The business school scene in South Africa is developing rapidly, with the number of postgraduate institutions offering MBAs and other business degrees growing every year.
In order to help you choose the right school for your needs, we’ve compiled a list of some of South Africa’s most well-known business schools and provided some useful information about each one.
List of Best Business Schools in South Africa
Without further ado, the following schools are the 15 best business schools in South Africa:
University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business
The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business is ranked 1st in South Africa, 7th in Africa, and 147th globally, for its business program.
It offers a Full-time MBA, an Executive MBA, a CEMs Master of International Management, a PGDip in Management Practice, a PGDip in Development Finance, an MCom in Development Finance, an MPhil in Inclusive Innovation, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration.
In addition to courses on entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation management as well as finance, marketing, and accounting skills; the UCT GSB also offers a program focusing on sustainable development.
Wits Business School at the University of Witwatersrand
Wits Business School at the University of Witwatersrand is a top business school in South Africa and has been ranked in the top 100 business schools in the world. Wits Business School offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs.
The Master of Business Administration program (MBA) is this school’s flagship program. It lasts for 24 intensive months which the participants are taught the tenets of business principles.
The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), with its two campuses in Pretoria and Johannesburg, is a business school that is considered one of the best in South Africa. The GIBS is a public institution and offers an MBA program.
The GIBS has a number of specialized research centers that include the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Financial Analysis and Risk Management (CAFARM), the Centre for Corporate Governance and Sustainability, and the Centre for Human Resource Management. The school has produced some of South Africa’s most influential entrepreneurs and business leaders.
University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB)
The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) is an institution of higher learning in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education to students from all over the world.
The USB was founded as a teacher-training college for Afrikaans-speaking people in 1903. Today it offers a range of courses in business and management at various levels including undergraduate degrees, master’s degrees, doctorates, and executive programs.
Rhodes University Business School
Rhodes University Business School (RUBS) is a business school in Grahamstown, South Africa. It is a constituent college of Rhodes University and offers undergraduate degrees in commerce and management studies. The school also offers postgraduate programs (MBA).
The school was founded in 1965 and is located in the heart of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province. It is the largest business school in South Africa with over 1300 students on campus. The University Business School has a strong emphasis on research and innovation, with a focus on local issues in South Africa.
Milpark Business School
Milpark Business School is a constituent school of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), and was founded in 1989. The school’s accreditor is the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and its business school accreditor is AACSB International – a professional association for business schools that offer undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in the fields of accounting, finance, management, and marketing.
North-West University Graduate School of Business
The North-West University Graduate School of Business is a business school in South Africa. It is one of the six faculties of North-West University (NWU). The NWU has its main campus in Potchefstroom, where it also houses the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.
The NWU GSB offers an undergraduate program – BCom Honours – as well as a postgraduate program – MCom, MBA, and PhDs.
The curriculum is supported by internationally recognized quality assurance institutions such as AACSB International and EQUIS which are instrumental in ensuring that graduates have acquired industry-relevant skills if they wish to enter into careers after graduation with organizations across various sectors including banking & finance, consulting etcetera.
Additionally, The BCom Honours degree offers specialization options for students who plan on pursuing careers within industries such as advertising or marketing communications; human resource management; information technology; logistics; management consulting, etc.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Business and Government Management
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Business and Government Management is a public university located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It was established as part of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University system to provide higher education for people living in the Eastern Cape.
The Faculty offers a Bachelor of Commerce degree with several majors that include accounting, banking, finance, economics, management sciences, or development studies. The school also offers postgraduate diplomas in business administration and social development programs such as community economic development or project management.
The faculty has partnerships with other institutions such as Unisa (University of South Africa), Wits University, and Stellenbosch University allowing students to earn degrees while they study at GMU.
Henley Business School South Africa
Henley Business School is a business school originally located in the UK, with campuses in Reading and London. It is one of the largest business schools in Europe and South Africa. The school has over 5,000 students from over 100 countries.
It offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including MBAs. It is one of only two UK universities with Triple Crown accreditation – EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB.
School Of Business Leadership at the University Of South Africa
The University of South Africa Business School has over 500 students enrolled for an MBA and is located in Pretoria, Gauteng. The School offers both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs in Business Management, Marketing Management, and Human Resource Management.
It also offers various certificates, diplomas, and master’s degree programs through its various departments including Finance & Accounting; Marketing; HRM; Supply Chain Management; Finance & Accounting; Marketing; HRM; Supply Chain Management.
Graduate School of Business at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
The Graduate School of Business at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (GSB) offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The school has a strong research focus, with its faculty members conducting work in areas such as accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, and management.
The GSB is located in Durban, South Africa.
It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), which conducts reviews every five years to ensure that schools meet their standards for academic quality and continuous improvement in teaching practices.
Regent Business School
Regent Business School is a private, non-profit business school in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was founded in 1998 and is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
The School offers various undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in addition to executive education programs. Its flagship degree program is the Bachelor of Commerce (Hons).
The School is located in Parktown, Johannesburg, and has over 200 students. It has more than 40 full-time academic staff, 11 part-time lecturers, and approximately 20 support staff.
The School offers a variety of undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Bachelor of Science (Hons) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Hons) Bachelor of Management Studies (Hons)
Johannesburg Business School at the University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg Business School is one of the top business schools in South Africa, at the University of Johannesburg. Located in the academic hub of Hatfield, it offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The school’s accreditation includes AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System), AMBA (Association of MBAs), and FIBAA (Federation of International Business Accreditation Associations).
The campus has various facilities such as sports grounds, computer labs, and libraries where you can work on assignments or study for exams. There are also restaurants that offer meals at affordable prices so you don’t have to worry about spending too much money while attending classes here.
Tshwane University of Technology Business School
TUT is a public university in Pretoria, South Africa. The university is divided into six faculties, each with its own focus and academic programs.
The university has more than 35,000 students, including about 4,500 international students from over 110 countries. The university was founded as the Transvaal Technical Institute under the direction of Sir George Watermeyer.
University of the Free State Business School
The University of the Free State Business School is a higher education institution based in Bloemfontein, Free State. It was established in 1968 as one of the first full-fledged business schools not only in Africa but also on a global scale. The university offers study programs in fields such as economics, finance, marketing, and management.
The school’s main campus is located within walking distance from the city center where students can take advantage of various facilities including two libraries (one for postgraduates and another for undergraduates), four lecture theatres equipped with LCD projectors; computer laboratories; an auditorium that seats 500 people; offices for academic staff, etc.
It is one of the top-reviewed business schools in South Africa.
Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership at the University of Limpopo
With over 30,000 students and 3,000 staff members, the University of Limpopo is one of South Africa’s fastest-growing universities.
The Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership offers a wide variety of programs including business management, marketing communications and management consultancy; public administration; tourism studies; industrial relations; labor law; political science; human resource management; rural development studies – with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture – social work; sociology and anthropology.
Durban University of Technology’s Graduate School of Management
DUT GSM is the largest business school in South Africa and has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
The DUT GSM also offers a BCom Honours degree in Entrepreneurship, which is the only university-level business program in South Africa to do so. The course encourages students to develop their own businesses from scratch.
Tuition Information at a Glance
So, how much do business schools in South Africa cost?
Typically, the total cost of tuition for MBA programs ranges from R150,000 to R300,000. We have gathered the following business schools in South Africa for you
| Business Schools in South Africa | Program Tuition Fees |
| University of Cape Town | R285,450 (South Africans & other African students);R552,900 (foreign students) |
| Wits Business School | R261,100 |
| Gordon Institute of Business | R376,848 |
| University of Stellenbosch | R178,000 |
| Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University | R71,630 per year |
| Milpark Business School | R275,150 |
| University of South Africa (UNISA) | R208,480 |
FAQs and Answers
What is the best business school in South Africa?
The most reputable business school in South Africa is the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.
Multiple publications ranked it as having the best MBA program in the country. However, it is also one of the most expensive business schools in South Africa.
Some other schools are Wits Business School and Gordon Institute of Business.
How long does it take to get an MBA from a top-ranked school in SA?
MBA programs usually take 2 years (24 months) to complete. In South Africa, this is no different. However, some MBA programs in South Africa take slightly lesser time to complete.
What can you expect to pay for an MBA at a top-ranked university in South Africa?
The tuition fee of business schools in South Africa is between R150,000 – R200,00; while the expensive schools cost as much as R275,000 – R300,000.
It is always important to know what you can afford and go for it.
Wrapping It Up
We hope this post has given you a better understanding of the best business schools in South Africa. If you’re looking for more information on these schools or their programs, please contact them directly for more details. Good luck with your studies!