MASERU, July 15 — Educational ties between Lesotho and South Africa continue to grow, with the University of the Free State (UFS) confirming that Lesotho remains its largest source of international students.
In an interview with the Agency, The Director Students Recruitment Services Ms. Nomonde Mbadi highlighted the strong partnership between the two countries and clarified admission pathways to make it easier for Basotho students to access South African universities.
Ms. Mbadi explained that Basotho students who complete O-levels must also obtain Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level qualifications to meet South African university entry requirements. Students with grades A, B or C at O-level are encouraged to pursue AS-levels at schools such as Machabeng College.
On funding, while South African government bursaries are reserved for citizens, UFS offers merit awards to outstanding students with an Admission Point score of 35 or higher. Basotho students are also encouraged to apply for sponsorship through the Lesotho government and other funding bodies.
Ms. Mbadi further advised students to align their programme choices with priority sectors identified by the Lesotho government to support national development. She also mentioned that UFS adds new programmes each year to respond to changing labour market demands.
For many Basotho students, the collaboration offers opportunities not currently available locally.
Ms. Teboho Moruthoane, a final-year BSc Agriculture Extension student at NUL, attended the UFS open day. She siad she plans to pursue a Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture or Climate Change.
“Studying in South Africa will help me gain skills we need back home and also experience the world outside Lesotho,” she said.
Ms. Mateke Mpholle, a final-year BSc Software Engineering student at Limkokwing, said she is looking to UFS to continue in a tech-related field.
“There are limited options for my course here, so this partnership gives me a chance to grow and bring those skills back to Lesotho,” she said.
With thousands of Basotho students enrolled in South African institutions each year, officials said the collaboration is not just about access to education, but about building skills that will contribute to Lesotho’s development when graduates return home.
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