Which University Courses Offer the Best Work-Study Balance in South Africa
As of March 21, 2025, balancing work and study is a top priority for South African students, with over 40% of tertiary learners juggling jobs alongside their education (DHET, 2024). With tuition fees ranging from R50,000–R100,000 annually and living costs adding pressure, finding a university course that supports a healthy work-study balance is crucial.
What Makes a Course Work-Study Friendly?
A course with an excellent work-study balance offers:
Flexible Scheduling: Evening, weekend, or online options.
Manageable Workloads: Fewer contact hours or modular structures.
Practical Skills: Immediate applicability to jobs, enhancing employability.
Support Systems: Access to tutors, online resources, and career services.
With South Africa’s unemployment rate at 32.1% (Stats SA, Q1 2025), courses that let you earn while learning are gold. Here are the best picks.
Top University Courses for Work-Study Balance
1. Business Administration (BBA/BCom General) – UNISA
- Why It Works: UNISA’s Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) lets you study anytime, anywhere, with no fixed class times. Perfect for full-time workers.
- Workload: Self-paced—complete 4–6 modules yearly at your speed.
- Work Benefits: Skills in management, finance, and marketing apply instantly to roles like admin or sales (R250,000–R500,000 annually).
- Cost: R15,000–R40,000 per year.
- Support: Online forums, 24/7 resources, and regional weekend tutorials.
UNISA’s flexible BBA is the ultimate work-study champion.
2. Education (BEd) – University of Pretoria (UP) Part-Time
- Why It Works: UP’s part-time BEd offers evening classes (5:30 PM–8:30 PM) and Saturday workshops, ideal for teaching assistants or tutors earning while learning.
- Workload: 12–15 hours weekly, with practical teaching credits counting as work experience.
- Work Benefits: Start as a substitute teacher (R200,000–R350,000/year) while studying.
- Cost: R40,000–R60,000 annually, with payment plans.
- Support: Mentors and online portals ease the load.
Education’s practical bent makes it a work-study winner.
3. Information Technology (BSc IT) – Mancosa Online
- Why It Works: Mancosa’s fully online BSc IT offers trimesters and weekend webinars, fitting around tech support or freelance gigs.
- Workload: 10–12 hours weekly, with coding projects doubling as portfolio pieces.
- Work Benefits: Entry-level IT roles (R300,000–R600,000) like helpdesk or web development align with coursework.
- Cost: R25,000–R45,000 yearly.
- Support: Virtual labs and career coaching.
IT’s digital flexibility suits working techies perfectly.
4. Public Administration (BA) – University of Johannesburg (UJ) Extended
- Why It Works: UJ’s evening classes (5:30 PM–9:00 PM) and Saturday sessions cater to government or NGO workers upskilling after hours.
- Workload: 15 hours weekly, with assignments often workplace-relevant.
- Work Benefits: Administrative roles (R250,000–R450,000) benefit from policy and governance skills.
- Cost: R45,000–R70,000 annually.
- Support: Hybrid learning and peer networks.
Public Admin’s after-hours structure keeps work flowing.
5. Accounting (Higher Certificate to BCom) – Wits Plus
- Why It Works: Wits Plus offers evening Higher Certificates (5:30 PM–8:30 PM) that ladder into BCom Accounting, ideal for bookkeepers or clerks studying part-time.
- Workload: 10–14 hours weekly, with modular progression.
- Work Benefits: Apply skills in payroll or auditing jobs (R200,000–R400,000).
- Cost: R40,000–R65,000 per year.
- Support: Evening tutors and online materials.
Accounting’s stepped approach balances work and growth.
6. Nursing (Diploma/BSc) – Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Part-Time
- Why It Works: CPUT’s part-time Nursing Diploma blends evening theory (5:00 PM–8:00 PM) with weekend clinicals, suiting healthcare assistants.
- Workload: 15–20 hours weekly, with shifts counting toward credits.
- Work Benefits: Nursing aides earn R180,000–R350,000 while qualifying as RNs.
- Cost: R20,000–R40,000 annually.
- Support: Hospital partnerships and online lectures.
Nursing’s hands-on flexibility merges work and study seamlessly.
7. Project Management (Diploma) – Mancosa Evening/Weekend
- Why It Works: Mancosa’s Diploma in Project Management runs evening classes and Saturday intensives, perfect for coordinators or assistants upskilling.
- Workload: 12 hours weekly, with real-world project plans as assignments.
- Work Benefits: Project roles (R300,000–R600,000) benefit from immediate skills.
- Cost: R25,000–R40,000 yearly.
- Support: Online tools and industry mentors.
Project Management’s practical focus fits busy schedules.
Why These Courses Stand Out
Scheduling: All offer evening, weekend, or online options—zero daytime clashes.
Workload: 10–20 hours weekly leaves room for 20–40-hour workweeks.
Employability: Skills match in-demand jobs (e.g., IT, healthcare, admin), per Stats SA 2025 forecasts.
Affordability: Costs align with NSFAS or employer funding (40% of students funded, DHET, 2024).
These factors ensure balance—no sacrificing income or sanity.
How to Maximize Your Work-Study Balance
- Time Block: Study 2–3 hours nightly; reserve weekends for big tasks.
- Leverage Work: Use job projects as coursework (e.g., IT coding, admin reports).
- Tap Funding: NSFAS or bursaries like Fundi cover flexible programs—apply early.
- Use Tech: Apps like Notion or myUnisa streamline tasks.
- Negotiate: 30% of SA employers offer flexi-hours for students (HR Survey, 2024)—ask!
Smart strategies keep you ahead without overload.
Real-World Proof
- Thandi, 28, UNISA BCom: Works retail (30 hours/week), studies 15 hours, graduates 2026—saved R50,000 vs. full-time.
- Sipho, 34, CPUT Nursing: Earns R20,000 monthly as an aide, studies evenings, qualifies in 2 years.
Success stories show it’s doable.
Conclusion: Balance Your Way to a Degree
The best university courses for work-study balance in South Africa—Business Administration (UNISA), Education (UP), IT (Mancosa), Public Administration (UJ), Accounting (Wits), Nursing (CPUT), and Project Management (Mancosa)—offer flexibility, practicality, and affordability as of March 21, 2025.
