University in South Africa
Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE) is South Africa's largest private higher education institution, operating across 24 sites and offering more than 130 registered and accredited programmes from Higher Certificate to Doctorate level. Its central office is at 1 Waterstone Drive, Benmore Gardens, Sandton. Its stated purpose is to develop individuals as active, ethical citizens through transformation and excellence in teaching and learning, scholarship and community engagement. The IIE is part of the JSE-listed ADvTECH group.
Teaching happens through two main brands. Emeris unites IIE Varsity College, IIE MSA, IIE-Vega School and the IIE School of Hospitality & Service Management and has 11 campuses in 7 cities: Cape Town City, Cape Town Newlands, Nelson Mandela Bay, Durban North, Durban Umhlanga, Durban Westville, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria Lynnwood, Ruimsig, Sandton and Waterfall in Gauteng, plus Emeris Online for distance study. IIE Rosebank International runs campuses in Braamfontein, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Nelson Mandela Bay, Pretoria CBD, Polokwane and Mbombela, with an online option. A third brand, IIE Capsicum Culinary Studio, offers culinary training.
Academic work is organised in seven faculties: Commerce; Education; Engineering, Science and Health; Finance and Accounting; Humanities and Social Sciences; Information and Communications Technology; and Law. Emeris additionally groups programmes in the Faculty of Science and Technology with its School of Computer Science and School of Engineering, Science and Health, a School of Finance and Accounting, and Vega School for design and brand communication. Programmes include Bachelor of Engineering degrees in civil, electrical and electronic, and mechanical engineering.
Student life at Emeris includes the Emeris Sports Club (national, campus team, individual and lifestyle sports), fitness centres, career services, counselling and wellness support, a Student Relations Centre on each campus and community projects such as Emeris Cares. Neither Emeris nor Rosebank International runs its own residences; students are directed to accommodation providers such as DigsConnect. Emeris states it has educated students from over 80 countries, and international students on campus need a study visa while online students do not.
The IIE is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Its qualifications are accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee of the Council on Higher Education and registered with SAQA on the NQF, and it holds accreditation from the British Accreditation Council. It is associated with SAPHE, SABSA, NADEOSA, the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Association of African Universities, and lists SAICA and ECSA among its professional endorsements.
Merit scholarships are open to South African citizens. Undergraduate applicants need a minimum 75% average in Grade 11 (final year-end report) or final NSC results; postgraduate applicants need a minimum 75% average in the final year of their undergraduate qualification. Applicants must first submit and pay an application to study, then submit proof of academic achievement and a one-page motivational letter using their application number. The 2026 window ran from 5 May to 30 September 2026, with successful applicants notified in October 2026. See the Emeris scholarships page.
Emeris offers the National Senior Certificate Award (80% average across six subjects excluding Life Orientation, not combinable with an Academic Scholarship), the Schools Quiz Bursary, Open Day Bursary, Activation Bursary (one year of study), Leadership Bursary (for former senior school leaders, one year, non-renewable), National Sports Club Bursaries, Discretionary Sport Bursaries for national Protea colours holders, the Family Loyalty Bursary (5% of tuition where an immediate family member studies at Emeris), and the Aggregate Distinction Award (75% overall average in the previous year). Bursary applications for 2026 closed on 1 March 2026. See the bursaries and awards page.
The Fee Support Programme offers reduced tuition for first-time, full-time contact undergraduate students who are South African citizens and have applied to study, where combined annual parental or guardian income is below R1,000,000 and the account payer is not under debt review. Online, part-time and postgraduate students, returning students and recipients of external bursaries or major scholarships are excluded. Awards are limited to selected qualifications. See the Fee Support Programme page.
The National Student Bursary Office coordinates funder bursaries from partners such as KPMG, the Auditor-General of South Africa chartered accountancy programme and South32, with closing dates stated per bursary. See the National Student Bursary Office page.
Browse the scholarships listed for The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd →Entry requires a Bachelor's Degree pass, with subject minimums set by programme. Examples: Bachelor of Commerce requires 50% for English and either 30% for Mathematics or 50% for Mathematical Literacy or Technical Mathematics; Bachelor of Arts requires 60% for English; Bachelor of Engineering degrees require English 50%, Mathematics 60% and Physical Science 50%. Equivalent minimums apply to the National Certificate (Vocational), Senior Certificate with endorsement and Senior Certificate (Amended) with a Bachelor pass.
A cognate Higher Certificate, a cognate 240-credit Diploma, an Advanced Certificate, or a 360-credit Diploma or Degree may satisfy the minimum requirement for degree studies; if the discipline is not cognate, at least 20% of credits must be in academic literacy or numeracy. For the Bachelor of Arts, a final Grade 11 English mark of 60% (or 50-59% in some cases) may be considered where the NSC English requirement is not met.
Applicants submit a certified academic transcript and certified copy of the undergraduate qualification; entry depends on the specific honours, postgraduate diploma, master's or doctoral programme.
Applicants with international qualifications need a Universities South Africa (USAf) exemption certificate for degree study, or SAQA evaluation for Higher Certificate and postgraduate study, and must meet the relevant Mathematics and English requirements (for example, Bachelor of Engineering requires at least 60% Mathematics and 50% English or equivalent). Students who are not South African citizens, permanent residents, or holders of a valid refugee or asylum seeker permit need a study visa issued in the name of The IIE for full-time on-campus study, valid for the duration of the qualification, with proof of medical aid and accommodation. Online students do not require a study visa. A certified passport copy is required. At Rosebank International the international application fee is R3,500.
Applications are made online. The application fee at Emeris is R500 (non-refundable). The undergraduate contact application deadline is Friday, 30 October 2026; later applications carry a late fee of R2,000, which does not apply to postgraduate or online applications. Applicants submit an ID or certified passport copy and, for undergraduates, their latest school report or final school-leaving results; applications without final results are processed as far as possible. After an offer, the non-refundable pre-registration fee of R3,000 secures a place and is deducted from tuition fees; admission is approved once certified documents are on the portal, and a registration link follows.
Emeris campuses
IIE Rosebank International campuses: Braamfontein (Johannesburg), Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Nelson Mandela Bay, Pretoria CBD, Polokwane, Mbombela (Nelspruit) and an online platform. Central office: 1 Waterstone Drive, Benmore Gardens, Sandton.
Facilities include campus libraries and study spaces, sports facilities and gyms, and student relations centres. Neither brand offers on-campus residences.
Study programmes offered at The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd.
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