The private college sector in South Africa has grown steadily recently and provides an array of quality selections for young people who are trying to find an alternative to public universities and TVET Colleges.

Private colleges can offer classes for college students who are studying after Matric and these can vary from Certificate, to diploma, degree and all the way up to Doctorate level.

These colleges will be accredited Using the official South African authorities which might be chargeable for high-quality assurance of educational qualifications in South Africa.

This may either be the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Umalusi, or the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council for Higher Education.

These are same bodies that provider quality assurance for that universities and TVET Colleges.

In this way it ensures that the standard of the Certificate, Diploma or{Degree that may be awarded by a private establishment is at exactly the same educational level as one awarded by a university or TVET College.

Colleges vs Higher Education Institutions

Under South African law only the 26 public universities will be able to use that phrase 'university' in their name. They cannot call themselves 'private universities'.

Hence the private colleges that provide degrees and diplomas that happen to be at the same academic degree as universities are formally called 'Higher Education Institutions'.

Colleges that offer Certificates and Diplomas that are at the same level as TVET Colleges are generally referred to as private colleges.

Accreditation and Registration

Private companies have a right to operate as colleges in SA but they must by law be registered and accredited with the government. Accreditation is about ensuring that the teaching is at the same standard as that offered at universities or TVET Colleges. It mustn't be easier or harder when studying at a private college.

This is to ensure that as a society we can have faith in the educational value of the qualifications earned by students at these private institutions.

The process of registration is more focused on ensuring that the college is financially viable and well run. This is to ensure that students are protected and can have some security that the college is reliable and will continue in operation for a number of years.

This is particularly important when a student registers for a multi-year course. You don't want to come back next year and find that the college has closed down, leaving you with only one year's study towards a three-year qualification.

This does mean that students entering the private education sector must make certain that the college they want to study at is fully registered and accredited. That means investigating and checking the credentials of the college, and ensuring that they are currently accredited for the specific course that you want to study.

Private Colleges Offer General or Specific Study Options

Some private colleges, and Higher Education Institutions, offer a wide range of courses and will be similar to the offerings of a university or TVET College. However there are also private colleges that are able to specialise and provide a greater here degree of specialisation than is normally available at a university or College.

Common areas of specialisations for colleges include fashion colleges, sound colleges, marketing/advertising colleges, cooking schools, and others.