What is Cambridge International?
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) is the world's largest provider of international qualifications. Cambridge schools in South Africa offer the Cambridge IGCSE (equivalent to Grade 10) and Cambridge International A-Levels (equivalent to matric). Both qualifications are globally recognised by universities in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and most of the world.
Cambridge vs IEB — the key difference
IEB schools award the South African NSC, which is excellent for SA universities but requires additional qualification for most international universities. Cambridge A-Levels are accepted directly by most global universities — including UK universities (UCAS) and US universities. If your child has a realistic chance of studying abroad, Cambridge is worth the premium.
Schools offering Cambridge in SA
Crawford College (multiple campuses), Reddam House, Abbotts College, Waterford Kamhlaba (Swaziland), and a growing number of smaller schools offer Cambridge. Some offer Cambridge alongside IEB. Fees typically range from R80,000 to R200,000 per year.
IGCSE in Grade 10
Many Cambridge schools run the SA national curriculum in Grades 1–9 and transition to Cambridge IGCSE in Grade 10. This gives learners a solid local foundation before switching to the internationally focused programme.
Is Cambridge right for your child?
Cambridge makes most sense if you are considering emigrating, want to keep international university options open, or your child shows exceptional academic ability that would be served by the rigour of A-Levels. It is also a strong choice if your child wants to study medicine, engineering or law at a top UK or Australian university.