Department of Higher Education

Higher education shapes Johannesburg's future in ways that extend far beyond graduation ceremonies. The Department of Higher Education funds universities, sets policy, manages qualification frameworks, and influences who gets access to tertiary study in a city where university attendance is still far from universal. For a young person in Johannesburg deciding whether university is even possible—whether through NSFAS bursaries, qualification recognition, or course accreditation—this department's decisions matter directly. The sector also anchors Johannesburg's intellectual life and research capacity: Wits and UJ drive innovation in engineering, business, medicine, and social sciences. Policy changes ripple through to employers, students, and the city's knowledge economy. Access to quality information about funding, courses, and requirements can determine whether potential gets realised or stalled.