Cornerstone Institute Requirements for International Students 2024-2025

The following information is pertinent to students who wish to study full-time at the Cornerstone cam- pus in Cape Town, South Africa. It is vital to read the section regarding admission information, study permit requirements, immigration matters and working while studying in South Africa, before proceeding to the section Applying to Cornerstone Institute.

Please follow the link below for information about medical insurance for international students: https://www.uct.ac.za/usr/iapo/apply/ABSA_Health_Medical_Aid_Cover_Guide_2015.pdf

How international students apply to study at Cornerstone Institute

Complete the application form applicable to you and scan and e-mail it to applications@cornerstone.ac.za along with the required supporting documents.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate: must have passed the equivalent of a South African Grade 12.

Postgraduate: see admission requirements of your specific programme of interest under ‘programmes’ on our web- site

For further enquiries regarding admission requirements, feel free to e-mail admissions@cornerstone.ac.za

Feedback and Acceptance Letters

Feedback will be provided via e-mail 2 weeks after the full application has been received. If you are accepted, you will be provided with a fee quote. Before a visa letter can be issued, a deposit of 60% of the total fee is required.

Visa Letters:

Once you have received a provisional acceptance letter from Cornerstone Institute, 60% of the annual tuition fee must be paid to Cornerstone Institute in order for the registrar to issue you with a visa letter to apply for a study permit. (Many of our foreign students struggle to get their visa in time and end up arriving later for the start of lec- tures.)

In adherence to South African Government rules and regulations, your final registration is subject to producing a valid study permit that can be applied for at the nearest South African representative, normally in your home coun- try. For this purpose you will use the official visa letter issued by the Registrar. This letter must be presented to a South African diplomatic mission abroad, which has the authority to process applications for study permits. The South African Department of Home Affairs and South African diplomatic offices abroad are responsible for the reg- ulations and procedures. Do not proceed to Cornerstone Institute without the study permit/visa.

Should you require assistance with finding accommodation please contact Student Services at sdss@cornerstone.ac.za

Study Permit Requirements

Letter of Admission from Cornerstone Institute.

Proof that sufficient funds are available for the proposed stay in South Africa to cover tuition fees, maintenance and incidental costs.

Details regarding arranged accommodation, which should be in Cape Town or surrounding areas. (The Embas- sy requires proof of residence, i.e. a formal letter with a lease agreement from the owner of the residence. Cornerstone cannot supply this.)

A police clearance certificate.

The expiry date of your study permit is very important. It is your own responsibility to apply for an extension 30 days before it expires.

Repatriation guarantee

You should provide a medical certificate as provided for on the study permit application form and particulars of, or arrangements made with regard to, medical insurance/cover in South Africa. You will also need to submit medical and radiological reports, which should be less than six months old and relevant certificates if you are mar- ried, widowed, divorced or separated.
If the duration of your studies is longer than one year, you will have to lodge a cash deposit or bank guarantee equivalent to the airfare or transportation costs to your country of origin for repatriation purposes. Please keep the receipt issued for the guarantee for a possible extension of your study permit in South Africa. The cash deposit will only be reimbursed once you are back in your home country.

Immigration Matters
Formal admission to Cornerstone Institute does not guarantee the issuing of a study permit.
Students without valid study permits cannot be registered at Cornerstone Institute.
Permit Applications should be made at least 30 days prior to the date of departure.All documents required when you apply for a study permit or visitor’s visa, must be originals or certified copies. (A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with an original certified stamp that the authorised person [Commissioner of Oaths] has seen the original document. An uncertified photocopy of the original or a photocopy of a certified copy is not sufficient.)

Working while studying in South Africa
The holder of a study permit may conduct part-time work as long as the period does not exceed 20 hours per week and may also work full-time during academic vacations.
A holder of a study permit may also be granted permission to conduct work in the form of practical training in a field related to his/her studies, on submission of the following documentation:

 A letter from Cornerstone Institute confirming that practical training is required or advantageous to complete the intended study, and

A letter from the prospective employer offering practical training

If writing the National Benchmark Tests is a requirement for your studies, please follow the link below to apply to write them in your own country.

http://www.nbt.ac.za/content/register-remote-writer

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