- Top Universities: UNISA, UWC, UP.
- Cost Impact: R40,000–R80,000 lost.
- Feedback: “I loved kids, but not the stress,” a UNISA dropout shared.
Education’s real-world shock drives defections.
Key Drivers of High Dropout Rates
Academic Rigor: Courses like Engineering and Medicine demand skills matric doesn’t deliver.
Financial Pressure: NSFAS covers only ~40% of students fully (2024 data), leaving others scrambling.
Support Gaps: Universities lack robust tutoring—60% of dropouts cite “no help” (Fundi, 2024).
Expectation Mismatch: Media glamorizes Law or IT, but reality bites hard.
These systemic issues hit tough courses hardest.
How to Beat the Odds
- Prep Early: Take bridging courses (e.g., UCT’s Maths Prep, R5,000) before enrolling.
- Seek Support: Use free campus resources—Wits offers 200+ tutoring hours yearly.
- Fund Smart: Apply for NSFAS or Fundi early; 70% of funded students persist longer (DHET, 2023).
- Test Fit: Shadow professionals or try MOOCs (e.g., Coursera’s CS50) to gauge interest.
Proactive steps slash dropout risk.
Conclusion: Know Before You Go
The courses with the highest dropout rates in South Africa—Engineering, Medicine, Accounting, Computer Science, Law, Natural Sciences, and Education—test resilience, preparation, and resources.
