The Institute of Education (IIE) is South Africa’s largest private university. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in the Thonton district of Johannesburg, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of ADvTECH, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. IIE currently operates 33 campuses and offers 201 accredited programs ranging from diploma to doctoral degrees, with over 65,000 students.
South Africa’s Only Private Higher Education Institution with BAC International Accreditation
IIE holds a unique international standing in terms of quality. It is the only private university in South Africa to have received international accreditation from the British Accreditation Council (BAC), the UK’s authoritative body specializing in accrediting private universities worldwide, with its scope of accreditation covering countries such as Greece, Switzerland, Singapore, India, Mauritius, and the United Arab Emirates. BAC international accreditation represents global recognition of IIE’s academic standards and quality systems, meaning that IIE’s qualifications are not only recognized within South Africa’s National Qualifications Framework but also meet the standards of the world’s best institutions. All IIE programs are accredited by the Council for Higher Education (CHE) and are officially registered within the National Qualifications Framework of the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Internationally recognized the Independent Institute of Education Diploma
Africa’s First Private Institution to Achieve Washington Accord Engineering Accreditation
In February 2025, IIE received full accreditation from the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for its Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Mechanical Engineering degrees, becoming the first private university in Africa to achieve Washington Accord engineering degree accreditation. The Washington Accord represents the highest international standard for mutual recognition of engineering education. IIE has been offering ECSA-accredited Bachelor of Engineering degrees since 2018, and this full accreditation confirms that its programs strictly adhere to international engineering standards. Graduates with an IIE Bachelor of Engineering degree can use this qualification to apply for registered engineer status in Washington Accord member countries worldwide, without being restricted by South Africa’s regulation that “private institutions cannot call themselves universities.”
Five Brands Across South Africa
Through its five educational brands, IIE operates more than 24 campuses nationwide in South Africa, offering over 130 officially registered and accredited higher education programs. Among these, Varsity College, as South Africa’s leading private university, has campuses in major cities such as Sandton, Pretoria, Cape Town, and Durban, offering comprehensive degree programs in business, information technology, and the humanities and social sciences. Rosebank College is renowned for its value for money and flexible learning options, offering both on-campus and online learning models. Vega School specializes in brand communication, creative design, and advertising and marketing, serving as a key talent development hub for South Africa’s creative industries. IIE MSA, as a multidisciplinary campus, offers a wide range of degree programs in engineering, health sciences, education, and law. IIE HSM focuses on hospitality and service management, cultivating professionals for the service industry.
