The historically high cost of tertiary education in South Africa

Stellenbosch Working Paper Series No. WP02/2016
 
Publication date: 2016
 
Author(s):
[protected email address] (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)
[protected email address] (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)
 
Abstract:

The #FeesMustFall-campaign’s main objection was against the high and rising tuition fees of higher education in South Africa. This short note investigates this assertion from a historical perspective: Are university fees more expensive than a decade or a century ago? We document historical tuition fees at one of South Africa’s premier universities – Stellenbosch University. The answer is an unequivocal yes.

 
JEL Classification:

H52

Keywords:

South Africa, tertiary education, university, protests, budget, public economics, fiscal spending

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