Fees and payment plans 2026
High school. Low costs.
Clear fees for every programme, what they cover, and ways to pay that suit your family.
At UCT Online High School, CAPS tuition for Grades 8 to 12 is R2,985 per month over 12 instalments, or R30,447 for the year paid upfront. There is a once-off R599 placement fee. Adult Matric is a monthly subscription from R479 per month, with no registration or placement fee.
High School fees for Grades 8 to 12
Tuition is the same for every grade. What changes is the external exam body’s fees: SACAI registration in Grades 10 and 11, and the final exams in Grade 12.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Placement (once-off)Non-refundable | R599 | Non-refundable |
| Tuition, paid upfrontSave 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 | R30,447 a year | Save 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 |
| Tuition, 12 instalments12 monthly instalments | R2,985 per month | 12 monthly instalments |
| Extra subject (optional)We advise a maximum of two | R430 per month · R5,160 a year | We advise a maximum of two |
All fees are subject to an annual increase.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Placement (once-off)Non-refundable | R599 | Non-refundable |
| Tuition, paid upfrontSave 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 | R30,447 a year | Save 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 |
| Tuition, 12 instalments12 monthly instalments | R2,985 per month | 12 monthly instalments |
| SACAI registrationCompulsory external examination body fee | R250 a year | Compulsory external examination body fee |
| Extra subject (optional)We advise a maximum of two | R430 per month · R5,160 a year | We advise a maximum of two |
All fees are subject to an annual increase.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Placement (once-off)Non-refundable | R599 | Non-refundable |
| Tuition, paid upfrontSave 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 | R30,447 a year | Save 15%. Payable by 12 December 2026 |
| Tuition, 12 instalments12 monthly instalments | R2,985 per month | 12 monthly instalments |
| SACAI candidate registrationPay once, by 1 March | R451.95 | Pay once, by 1 March |
| Exam registration, per subjectLanguages, practical subjects, IT and CAT cost more | R989 to R1,215.55 each | Languages, practical subjects, IT and CAT cost more |
| Exam placement, per subjectLanguages, practical subjects, IT and CAT cost more | R499.10 to R599.15 each | Languages, practical subjects, IT and CAT cost more |
| Certificate courierNSC certificate delivery | R700 | NSC certificate delivery |
| Estimated total exam costDepends on subject load | About R12,000 | Depends on subject load |
| Extra subject (optional)We advise a maximum of two | R430 per month · R5,160 a year | We advise a maximum of two |
All fees are subject to an annual increase.
SACAI sets Grade 12 exam charges each year, so these amounts may change.
What tuition covers
- Nine subjects in Grades 8 and 9, seven subjects in Grades 10 to 12
- Digital textbooks (except setwork books for language subjects)
- Digital learning content
- Access to the Online Campus and all our digital tools
- Virtual clubs
- Cycle tests and school-based assessments (SBAs)
- Online internal exams
What you pay for separately
- Extra subjects, over and above the standard number
- Stationery, language setwork books, software and computer equipment
- SACAI registration for Grades 10 and 11 (R250 a year)
- Grade 12 SACAI exam fees, and the in-person final exams
- Concession applications, which SACAI charges for
Taking fewer subjects than the standard number doesn’t lower tuition. See the Grade 12 page for how the final exams work.
Ways to save
Two ways to pay less tuition
Save 15%
Pay the year upfront
Pay a full year of tuition by 12 December of the year before. Open to learners who start in Term 1.
Save 5%
Enrol a sibling
When more than one child in your family is enrolled, each additional sibling pays 5% less tuition.
Each learner can use one saving on their fees.
High School
How paying for High School works
Pay the placement fee
Once you receive an offer, pay the R599 placement fee by card in the application portal within seven days. It confirms your place and is non-refundable.
Pay the first month before your child starts
Tuition is paid in advance. Your first payment needs to clear before your child’s first day on the Online Campus.
Pay monthly by debit order
Invoices are due on the 1st of each month. Choose a debit order date that suits you: the 1st, 16th or 26th.
Give a term’s notice if things change
To withdraw, give three calendar months’ notice. Tuition stops once the notice period ends, and upfront payments for the months after it are refunded.
Fees go up once a year. The fees handbook (edition 1 January 2026) has the full rules, including suspension for accounts more than 30 days in arrears.
Fees handbookAdult Matric fees
A monthly subscription for adults preparing for the Amended Senior Certificate. You pay for the subjects you are writing, and only for the months you are studying.
1 subject
R479per month
R479 a subject
Finish or upgrade the one that is outstanding.
- Most learners
2 to 3 subjects
R649per month
From R216 a subject
Matric across two sittings, at a pace that holds down a job.
4 to 6 subjects
R899per month
From R150 a subject
The full certificate in a single sitting.
- No registration or placement fee
- Pause the subscription yourself
- Move up or down a bundle in the portal
- Cancel whenever you want
We collect by card on the same date each month, the date you started. If a payment does not clear, access pauses after seven days and returns as soon as it does.
Work-ready qualification fees
One monthly tuition fee covers your full learning experience. All three qualifications share the same tuition and placement fee.
Monthly tuition
R2,985per month
Over 18 monthly instalments, for the length of your qualification.
Placement fee
R599once-off
Once-off, on acceptance of your Offer to Study. Non-refundable.
Your tuition includes
- Dynamic digital learning content
- A Support Team for administrative help and accountability
- Recommended weekly work plans
- Full access to the Online Campus and all digital tools
- Peer-to-peer learner forums
Billed separately:eISA examination registration and Quality Partner fees; Stationery, setwork books, software and computer equipment; Travel and accommodation to the assessment centre.
FAQs
Questions about fees
Are Grade 12 exam fees included in tuition?
No. SACAI, the external examination body, sets Grade 12 exam fees each year and they are paid separately, by 1 March of the Grade 12 year. They cover candidate registration, registration and exam placement for each subject, and delivery of the NSC certificate. Most learners pay about R12,000, depending on their subjects.
Is the placement fee refundable?
No. The R599 placement fee is non-refundable and non-transferable, and it is not offset against tuition. It covers your child’s final placement: pre-onboarding, record verification and the technology licences we buy on their behalf. Pay it by card in the application portal within seven days of receiving your offer.
Can I combine the upfront and sibling savings?
No. Each learner can use one saving on their fees: either 15% off for paying the year upfront, or 5% off for each additional sibling. If you are not sure which works out better for your family, contact our admissions team and we will help you work it out.
How much notice do I need to give to withdraw my child?
Three calendar months, which is about one term. If you pay monthly, tuition is charged for the three months after the month you give notice, and nothing after that. If you paid the year upfront, we refund the fees for the months after your notice period ends (without interest).
Is there an application deadline?
Yes, there is an application deadline. To find out more details, please reach out to our Admission Team here.
If I apply, will I have a guaranteed placement at UCT Online High School?
No, placement is not guaranteed. However, we look at every application holistically and strive to be as inclusive as possible.
How much does Adult Matric cost?
You pay for the subjects you are writing. One subject is R479 per month, 2 to 3 subjects are R649 per month (from R216 a subject) and 4 to 6 subjects are R899 per month (from R150 a subject). There is no registration or placement fee, and you pay only for the months you are studying.
Can’t find your answer? Browse all FAQs or contact our admissions team.
Ready to apply?
Apply online. You only pay the R599 placement fee once you receive an offer.