Student Loans South Africa

Unlock your future with a Loan Wave student loan. Borrow from R5,000 up to R350,000 to cover South African tuition fees, registration, residence deposits, textbooks, laptops, transport, or even living expenses while you study.

Whether you’re heading to UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UJ, UP, NWU, UWC, a TVET college or a private institution, a student loan from Loan Wave helps you bridge the gap left by NSFAS, a partial bursary, or family savings — so you can focus on your studies instead of your bank balance.

Every loan is fully NCR-compliant under the National Credit Act, priced transparently in Rands with no hidden fees, and we work with borrowers across all credit backgrounds — including those with bad credit marks.

What Can You Use a Student Loan For?

• Tuition and registration fees at any SA university, university of technology, TVET college or private institution.
• Residence deposits and student accommodation rent.
• Textbooks, study guides and online learning subscriptions.
• A laptop or tablet for online classes and assignments.
• Transport – petrol, taxi fare or a small car to get to and from campus.
• Living expenses – groceries, internet/data, electricity.
• Short courses, certifications and professional registration fees.

Who Can Apply for a Loan Wave Student Loan?

Loan Wave student loans are personal loans, so the borrower must be working (full-time or part-time) and able to afford the monthly repayment. Parents, guardians or working students themselves can apply on behalf of the student.

You’ll need:

• Proof of income – 3 months’ payslips or bank statements.
• Proof of address – utility bill, not older than 3 months.
• SA ID document or passport.
• A credit report (we’ll pull one for free).
• Contact details (cellphone number and email address).

How Much Can You Borrow for Studies?

• R5,000 – R20,000 – short courses, textbooks, laptop, registration top-up.
• R20,000 – R80,000 – one semester or one year of fees, residence deposit, living expenses.
• R80,000 – R350,000 – full undergraduate year, postgraduate degree, or multi-year tuition top-up.

Example

John wins a bursary to Stellenbosch University, but it only covers 60% of his tuition. He applies with Loan Wave, is approved for R200,000, and uses the funds to cover the tuition shortfall, his residence deposit, a laptop, and his textbooks for the year. He repays in monthly Rand instalments over 60 months while he studies and starts working.