I always knew tertiary education for my child would be expensive. What I didn’t fully appreciate was how much money you might need before the first lecture even took place.
Tuition is the number most parents prepare for. Then come registration, residence, technology, books, groceries and transport. The surprise isn’t any one cost, but how many arrive at once.
You’re not simply paying for a qualification. You’re helping your child step towards independence, with far more line items than the prospectus suggests.
University payment structures don’t help. For 2026, the institutions reviewed required anything from a non-refundable registration payment of R6 000 to an initial tuition payment of R34 500. Residence-related upfront payments ranged from R5 700 to R44 500, depending on the institution and whether the accommodation was self-catering or catered.
These are not necessarily additional costs over and above the yearly fees. Some are credited towards tuition or residence, while others are non-refundable fees or levies. Before paying, establish exactly what each amount covers, whether it forms part of the yearly account and when the balance is due. Otherwise, it is remarkably easy to count the same frightening amount twice.
Then comes life around the degree.
Residence costs also vary according to the campus, residence and room type. At one institution, a room on the main campus costs approximately R61 000 to R76 000 a year, excluding meals. A three-meal-a-day allocation added another R36 400, bringing accommodation and meals to roughly R98 000 to R113 000 before books, technology, groceries, data, laundry and the unexpectedly serious question of how many towels one student needs.
A more realistic first-year plan looks something like this:
| First-year cost* | Indicative planning range |
| Tuition and compulsory academic charges | R58 000 – R97 000 |
| Residence or accommodation | R49 500 – R84 800 |
| Meals and groceries | R36 400 – R60 000 |
| Books, laptop and room setup | R20 000 – R40 000 |
| Transport and trips home (without a car) | R12 000 – R24 000 |
| Data, laundry, toiletries and personal spending | R18 000 – R36 000 |
| Illustrative first-year total without a car | R193 900 – R341 800 |
*These are planning ranges, not national averages. Costs depend on the institution, qualification and lifestyle.
And then there’s the car. A financed entry-level car could add roughly R5 300 to R8 300 a month for installment, insurance, fuel and other running costs, before a deposit or balloon. Freedom is wonderful. Financially, the car behaves rather like another student.
The deeper risk, however, is not only how much university costs. It’s where the money comes from.
If you haven’t saved for years, don’t panic-buy the entire university experience in January. Separate essentials from what can be phased, bought second-hand or postponed.
A few things can make the transition easier:
Build a 90-day runway. Price registration, accommodation, technology, moving and the first month’s living expenses. January and February are often the real cash-flow danger zone.
Protect the essentials first. Secure tuition, safe accommodation, food and the academic tools your child genuinely needs before buying a car.
Use every funding door. Apply for bursaries, merit awards, institutional payment plans and suitable study finance.
Make your child part of the plan. Agree on the monthly amount, what it covers and what happens when it runs out. This is not about making them feel guilty. It is about helping them learn to manage the opportunity.
Protect your own future. Please don’t compromise your retirement planning.
As I prepare for my daughter’s next chapter, the bedding, stocked fridge and petrol money are not merely purchases. They say: I want you to be safe, equipped and able to use this opportunity well.
Thoughtful support doesn’t mean absorbing every cost. Sometimes it means paying. Sometimes it means setting a limit or postponing what can wait.
The acceptance letter may carry my daughter’s name. The pride is deeply personal. But supporting her future should not mean quietly sacrificing my own.
