Michaelhouse fees in South Africa: All about the prestigious private school

Michaelhouse is one of South Africa's most prestigious private schools with a rich heritage. The Christian-based boy school has an all-rounded academic system that ensures the holistic growth of learners. The high Michaelhouse fees also make it one of the most expensive educational institutions in the country.

Key takeaways

• The all-boys school is equipped with several state-of-the-art facilities for academic, sporting, and cultural learning.
• The Michaelhouse fees include a non-refundable registration fee: R950.
• Annual board and tuition E to A Block: R392,000.
• Debtors' admin fee: R5,534 and a Non-refundable acceptance fee: R75,000.

Michaelhouse fees and profile

Michaelhouse is a private senior boarding school in Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. It was established in 1896 by Anglican Priest Cannon James Cameron Todd with just 15 boys and two small houses.

The facility currently has ten boarding houses with a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:10 and writes examinations of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). Michaelhouse has six learning areas, including;

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• Languages
• Arts & Culture
• Human & Social Studies and Languages
• Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences
• Business, Commerce and Management Studies
• Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology

How much are Michaelhouse fees in 2025?

Michaelhouse is the second-most expensive school in South Africa after their friendly rivals and neighbours, Hilton College. The fee structure for Michaelhouse boarding school is as follows:

• Non-refundable registration fee: R950
• Annual board and tuition E to A Block: R392,000
• Voluntary development levy: R6,470
• Debtors' admin fee: R5,534 (For SA residents not paying by debit order/non-South African residents who do not pay fees in advance)
• Non-refundable acceptance fee: R75,000 for South African residents/R196,000 for non-South African residents
• Non-South African refundable deposit: R73,000
• Discount for annual fees paid in advance: R16 000
• Other charges to purchase stationery, textbooks, uniforms, and personal items.

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Michaelhouse fees and levies are invoiced in ten equal instalments starting December to September the following year, and debit orders are a prerequisite.

Michaelhouse calendar

As you prepare Michaelhouse fees, it is important to be familiar with the school terms dates. The prestigious school operates on a four-term calendar. The 2024/25 term and dates are as follows:

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Other important dates in 2025 include:

Michaelhouse reserves the right to make changes to the above dates. Kindly keep checking their website for any updates.

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Michaelhouse sports

The school strives to nurture boys in all aspects of life, including academics, sports, culture, and environmental issues. The facility's sporting programme has 14 sports options.

They include athletics, basketball, canoeing, cricket, cross country, golf, hockey, rugby, soccer, squash, swimming, tennis, and water polo.

Michaelhouse is one of the few schools in KwaZulu-Natal that has invested well in sporting activities. The facility has 12 playing fields, including:

1. Two Astroturf hockey facilities
2. Seven turf cricket pitches
3. A dedicated cricket oval
4. Athletics track
5. Eight tennis courts
6. A six-court squash complex with three glass-backed courts
7. Indoor and outdoor basketball courts
8. A 25m x 25m heated swimming pool
9. A 30m x 25m water polo pool
10. A state-of-the-art gymnasium
11. A golf driving range
12. A dam for canoeing enthusiasts

Michaelhouse contacts

If you need to contact Michaelhouse's management, use the following telephone numbers:

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• General school: +27 33 234 1000
• Admissions: +27 33 234 1141
• Old Boy's Club: +27 33 234 1167

You can also email them at:

• Admissions: admissions@michaelhouse.org
• Careers: careers@michaelhouse.org
• General enquiries: info@michaelhouse.org
• Old Boy's Club: oldboys@michaelhouse.org

Alternatively, you can visit the school in Balgowan, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa. They are also on social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

Michaelhouse news

Michaelhouse has a newsroom site with the latest news and blog posts to keep students and parents updated about the institution.

Michaelhouse uniform

One of their theme colours is blue. The official uniform is a dark blue blazer and black pants with a white shirt and red striped tie.

Michaelhouse school location

The boys boarding senior school is located in the Balgowan valley within the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa. It is 125 km northwest of Durban and 500 km southwest of Johannesburg.

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Michaelhouse scholarship

For the students who cannot afford Michaelhouse fees, the school has a scholarship program. Michaelhouse awards scholarships to boys of outstanding abilities entering the E block which is Grade 8.

The scholarships are valid for the five-year duration of the student's time at Michaelhouse. The scholarships are awarded based on the student maintaining an acceptable level of performance. Here are the scholarships offered by the school:

• Major Open Scholarship: Up to 75% of tuition and boarding (Independent school candidate)
• Minor Open Scholarship: Up to 75% of tuition and boarding (Independent school candidate)
• Open Exhibition Scholarship: Up to 50% of tuition and boarding (Independent school candidates)
• Closed Scholarship: Up to 30% of tuition and boarding (Traditional feeder school candidates)
• Major Trust Scholarship: Up to 75% of tuition and boarding (State school candidate)
• Minor Trust Scholarship: Up to 75% of tuition and boarding (State school candidate)
• All-Rounder Scholarships: Up to 75% of tuition and boarding (All candidates)
• Music Scholarships: Up to 50% of tuition and boarding (All candidates)
• Sports Scholarships: Up to 50% of tuition and boarding (All candidates)
• Arts Exhibitions (Drama & Creative Art): Up to 15% of tuition and boarding (All candidates)

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How many students does Michaelhouse have?

The all-boys school has about 620 students from Block E to Block A (grades 8 to 12). The students are aged between 13 and 18.

Who is the headmaster at Michaelhouse?

Antony Roy Clark is the current rector (headmaster) at Michaelhouse. The educationalist is a former first-class cricketer. Clark previously headed four schools, including Malvern College in Worcestershire, Gresham's School in Norfolk, England, St. Andrew College, and St. Joseph's Marist College in Cape Town.

Clark will retire at the end of the 2025 academic year and will be replaced by Bart Wielenga, the head of Blundell’s School in Devon in UK.

How big is Michaelhouse?

The facility sits on a 680-hectares estate in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The buildings have the architectural design of British schools. The estate's lower level has classrooms and dining halls, while the upper level is home to the school's houses. The Michaelhouse Chapel was built at the heart of the school.

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Which is the most expensive school in South Africa?

Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is the most expensive school in South Africa. Their annual tuition fees are R430,054, with an additional R512 per term for extras and a non-refundable entry fee of R105,182.

What is the most expensive private school in South Africa?

Hilton College is the most expensive private school in Mzansi, with an annual tuition fee of R430,054. It is closely followed by Michaelhouse in second place with an annual tuition of R392,000 and St. Andrew's College in third place with an annual tuition fee of R387,531.

What is the most expensive government school in South Africa?

Pretoria Boys High School is currently the most expensive government school in South Africa, with an annual fee of R76,900. It is closely followed by King Edward VII School with R74,600 and Rondebosch Boys' High School in third place with a yearly fee of R65,000.

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What is the most expensive girl school in South Africa?

Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg, Gauteng, is the most expensive girls' high school in South Africa. Their annual tuition fee is R387,093.

What is the most expensive girls' school in Cape Town?

Herschel Girls School is the most expensive girls' school in Cape Town. Their annual fee for grades 8 to 12 student boarders is over R293,400.

Michaelhouse fees are some of the highest in South Africa, but it is also one of the best schools in the region. The facility is established on Christian values and ensures holistic growth. Their students are taught to excel in all aspects of life, not just academics.

Briefly.co.za highlighted financial assistance options for students pursuing higher education in South Africa. Due to the rising number of students qualifying for university, government funding through NSFAS is not enough for all.

Other funding options available to students include ISFAP, university financial aid, external bursaries, scholarships, student loans, and crowdfunding. Find out how each of the options works.

Source: Briefly News