Online TEFL Courses for South Africans
Accredited TEFL courses priced in rand, including an Ofqual-regulated Level 5. Study online at your own pace, with free job support to help you teach English abroad or online.
Online TEFL courses for South Africans, priced in rand
Get TEFL certified online at your own pace, then let our placement team help you land a paid teaching job abroad or online. We've already helped more than 1,000 South Africans do exactly that.
Can South Africans teach English abroad?
Yes. South Africa is recognised as a native English-speaking country by Korea's government EPIK programme and under China's work-visa rules, alongside the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. That opens the best-paid teaching markets in Asia to South African passport holders.
What employers want to see is a recognised TEFL certificate, usually of at least 120 hours, plus a degree for most visa routes. You can earn the certificate online with TEFL UK from anywhere in South Africa, and our team then matches you with schools that are actively hiring South Africans.
- Korea, China, Japan and Indonesia are the most popular routes for our South African teachers.
- A 120-hour TEFL certificate is the standard minimum employers ask for; the Level 5 is regulated by Ofqual for those who want the strongest qualification.
- No teaching experience needed. The course teaches you how to plan lessons and manage a classroom.
- Prefer to stay home? Every course includes our 20-hour Teaching English Online course, so you can teach from South Africa too.
Where our South African teachers work
Real placements made by the TEFL UK jobs team for South African graduates, across our ten busiest destinations. Tap a country to see current jobs and salaries.
Compare TEFL courses in rand
All courses are online and self-paced, with lifetime access and free job support. Prices are in South African rand.
Swipe the table sideways to compare all four courses.
| Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualification type | Accredited certificate | Accredited certificate | Accredited certificate | Level 5 qualification, regulated by Ofqual, awarded by TQUK |
| Study online, self-paced | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free dedicated job support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifetime access to course materials | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 100 ready-to-use lesson plans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20-hour Teaching English Online course (worth R1,080) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teaching Large Classes video module | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 20-hour teaching practicum with real ESL learners | No | No | Yes | No |
| 20-hour How to Teach Grammar course (worth R1,080) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Downloadable certificate on completion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choose the 120 hour course if
you want the standard certificate employers ask for at the lowest price, or you mainly plan to teach online.
Choose the 170 hour course if
you want real classroom practice before your first job. The practicum and grammar course make interviews much easier.
Choose the Level 5 if
you want a government-regulated qualification on the UK framework, for competitive schools and a longer teaching career.
From South Africa to your first classroom
Here's the route from enrolment to your first classroom.
Study online
Work through the course on your phone, tablet or laptop. Your progress saves as you go, so a power cut or a busy week won't set you back.
Get certified
Download your certificate the day you finish. You'll have lesson plans ready for your first classes.
Get matched with a job
Our placement team shortlists schools hiring South Africans, preps you for interviews and checks your contract.
Sort your documents and fly
Start your police clearance and apostilles while you study, so you're ready to accept an offer quickly.
Document checklist for South African teachers
Paperwork is the part that slows most South Africans down, not the course. Most schools in Asia will ask for the documents on this list. The exact requirements depend on the country, and our team will confirm what yours needs.
- South African passportValid well beyond the end of your contract. Many countries ask for at least six months spare.
- Degree certificate, apostilledRequired for work visas in Korea, China and Japan. The apostille is issued by DIRCO's legalisation section.
- SAPS police clearance certificateFingerprints taken at your local police station, processed by the SAPS Criminal Record Centre, then apostilled.
- TEFL certificateYour TEFL UK certificate. Some employers ask for it to be legalised too, and we'll tell you if yours does.
- CV, photo and intro videoA teaching CV, a professional photo and often a short video. Our team reviews these with you.
See what teaching abroad is really like
Hear from TEFL UK teachers about getting certified, landing their first job and settling into life in a new country.
Life in the classroom, and outside it
Photos from TEFL UK teachers and schools in our network.
“Phenomenal 120-hour TEFL course! Comprehensive, practical, and full of global opportunities. I now work online with flexible hours, and the future looks exciting! Highly recommended.”
“They helped me land a job in Japan in 2024. The process was less intimidating because of how friendly, patient and attentive they were. I trusted TEFL UK so much that I applied through them once again, and landed my second international job through them.”
Accreditation and regulation
Our Level 5 TEFL qualification is regulated by Ofqual, the UK government's qualifications regulator, and awarded by TQUK. Our other TEFL courses are independently accredited, and TEFL UK is a registered provider on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP).
- Ofqual (Level 5)
- TQUK
- UKRLP registered
- Accreditat
Where our graduates teach
TEFL UK graduates work for language schools, government programmes and online platforms around the world, including:
- EPIK (Korea)
- Gaba (Japan)
- EF
- Shane English
- Preply
- Native Camp
- Uzbekistan government teaching programme
TEFL questions from South Africans
Can South Africans teach English abroad?
Yes. South Africa is on the list of native English-speaking countries used by Korea's EPIK programme and China's work-visa rules, among others. TEFL UK has placed more than 1,000 South African teachers, most commonly in Indonesia, South Korea, China, Uzbekistan and Japan.
Which TEFL course is best for South Africans?
The 120 Hour Professional TEFL course is the standard minimum most employers ask for and is the most affordable option. The 170 Hour Combined course adds a 20-hour teaching practicum and a grammar course, and is our best value. If you want a government-regulated qualification, choose the 168 Hour Level 5 TEFL, which is regulated by Ofqual and awarded by TQUK.
Are TEFL UK courses accredited and recognised internationally?
Yes. Our Level 5 TEFL is an Ofqual-regulated qualification on the UK's Regulated Qualifications Framework, awarded by TQUK. Our other TEFL courses are independently accredited, and TEFL UK is registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers. Employers in our placement network across Asia, Latin America and Central Asia accept TEFL UK certificates.
Is the TEFL UK Level 5 recognised by SAQA?
Our Level 5 TEFL is regulated in the UK by Ofqual and awarded by TQUK. It has not been through SAQA's foreign qualification evaluation. You can apply to SAQA for an evaluation yourself if you need one for work within South Africa. For teaching abroad and online, employers look for the TEFL certificate itself, and SAQA evaluation is not usually required.
Do I need a degree to teach English abroad as a South African?
For work visas in South Korea, China and Japan, a bachelor's degree is required. Some destinations, including parts of Latin America and Cambodia, are more flexible, and many online teaching platforms don't require a degree. Tell our team your background and we'll tell you which placements you qualify for.
Can I teach English online from South Africa?
Yes. Every course includes our 20-hour Teaching English Online course, and our graduates teach on platforms such as Preply and Native Camp. You'll need a reliable internet connection and a backup power plan, such as a UPS for your router and laptop.
How long does it take to get TEFL certified?
The courses are self-paced with no deadlines, so you can fit them around work or studies. You keep lifetime access to the course materials after you finish.
How do I pay from South Africa?
Prices on this page are in rand. You can pay securely by card through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard and Amex) or with PayPal. If you'd like to pay in three instalments, contact us and we'll set it up.
Do you help South Africans find TEFL jobs and internships?
Yes. Every course includes free, dedicated job support. Our placement team works with schools and programmes that hire South African teachers, helps you prepare for interviews, and guides you through contracts and visa documents.
Your first teaching job starts with the right course
Join more than 1,000 South Africans who got certified with TEFL UK and now teach around the world. Not sure which course fits? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll help you choose.