Best countries for South Africans to study and work in 2023

Dozens of countries allow international students to work while they complete their qualifications, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany – which have become popular destinations for South African students.

International education search platform Erudera noted an uptick in the number of students having questions regarding work while studying abroad, with most enquiring about whether a work permit is needed and the number of hours allowed in each country.

Working while studying has become a common trend for students around the world. Balancing work and studies is not easy, but it has numerous benefits that can be helpful in the long run.

One of the biggest benefits of working while studying is financial stability. A part-time job can help students cover their expenses, such as tuition fees, textbooks, and daily necessities.

This is especially important when you consider that, for South Africans, studying abroad is often much more expensive than studying at a local institution.

Working while studying abroad also provides an opportunity to gain work experience, which can be valuable when applying for jobs after graduation.

According to the managing director at Sable International Study Abroad, Brent Morris, an average of 11,000 South Africans study overseas each year.

Additionally, of the ten most popular study destinations for international students worldwide by numbers, Erudera noted four countries that host the most South African students as of the last academic year:

1. 2,375 South African students studied in the USA.
2. 2,060 South African students studied in the UK.
3. 903 South African students studied in Australia.
4. 828 South African students studied in Germany.

Other popular countries for South Africans included Canada, New Zealand, France, Italy, and Spain – among others.

However, the average cost of living for international students in these countries can be expensive, with estimates ranging from R170,000 to R340,000 per year.

This again highlights the benefit of international students being able to work during their studies to earn a little bit of extra cash to help keep up with expenses.

Five of the most popular countries for South Africans that allow students to work are listed below, including the number of hours allowed and whether a work permit is needed.

United States of America 

Brown University, Rhode Island

• Allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during the semester; and
• Students must be enrolled full-time and have valid F-1 status.

The United Kingdom

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

• Allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during the semester; and
• Students must obtain a work permit and hold a Tier 4 student visa to work.

Australia 

University of Sydney

• Allowed to work up to 40 hours every two weeks  and unlimited hours during holidays; and
• Students must be enrolled full-time.

Germany 

Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich

• Students are allowed a full-time job for 120 days or part-time for 240 half days; and
• Students must be enrolled full-time.

Canada

Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University, Canada

• International students can work for unlimited hours.
• Students must be enrolled full-time. No permit needed.

Other popular countries for international students that allow them to work while studying is listed in the table below, as outlined by Erudera.

Read: These are the South African universities with the best employment outcomes