Data-light by design
Download a week of lessons once, then study offline. Text-first pages and compressed media keep your bundle for WhatsApp, not buffering.
Target: under 120 MB a week
Study anywhere in SA. Graduate ready for work.
OHESA is an open university built for your phone and your data budget. Earn a Higher Certificate, Diploma or Degree from home, work or the taxi rank, and pay monthly while you study.
- Monthly fees from R750
- Offline lessons
- WhatsApp support
08:12 LTE
Sawubona, ThandekaWeek 6 of 16
TN
Data used this weekGoal 120 MB
41MB
Lessons saved on Wi-Fi, studied offline
Firewalls 101Cybersecurity
Offline
Assignment 2 markedFeedback in 26 hours
74%
OHESA Student DeskYour fee plan is confirmed for March.
- 24 programmesCertificates to degrees by 2027
- NQF 5 to 7Qualifications that stack
- DHET · CHE · SAQARegistration in progress
Why OHESA
Built around the barriers that stop South Africans studying.
Data costs, long queues, emails that never get answered. We designed OHESA to remove each one, so you can put your energy into learning.
Your phone is your campus
Every lecture, reading, quiz and submission works on a basic smartphone. No laptop required to start, and none required to finish.
Android and iPhone, any screen sizeAdmin on WhatsApp
Check your fees, register for modules and get proof of registration by chat. Real people and smart assistants answer in hours, not weeks.
7 days a week, including eveningsFeedback while it still matters
AI-assisted marking support gets comments back to you fast, and your lecturer still signs off every grade. You learn from mistakes before the next task.
Assignment feedback within 72 hoursCredits that stack
Start with a one-year Higher Certificate. Your credits carry into a Diploma, then a Degree. Stop, work, and come back without starting over.
NQF 5 → 6 → 7Taught for the jobs SA is hiring for
AI, cybersecurity, the green economy, entrepreneurship and teaching. Each module ends with a practical project you can show an employer.
A portfolio piece in every module
Programmes
Choose where you start. We'll help you get to the top.
Twenty-four qualifications across five schools, rolling out through 2027. Filter by level or school, then see what it costs each month.
How it works
From "I'm interested" to your first lecture in four steps.
Choose your programme
Browse by level or school, or tell our advisors about your goals on WhatsApp and they'll suggest a starting point.
Apply in 15 minutes
Fill in one short online form and upload your ID and results from your phone. No certified copies, no queues.
Get your answer fast
We aim to send an admission decision within 10 working days, with your fee plan and start date in the same message.
Start studying
Download your first week, meet your cohort online, and start with a lecturer, a tutor and a study coach supporting you.
The stackable path
Every qualification counts towards the next.
Life happens. Finish a Higher Certificate, go to work, and come back later for your Diploma with your credits intact. Or keep climbing straight to a degree.
Example path: Cybersecurity Fundamentals → Diploma in Cybersecurity → BIT in Network & Cybersecurity
NQF 5Higher Certificate120 credits · 1 year
NQF 6Diploma360 credits · 2 years
NQF 7Bachelor's Degree360 credits · 3 years
About OHESA
Your phone. Your pace. Your degree.
A full university in the device you already carry. Study on the taxi, at lunch, after the kids are asleep. You set the pace.
OHESA, Open Higher Education South Africa, started with a simple question: why is a degree still so hard to reach for people who are smart, motivated and ready? The answer usually has nothing to do with ability. It comes down to data costs, distance, working hours and systems that were never designed for them.
We're building for matriculants deciding what's next, TVET graduates who want to go further, and working adults who've waited long enough. Our standard is the same everywhere: academically rigorous, career-connected and genuinely open.
Mission
Deliver career-integrated qualifications through an affordable, mobile-first and data-light learning ecosystem.
Vision
Become South Africa's leading open distance university, linking school, adult learning and work.
The OHESA differenceWhat studying used to mean, and what it means here
The old way
The OHESA way
Portals that eat your data
Offline-first lessons and zero-rated resources
Weeks waiting for a reply
Student support on WhatsApp, same day
Queues and certified copies
Apply and register from your phone
Theory with no route to work
Practical projects built with employers in mind
All-or-nothing, three-year commitment
A qualification every step of the way
FAQ
Straight answers before you apply.
Still unsure? Leave your number in the form below and an advisor will call or WhatsApp you.
Ask an advisorIs OHESA accredited?
OHESA is in the process of registering as a private higher education institution with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), with programme accreditation through the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registration on the NQF through SAQA.
We'll publish our registration and accreditation numbers on this page as soon as they're issued. Before you pay any institution, always ask to see these numbers. You should expect that of us too.
What do I need to be admitted?
Higher Certificate: a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a Higher Certificate pass, or an equivalent NQF 4 qualification such as an NC(V).
Diploma: an NSC with a Diploma pass, or a relevant Higher Certificate. Degree: an NSC with a Bachelor's pass, or a relevant Diploma. Some programmes also need specific subjects, such as Mathematics for Data Science.
I didn't get a Bachelor's pass. Can I still get a degree?
Yes. That's exactly what the stackable path is for. Start with a Higher Certificate, move to a Diploma, then into the Degree, with your credits counting at every step. Applicants aged 23 and older may also qualify through a mature-age exemption.
How much data will I actually use?
We design each week of study to use under 120 MB, which is less than an hour of standard-quality video streaming. Download lessons on Wi-Fi when you can and study offline. We're also working with networks to zero-rate our study resources.
Do I need a laptop?
Not to start. Everything works on an Android or iPhone smartphone. Some later modules, like programming in the Computer Science degree, are easier on a laptop, and we'll tell you well in advance when that's the case.
How many hours a week should I plan for?
Plan for about 10 to 15 hours a week if you're working full-time, or 25 to 35 hours if you're studying full-time. Lessons are broken into short sessions that fit a lunch break or a commute.
How do fees and payment plans work?
You pay monthly over 12 months, with no large upfront lump sum. Indicative 2027 fees start at R750 a month for a Higher Certificate. Your exact fee and debit date are confirmed in your offer letter. Use the fee estimator above to plan.
Can I apply if I'm under 18?
Yes, if you've finished (or will soon finish) matric. A parent or guardian must co-sign your application and fee agreement, and we handle your personal information under POPIA with their consent.
Can I get credit for previous study or work experience?
We'll assess credit transfer from other registered institutions and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) case by case. Tell us about your previous studies and experience in your application and an advisor will guide you.
Who helps me if I get stuck?
Three people: your lecturer for subject questions, a tutor for weekly help sessions, and a study coach who checks in when life gets busy. The Student Desk on WhatsApp handles fees, registration and admin.
2027 intake
Your degree doesn't have to wait until life gets easier.
Register your interest now. You'll be first to hear when applications open, and an advisor will help you choose the right starting point.
- Free to apply, with no obligation
- Priority advice for early registrations
- We'll reply on WhatsApp, SMS or email, whichever you choose