Foreign students at South African universities

This study provides an assessment of the potential impact of foreign students on the South African university system through an analysis of data on foreign student enrolments between 1986 and 1992. In 1992, there were more than 4 600 foreign students registered at South African residential universities. Of these 52 percent were from southern African countries. Since 1986, the proportion of foreign students from Africa has increased, while that from Europe has declined. In South Africa all university students irrespective of their nationality receive the same government subsidy. In 1992, the cost of subsidising foreign students was about R60 million. Policy on foreign‐student access will have to be formulated in the context of demand for equity in the South African university system, which is racially skewed, and where resources for redress are limited. The activities of universities, government departments and funding bodies concerned with foreign‐student entry, enrolment and support must be coordinated. There is a need to rationalise procedures cost‐effectively on a national basis in the interests of all.

Notes

School of Education, University of the North West. We wish to acknowledge the constructive comments of three anonymous referees. Thanks also to Johan Brink, James Drummond and Brahm Fleisch.