JOHANNESBURG – As the Class of 2025 celebrates a stellar set of matric results this week, a sobering trend is emerging within South Africa’s top-tier schools. The country’s “brightest minds” are increasingly viewing their matric certificates not just as a badge of honor, but as a one-way ticket to prestigious universities in the US, UK, and Europe.
What was once a trickle of elite students seeking international exposure has evolved into a strategic exodus, driven by a “university-obsessed” culture and a local economy struggling to absorb its own talent.
The Stats: A Continental Concern
The desire to leave is not limited to the wealthy; it reflects a broader disillusionment among the youth.
- 74%: South African youth who believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.
- 31%: Respondents aged 18–24 who intend to emigrate permanently.
- 11%: Skilled South Africans with higher education seriously considering moving abroad.
- The Capacity Gap: In 2025, the University of Johannesburg received nearly 700,000 applications for only 10,500 places, pushing students to look elsewhere out of necessity.
Elite Schools as International Gateways
For prestigious institutions like Roedean School (SA) and St David’s Marist Inanda, international university placements are now a key performance indicator. Wealthy parents increasingly view these schools as springboards for offshore opportunities.
Roedean School (SA)
With an average of 4.21 distinctions per candidate in 2025, Roedean is a powerhouse of academic excellence.
“This kind of environment is very university obsessed. We almost have 100% of students going to university,” says Roger Bourquin, Head of Mathematics.
Bourquin estimates that 15% of each grade applies overseas, with a recent student accepted into the Ivy League’s University of Pennsylvania. 2025 Head Girl Ita Collins is currently eyeing Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
St David’s Marist Inanda
Principal Mike Thiel reports that 15% to 20% of his students head overseas. While the school encourages local undergraduate study to build professional networks, the “allure” of international tours and regular visits from overseas recruiters makes the offshore path hard to resist.
“Bigger Than a Brain Drain”
The shift highlights a deeper systemic issue. Ivor Ichikowitz of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation describes this as more than just a loss of skills; it is a fundamental vote of no confidence in the local future by the next generation.
“This group… are saying: ‘We are going to improve our lives, even if it means having to up and leave and go somewhere else,’” Ichikowitz noted.
While some schools, like Kingsmead College, have seen a slight post-Covid dip in undergraduate departures, the consensus remains: the goal is to secure a foothold in a global market where the “thin” South African job market cannot compete.
