University in South Africa
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
AFDA (the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) is a private higher education institution for the creative economy, offering film, television, live performance, radio and podcasting, creative writing, fine arts and design, and business innovation qualifications. It was founded in 1994 by Garth Holmes, Bata Passchier and Deon Opperman and is owned by Stadio Holdings. Its motto, a Khoisan expression, is 'Sada tanisens gera kuru da' ('Our actions create us').
AFDA runs five campuses: Johannesburg (Auckland Park, the original campus on a 10,000 square metre site near the SABC), Cape Town (Observatory, a 7,000 square metre site), Durban (Glen Anil), Gqeberha (a heritage building in Bird Street, Central) and Hatfield in Pretoria, which opened in 2026. Campuses have studios, post-production suites, lecture and rehearsal rooms, and equipment such as ARRI Alexa cameras and sound studios.
Study is organised in three schools: the AFDA Film School (Motion Picture Medium), the School of Live Performance and the School of Business & Innovation. Qualifications run from one-year Higher Certificates (NQF 5) in Film, TV & Entertainment Production, Performing Arts, and Radio & Podcasting, through three-year degrees (BA Motion Picture Medium, BA Live Performance, Bachelor of Creative Writing, BCom in Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Fine Arts & Design) to Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation and a part-time MFA in Motion Picture Medium.
Teaching is project-led and experiential, delivered by industry practitioners and academics, with no traditional sit-down examinations; students are assessed through audience or market responses, industry experts and individual and group projects. Graduation productions are a central feature, with over 220 produced each year. AFDA reports 2,750-plus students, a permanent staff of over 280 and 7,500-plus alumni (2026 prospectus). Student life includes the Committee for Learning Value Advantage (CLVA), the student representative body that sits on Senate and organises film festivals.
AFDA has no residences of its own; it keeps a list of nearby private student accommodation and a database of students seeking house-shares. International applicants need a SAQA or HESA evaluation of foreign qualifications. AFDA is registered with DHET as a private higher education institution (certificate 2001/HE07/012), its programmes are registered with SAQA and accredited through the Council on Higher Education, and it is a full member of CILECT, the international association of film and television schools.
AFDA does not run its own bursary scheme and does not negotiate funding for applicants; it helps registered students join the lists of a small number of funders that work through the institution, and supplies documents such as pro-forma invoices and acceptance letters. NSFAS does not fund private institutions such as AFDA. Applicants are advised to apply in the year before they study, and may apply for many bursaries but accept only one.
Students and fee payers can use bank study loans or student funders such as Student Hero (free funding consulting, studenthero.co.za) and Manati Alternate Student Funding (manati.co.za). An acceptance letter can be used to apply for a loan in the year before enrolment.
Browse the scholarships listed for South African School of Motion Picture Medium & Live Performance (Pty) Ltd (AFDA) and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for South African School of Motion Picture Medium & Live Performance (Pty) Ltd (AFDA) →National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) with entry into a Diploma or Higher Certificate, or a pass in the AFDA Entrance Exam.
NSC with entry into a Bachelor's degree, or a completed accredited Higher Certificate (including the AFDA Higher Certificate). Other routes: ACE School of Tomorrow at a level similar to Grade 12 with a Bachelor's pass; a passed first year of an accredited NQF 6 or 7 programme; NCV Level 4 with three fundamental subjects including English above 60% and four vocational subjects above 70%; a technical N5 certificate with four subjects including Maths and English; or, for applicants aged 23 or older without Grade 12, an exemption certificate from Universities South Africa (formerly the Matriculation Board). No APS score is used and no specific school subjects are required. Applicants may be asked to attend an interview.
A route for applicants who lack the usual entry qualification: a registered psychometric assessment run by the external company NO:ME, written online in about one hour, followed by a roughly 15-minute interview with an AFDA staff member and submission of a motivational letter, certified achievement certificates, a CV and reference letters. NO:ME reports to AFDA and the AFDA Senate approves the recommendation; results take up to 10 working days. The fee is paid to NO:ME.
Entry into second year of a degree is possible with a completed first year at a registered university in a relevant field with no outstanding credits, or five years of relevant industry experience with key responsibilities, plus a formal assessment in the chosen discipline.
Honours and the Postgraduate Diploma in Innovation: a completed relevant NQF 7 qualification (Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma) from an accredited institution, or RPL. MFA: an Honours degree at a registered university in a relevant field with no outstanding credits, or RPL with 10 years of relevant industry experience and a formal assessment. Postgraduate enquiries: [email protected].
Applicants with foreign qualifications need a certified SAQA Certificate of Evaluation (school-leaving certificates may be assessed by HESA/Universities South Africa). Each applicant is advised individually based on transcripts and qualification documents. Non-African applicants pay a different registration fee and a once-off payment with the first instalment. Early application is advised because visa preparation takes time. Contact: [email protected].
Apply online at afda.co.za/apply-now or at a campus. A response by email follows within 7 working days, after which a consultation at the chosen campus (or by phone or Zoom) can be booked. A place is secured by paying a registration fee of R5,950 after the provisional acceptance letter; enrolment takes place in the second week of January and needs certified copies of ID or passport, qualifications or the HESA letter, and payment of the course fee.
Fees cover materials, facilities and equipment for workshops and productions; personal stationery, duplication, camera consumables, transport to sets and set catering are extra.
AFDA has no student residences; private accommodation near campuses (for example Urban Circle, Kingsway Place and Richmond Place in Johannesburg, Heron Place in Cape Town) is listed for students.
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