Did you know that South Africa was home to the first MBA outside of the USA? In 1951 the Graduate School of Management at the University of Pretoria awarded MBA degrees to its first 25 graduates. Since then the quantity of MBAs offered in South Africa grew explosively. Unfortunately, until recently that could not be said about the quality of these programmes. In 2004 South Africa’s Council on Higher Education (CHE) decided to subject all South African institutions offering MBA to a stringent re-accreditation process in order to raise the standard of South african MBA. Only 20 institutions listed below managed to retain their accreditation, including only two based in Western Cape: University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and University of Stellenbosch Business School.

CHE-Accredited South African MBAs:

• Gordon Institute of Business Science
• Henley Management College of South Africa
• Management College of South Africa (also offering MBA in Tourism Management & Development)
• Milpark Business School
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University of Technology, MBA Unit
• North-West University Mafikeng Campus
• Potchefstroom Business School, North-West University
• Regenesys Management (Pty) Ltd
• Regent Business School
• Rhodes Investec Business School (RIBS)
• Rhodes Investec Business School (RIBS)
• Tshwane University of Technology Business School
• Turfloop Graduate School of Leadership (TGSL)
• University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB)
• University of the Free State School of Management
• University of KwaZulu Natal (Westville Campus) Graduate School of Business
• University of Pretoria Graduate School of Management
• UNISA Graduate School of Leadership (SBL)
• University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB)
• Wits Business School

A wide variety of MBA options are available, including full-time, part-time, distance learning, modular and internet-based programmes. Depending on the option selected, the duration of programmes can vary from 1 to 5 years. The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business offers an Executive MBA, which could be relevant to those who are employed in executive positions and would like to combine studying with work.

Generally the standard of instruction at South African business schools is deemed to be very high. Faculty of most institutions consists of both local and international lecturers, many holding PhDs or Masters degrees.

South African MBAs are also considered to be very affordable due to currently favourable exchange rates. That is indeed true for the South African and SADC (South African Development Community). However, foreign students are expected to shell out 2-3 times more. For instance, while a full year MBA at UCT will cost a South African or SADC student a reasonable R 99,500 (approximately USD 12,500 at the current exchange rate), a foreigner will be expected to pay USD 32,000. Similarly, an Executive MBA will cost a South African R 81,000 per year (approximately USD 10,000), and a foreigner – USD 28,000 per year. At the University of Stellenbosch a full year MBA will cost a South African student R 74,000 (approximately USD 9,300) while a foreigner will pay double.

UCT MBA ranks at number 71 in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking for 2008. Interestingly, FT places UCT at number 2 in terms of value for money (although it is not clear which tuition – local or foreigner – this ranking is based on). USB, while not in the FT top 100 MBAs, has been named the No 1 business school in South Africa by the Professional Management Review (PMR.Africa).

Last updated: September 26, 2008