Admission criteria primarily consist of a combination of work and/or management experience, and presenting a qualification at a particular level on the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Depending on the level of the qualification to which admission is sought, these will vary. We recommend checking with one of our helpful staff to find the detail relevant to your application. We also require that applicants demonstrate proficiency in English, as it is the medium of instruction we use. Henley also offers a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway for accomplished managers and leaders who do not hold the requisite qualification, but have significant appropriate experience.

The RPL pathway assesses your informal learning, workplace training, and years of management experience to grant access to our qualifications. Applicants must submit a comprehensive portfolio of evidence demonstrating strategic capability, conceptual thinking, and leadership impact. Space for RPL candidates is regulated by cohort quotas.

Our programmes are structured for working professionals, using a block-release format (modular workshops) rather than weekly lectures. This makes it easier for you to integrate the workload into your existing life. In addition, you should plan for 10–15 hours of independent study, research, and group work per week outside of formal contact sessions to manage the workload effectively alongside your career and other responsibilities.

Yes. Henley Business School holds triple-accredited status, meaning that it is recognised by the foremost international quality assurance bodies: AMBA (UK), EQUIS (Europe), and AACSB (USA), and that they are satisfied with the standards we uphold. Furthermore, Henley was the first international business school to gain accreditation from the African Association of Business Schools (AABS), meaning our graduates are recognised in all major markets across Africa and beyond. All programmes delivered in South Africa are also fully registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE).

Henley Africa does not provide general financial aid or student loans, but we offer targeted options to assist with tuition costs:

Corporate funding and payment plans: We provide corporate billing documentation for students sponsored by their employers. Self-funded students can access structured payment plans to spread tuition fees across the academic year.

Merit-based scholarships: Henley runs one of the largest private scholarship schemes in Africa, providing specific, annual scholarship opportunities including the Africa Builder Scholarship and the Women in Leadership competition (for the Global Executive MBA), which grant fully or partially funded tuition to candidates who demonstrate exceptional strategic impact.

External financing: While we do not offer direct loans, we have partnered with Student Hero to help all our students and their families learn about, apply, qualify, and compare study finance offers from the major banks and alternate funding providers. We also help our students apply for finance directly with our preferential banking partners. More information can be found on the Finance page on our website. 

Every programme we deliver at Henley is rooted in practical management rather than pure theory. We focus on action learning, meaning your current workplace serves as your primary laboratory. Assignments, case studies, and projects require you to apply academic frameworks directly to the live operational challenges, strategies, and data of your own organisation. This approach ensures that your study translates immediately into measurable workplace performance and real-world solutions from your very first module.

The turnaround time depends on the qualification for which you have applied, and how comprehensive your application is. Ensuring that all documents are submitted, and are freshly certified, for example, will eliminate delays.  A complete application to the HCMP could have a turnaround time of 2–3 days, but an MBA could take closer to 10 days.  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applications could take as long as six weeks before a final decision is available.

There is no application fee or acceptance deposit payable for any of our qualifications. The only fee payable is that in support of an RPL application, which requires an external assessment.

Yes. International qualifications must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before applying, and a copy of the evaluation must accompany your application.

The only instance in which a study visa is required is when an international student intends to move to South Africa and live in the country for the duration of their studies.