Study Abroad Aide (SAA) recently ranked the University of the Free State (UFS) as the eighth best value university for international students among 39 universities in South Africa and placed the university among the top 13% of universities in the Best Value University World Rankings.

Eight thousand and sixty higher education institutions assessed

SAA, based in South Korea and the sister company of Global Scholarships (the leading scholarship database for international students), is the world’s largest and most comprehensive database of universities. Roxanne Naguinlin, the University Database Lead at SAA, states that they had 1,6 million visitors in 2022.

SAA has published its list of 1 000 Best Value Universities for International Students. According to its website, these rankings highlight the universities that offer high-quality education at an affordable price. It states, “SAA continues to provide rankings to help aspiring international students choose their next educational destination. By having the 1 000 Best Value Universities, we aim to provide a helpful list of choices for international students.”

“We are thrilled to share that your institution will kick off the year 2024 with recognition, as it has earned its spot in our latest rankings,” says Naguinlin, mentioning that their rankings assessed 8 060 private and public higher education institutions in 69 countries.

According to her, the rankings identify the institutions that offer the best quality education while remaining within most students’ budgets. “To achieve this, it evaluates universities based on both academic quality and the difference between the university’s tuition fees and the country’s average tuition fees.”

Academic quality accounts for 75% of the institution’s evaluation

The most important factors that learners consider when choosing a university are academic quality, which accounts for 75% of the institution’s evaluation and is based on academic reputation, and tuition fees, which comprise the remaining 25% of the evaluation and are included to gauge the institution’s affordability.

Being included in the SAA’s best value rankings not only exposes the UFS to a wider international audience, but it also reflects where the university stands among its peers and provides a perfect opportunity for institutions to champion their excellent academic reputation.

In a statement released by SAA, it declared that it offers a platform not just for students but also for universities to thrive and prosper. “Study Abroad Aide hopes that the Best Value Rankings will encourage international students to live their dreams and universities to continue providing high-quality education at a low cost.”

A comprehensive internationalisation approach

Prof Lynette Jacobs, Acting Director and Research Portfolio Lead: Office for International Affairs, believes this ranking indicates the UFS’ success in creating an internationalised and multicultural institution, providing students with opportunities to engage with different cultures, perspectives, and academic approaches. She says the UFS follows a comprehensive internationalisation approach, striving to infuse intercultural and international dimensions in all aspects of the university’s being.  Prof Jacobs thinks that international students and staff are an integral part of the endeavour and appreciates the value that they add to the institution in terms of diversity.

"The Office for International Affairs serves as a one-stop shop for internationalisation, for instance providing numerous programmes to support international students from enrolment to graduation. Diversity and inclusion are integral aspects of our internationalisation efforts," she states.