Making money as a student in South Africa boasts of some undeniable benefits, though it could daunt at the same time.
Working while being a student can obviously help you pay for your personal expenses, supplement some financial aid, and can also help you gain valuable work experience.
Usually, the potential downfall of making money as a student would stretch yourself so much that you would have to give up your study time.
How about I introduce to you to legit ways of making money that are quite flexible and okay to do as a student schooling in South Africa?
That way, you get to be your own boss, so you decide when to work or when to study.
Let’s discuss them in full.
Top 20 Ways to Make Money as a Student in South Africa
Here are the best ways to earn money daily as a student in South Africa:
1. Graphics Design
Graphic design is simply creating visual content that communicates an idea or a concept.
As a student, you can design logos, artworks, illustrations, cards, etc., for businesses or organizations, and you’ll be paid handsomely.
Graphic designers can make money both online and offline.
You can start working remotely by applying on several graphics design job boards or freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, and others.
The good thing is that you can also offer your skill on campus.
You can create posters or banners for students who may need them.
Graphics design is an in-demand skill both online and offline.
You can learn graphic design on YouTube, or you may as well ask someone to teach you.
It is very lucrative.
2. Freelance Writing
Freelance writers write blog posts, articles for publication, web pages, video scripts, white papers, and lots more.
Freelance writing is quite a flexible way to make money online work as a South African student.
You may only need a little knowledge of SEO, a good command of the English language, as well as a good phone and you’re ready!
You can easily combine freelance writing with your academics.
It is a very flexible way to make money.
To become a freelance writer:
- Research and learn the basic skills of writing and practice how to write.
- Select your writing niche (choose as many niches as possible).
- Create your writing portfolio.
- Lastly, market your writing.
As a beginner, you can start by reaching out to local businesses, blogs, or organizations.
That’s the best way to begin your writing career as a beginner.
However, you can also get some writing work on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, etc.
What you earn as a freelance writer totally depends on your input and commitment.
3. Transcribing Audio Files
A transcriptionist listens to recorded audio files and types them into a text format for clients.
It is a cool way to earn big as a student.
There are very many transcription tools out there, most of which are free.
With these tools, transcribing recorded audio files to text has become quite easy.
You can complete transcription jobs even more quickly.
You don’t need an academic qualification; you just need to be grounded with the required skills.
To become a transcriptionist, you should first learn the basics of the skill, and then you can start something.
To make money as a transcriptionist, search for transcription jobs on Flexjobs, Fiverr, Allegis Transcription, Scribe, and Transcribeme.
As a beginner, it is advisable to begin your career on transcription platforms, though they pay less compared to working with clients directly.
4. Photography
Another very lucrative business to do as a student in South Africa is photography.
As a student photographer, you can take pictures during important events like matriculation or convocation.
It doesn’t have to be only these events.
You can also take birthday photos, passports, etc.
You can begin your photography business as a student by getting a digital camera and a portable compact photo printer.
5. Hairdressing
Hairdressing is also another lucrative business to do as a South African student.
It is one of the offline jobs that you can do as a student.
Ladies always like to rock the latest braids and attachments in school, so you can be sure to have enough students patronizing you.
Provided you have the needed expertise, you can earn handsomely as a hairdresser or hairstylist.
6. Copywriting
Copywriters write persuasive contents that convince people to buy a particular product or service.
Freelance copywriting differs from content writing.
They write about business slogans and taglines, product images, search engines, social media ads, etc.
To become a copywriter, you need to understand how copywriting works, and what businesses expect from copywriters.
You need to learn the basics of effective copywriting.
Freelance marketplaces in which copywriting is in high demand include: Upwork, Fiverr, Guru.com, etc.
7. Makeup Artist
Makeup artists make good money on campus.
Events never cease on campus, from one birthday celebration to dinner night, and so many other events.
Makeup artists are always in-demand.
Get yourself the makeup kits and pieces of equipment.
You can go for an apprenticeship in makeup studios, and you can even learn via YouTube.
Doing makeup is a good side hustle and a good way to earn some passive income as a student.
8. Become a YouTuber
A YouTuber is a person who produces and posts content on YouTube.
YouTube is not only an entertainment platform; it is also an avenue to earn good money.
YouTubers earn massively from posting videos.
One of the highest earners on YouTube made over $54 million this year alone.
As a YouTuber, you can start making money by:
- Joining the YouTube partner program
- Sharing sponsored contents
- Becoming an affiliate partner
9. Website and App Testing
User testing is all about getting customers or end-users to evaluate a particular product or feature of a product.
It could be an app, a website, or any other product.
You don’t practically need to be an expert in using apps or websites.
All you need is to communicate your experience after using or testing the website or app.
To get paid to test websites and apps, you’ll need to have excellent communication skills, a good internet connection, and of course, a good phone.
You can get some website and app testing jobs on UserTesting, StartUpLift, TryMyUI, Userpeek, Testingtime, etc.
These sites pay good money just for you to test apps and websites for businesses, individuals, or organizations.
Undoubtedly, having an excellent site that is easily accessible means a lot for the growth of businesses.
10. Proofreading and Editing
To eliminate spelling, grammatical, capitalization, and numbering errors that look quite unprofessional, the need for proofreaders is ever-increasing.
Proofreading differs totally from editing.
Proofreading is the act of fixing errors within the final writing draft to eliminate any form of error.
While editing focuses on making texts more readable by assessing clarity and style.
Proofreading and editing are one of the in-demand skills on very many freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Guru, Freelancer, etc.
However, you can also do some cold pitching to local businesses or organizations, and you’ll definitely be earning some decent money with your phone.
11. Website Designing
With the world already turning digital, the need for websites is inevitable for businesses and organizations.
You can offer to build blogs or websites on freelance marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr.
Web design is both lucrative and in high demand.
12. Video Editing
Editing videos can be a hobby and a way of making money as a student online.
You wouldn’t need too many pieces of equipment to begin.
With Just your phone, you can make high-quality videos.
You can learn or improve your video editing skills on YouTube and other platforms.
Fortunately, there are a few free video editing programs out there to help you start up something.
You can search for video editing jobs on freelance platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Guru.com, etc.
13. Blogging
Blogging is one of the best and proven ways to make good money online as a student in South Africa.
As a Blogger, you create content for readers online.
You can write about any topic that you have a fair knowledge of; however, blogging is more than that.
Before you blog, learn the ropes of the business via YouTube or any other platform.
Bloggers make money in so many ways, some of which are:
- Direct advertising
- Sharing of sponsored posts
- Google AdSense
- Affiliate marketing
14. Online and Home Tutoring
Tutoring is another lucrative way to make money as a student in South Africa.
As a home tutor, you get to work when you want to as a student.
You can offer home lessons on subjects that you’re good at or passionate about.
You can also become an online tutor.
Some platforms can help bring you closer to your clients.
There are many ways you can earn from online tutoring.
You can also choose to be creating YouTube tutoring content, and you’ll be making good money as well.
15. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is basically recommending products or services to your friends or readers.
For each of these products or services that you recommend, you get to earn a certain commission if someone ends up buying these products.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to earn good money with your phone.
You don’t have to buy these products yourself; you just need to convince others to buy.
As an affiliate marketer, your income totally depends on how much traffic and the offers you promote.
There are many affiliate networks to consider starting affiliate marketing.
You can go to Amazon, Flex offers, commission junction, share-n-sale, and so many others.
16. Voice-over Artists
A voice-over artist, also known as a voice-over actor, uses his/her voice to provide information to an audience.
It could be to entertain, narrate, or market products.
Voice-over artists can make as much as $200 to $300 per hour of recording, especially in audiobook narration.
Some voice-over work includes public service announcements, commercials, podcasts, documentaries, audiobook narration, etc.
You can start making money as a voice-over artist on platforms like Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Voices.com, Upwork, and so many other freelance platforms.
17. Social Media Marketing
With a large following on social media platforms, businesses can reach out to you to advertise or promote their products.
As a social media marketer, your job is basically to get more traffic on their websites, and you’ll be handsomely paid for it.
Social media marketers make money through a variety of ways in South Africa.
You can also decide to promote people’s products on your social media pages for commission, just as an affiliate marketer, or you can decide to share sponsored posts on your social media handles.
There are available social media marketing jobs on freelance platforms like Fiverr, and others, so you don’t need to worry about getting clients.
Social media marketing is quite lucrative.
18. Become a Virtual Assistant
A Virtual Assistant is a remote employee who provides administrative services to clients.
Virtual assistants manage social media or business email, conduct administrative tasks, market analysis, create presentations, and so many others.
To become a virtual assistant:
- Take a training course
- Choose what services to offer
- Create an online presence
- Market your services and find jobs on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, freelancer.com, etc.
19. Sell Body-Care Products
One way to make good money as a student in South Africa is to sell common products like perfumes, soaps, creams, and so many others that are always in demand on campus.
Get these products and carry them along with you while on campus, selling to those that want them.
You can work as an affiliate, selling someone’s products to earn commissions from them. It is a cool way to make some extra cash as a student.
20. Baking
Can you make some yummy cakes and cupcakes?
If you do, you may also consider doing it even as a student too. It is also very lucrative.
Hardly would you see an event on campus that cakes will not be needed.
Trust me, you’ll earn massively as a student baker.
Just be ready to start from the little you can.
If you don’t have the needed capital, you can begin by hiring baking tools.
20 Best Ways to Make Money as a South African Student
Here are 20 legitimate ways SA students can earn money daily.
- Graphics Design
- Freelance Writing
- Transcribing Audio Files
- Photography
- Hairdressing
- Copywriting
- Makeup Artist
- Become a YouTuber
- Website and App Testing
- Proofreading and Editing
- Website Designing
- Video Editing
- Blogging
- Online and Home Tutoring
- Affiliate Marketing
- Voice-over Artists
- Social Media Marketing
- Become a Virtual Assistant
- Sell Body-Care Products
- Baking
READ ⇒ 12 New Life-Changing Secrets to Become Super Successful
Conclusion
There are many high-paying jobs for students in South Africa to make money online and offline.
By finding the right opportunity and using your skills and talents, you can start generating extra income to help pay for their education or other expenses.
With a little hard work and dedication, anyone can start earning money easily.
So, start exploring these side hustles and jobs for students in South Africa that pay daily and start making money today.
