ST AUGUSTINE TODAY

 

At present, the ideals underlying the foundation of St Augustine seem more critical for the future of African people than ever before. Today only 10% of South African students get their degrees from private universities and almost 50% of them get a degree from UNISA. Being a relatively new phenomenon in South Africa, private independent tertiary institutions such as St Augustine can respond to the need for higher educational standards as well as smaller classes allowing face-to-face interaction with lecturers. And that is precisely what enables students to master their chosen subjects.

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Today, St Augustine offers a full range of degrees in the humanities: from Honours through Master to Doctoral degrees. Fields of study include Education, Applied Ethics, Peace Studies, Theology and Philosophy. (Registration for Bachelors degrees are not currently accepted.) In addition, the Private Tertiary Institution offers a 2-year mixed mode programme for the Higher Certificate in Biblical Studies. As St Augustine seeks to serve also those who want to study for their own enrichment or the development of their skills, a number of short, non-degree courses, workshops and public lectures for lifelong learning are available at the Private Tertiary Institution.

 

Committed to small lecture classes and giving every learner individual attention, St Augustine is big enough to make a difference and small enough to care about all its students. It is one of the few private institutions of higher education in South Africa to design and develop its own degrees, all of which are approved and accredited by the Council for Higher Education, the South African Qualifications Authority, and registered with the Department of Education. Due to its unique teaching programmes, the outstanding commitment of lecturers and personalised tuition, St Augustine has a very high pass rate when compared with other South African universities.

 

As a private institution, St Augustine receives no financial support from the government; however, the fees at the Private Tertiary Institution are comparable to those at state universities. St Augustine works collaboratively with the Catholic Schools Organisation in Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Catholic Institute of Education and the Jesuit Institute South Africa.