Compare courses
Explore courses side by side and make informed study choices.
Explore free About TopStudent
Explore for free. Apply with our help.
TopStudent helps South African students compare courses and institutions, organise their studies and discover opportunities — for free. When you're ready to apply, our paid service can submit supported institution applications on your behalf.
FREE
Discover, compare and prepare
Research courses and institutions, use PAS, access study resources and discover opportunities without buying application services.
PAID SERVICE
We apply on your behalf
You choose a supported institution, provide your information and authorise TopStudent to handle the agreed application submission.
Why we exist
Making the next step in education easier to understand.
Choosing what and where to study can mean comparing many institutions, requirements and deadlines. Submitting applications adds another layer of work.
TopStudent brings useful research and academic tools together, then offers a separate, optional paid service for students who want us to submit institution applications on their behalf.
Our aim is simple: students should know their options, understand what they're paying for and remain in control of their choices.
Your free toolkit
Useful tools. No application-service payment required.
You can use these features without purchasing our application submission service.
Compare institutions
Research universities, colleges and TVET institutions before you apply.
Explore freeDiscover opportunities
Explore available job and career opportunities.
Explore freePersonal Academic System
Organise academic dates, documents and progress in your free workspace.
Explore freeStudy resources
Find learning materials to support your studies.
Explore freePAS is your free academic workspace. If you are not signed in, your dashboard's authentication guard should direct you to sign in first.
Our paid product
Institution applications, submitted on your behalf.
Instead of completing every supported institution application yourself, you can pay TopStudent to manage the agreed submission process using the information and documents you provide.
- Choose where you want to apply from supported institutions
- Review the service and applicable price before payment
- Provide the required details, documents and authorisation
- TopStudent submits the agreed application on your behalf
How the paid service works
From choosing an institution to submitting an application.
Explore your choices
Compare courses and institutions using our free tools.
Choose application support
Select a supported institution and review the service and price before paying.
Provide your information
Supply the required details and documents, and authorise TopStudent to apply for you.
We submit on your behalf
TopStudent handles the agreed application submission. The institution makes the admission decision.
Our mission
Make education decisions and applications easier to navigate.
Give students practical tools for researching their options and organising their studies, with clear, optional support when they need help submitting applications.
Our vision
A more informed and supported student journey.
We want students across South Africa to feel better equipped to explore education pathways, make choices and take their next steps.
Accessibility
Keep useful discovery and academic tools free to use.
Clarity
Explain what is free, what costs money and what each service includes.
Student control
Students choose where to apply and provide permission before we submit.
Practical support
Help students move from research to real application steps.
Start free. Get application help when you need it.
Compare courses and institutions, use free academic tools, or explore our paid application submission service.