Sandton is set to become South Africa’s next educational hotspot with the arrival of Emeris, a private higher education institution launching in 2026.

• Sandton’s skyline is about to welcome a new landmark, as the Emeris campus rises on the former grounds of the FNB Conference & Learning Centre.
• Emeris combines Varsity College, Vega School, and MSA under a single brand, marking a new era in South African private higher education.
• The name draws inspiration from ‘Ephemeris’ and ‘Emeritus,’ symbolising both the trajectory of individual achievement and earned success.
• Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za for more stories.

Sandton is no stranger to bold new developments, but few carry the transformative potential of Emeris, a new private higher education brand that will officially launch in January 2026. Birthed from the unification of Varsity College, Vega School, and MSA under The Independent Institute of Education (IIE), Emeris is more than a rebrand but rather a start of a new chapter in South Africa’s tertiary education story.

For three decades, IIE institutions have shaped futures, equipping graduates with the skills, resilience, and adaptability demanded by an ever-changing world. Now, with Emeris, this experience is being consolidated into a single, powerful identity, underpinned by academic excellence, future-ready qualifications, and a R420-million state-of-the-art mega campus right in the heart of Sandton.

Beyond A Rebrand

At its core, Emeris will bring together three education brands under one banner. The institution is preparing for South Africa’s upcoming legislative reforms, which will for the first time allow private institutions meeting strict criteria to be formally recognised as universities.

The simplification of our premium brand structures under the Emeris name marks a significant step on our journey to be recognised as a university. Alongside our ongoing investments in people, facilities, research and new qualifications, this move strengthens our position as the leading provider of private tertiary education in South Africa.

// CEO of ADvTECH Group, Geoff Whyte

Emeris isn’t merely changing signage or stationery. It is expanding qualifications, rethinking learning environments, and aiming to embed itself as a credible alternative to public universities. The ambition is clear: to cement its place as a benchmark for private higher education in South Africa.

The Sandton Mega Campus

Perhaps the most visible manifestation of Emeris’ ambition is its upcoming R420-million mega campus, currently under construction in Sandton. Designed to bring together the existing Varsity College Sandton and Vega Bordeaux operations, the new facility will open in 2026 with space for 9’000 students.

The campus is being designed not just as a place to learn, but as an environment that fosters innovation, community, and holistic growth. Highlights include:
• A double-storey library and information centre to support research and learning.
• A student experience hub offering career and counselling services.
• An indoor sports centre capable of hosting University Sports South Africa and international competitions.
• Innovation spaces such as IT labs, podcast studios, and interactive mock classrooms.

The result will be a campus that blends academic rigour with real-world readiness, ensuring that students graduate with both qualifications and practical skills.

Emeris represents a bold step forward for private higher education in South Africa. With this unification, we will enhance our ability to deliver exceptional higher education by consolidating resources and expertise.

// Managing Director of Emeris, Louise Wiseman

Positioning For The Future

The establishment of Emeris coincides with a critical moment for South African higher education. Public universities face mounting challenges, from underfunding and overcrowding to infrastructure strain and student protests. Against this backdrop, demand for credible, well-resourced private alternatives is growing rapidly. Emeris is looking to position itself as a forward-thinking solution to these pressures. Its smaller class sizes, personalised student support, and real-world teaching expertise have long been its trademarks, and now, unified under a single banner, these advantages will be amplified.

The institution is also building deeper partnerships with industry and civil society to ensure that graduates are workplace-ready and socially engaged. Sustainability, environmental stewardship, and ethical leadership are being embedded into the curriculum, aligning graduates with the needs of 21st-century employers.

The Meaning Behind the Name

Names matter, and Emeris carries symbolic weight. Inspired by the words Ephemeris (the trajectory of celestial objects) and Emeritus (merit and earned success), it reflects the institution’s vision of guiding students along their own individual paths to achievement.

When we open our doors in 2026, Emeris will mark the beginning of a new era for South African higher education.

// Managing Director of Emeris, Louise Wiseman

A Step Toward University Recognition

One of the most significant aspects of Emeris’ creation is its alignment with forthcoming legislative reforms. For the first time, private institutions that meet defined criteria will be able to gain university recognition in South Africa. This represents a seismic shift in the country’s higher education landscape, elevating the status of institutions like Emeris and providing students with more options and greater legitimacy in their qualifications. By consolidating its brands and demonstrating its depth of academic excellence, Emeris is positioning itself to be among the first private institutions recognised as a university.

Challenges And Opportunities

Of course, challenges remain. South Africa’s private education sector has sometimes been perceived as elitist or inaccessible. Emeris will need to strike a balance between premium positioning and inclusivity, ensuring that it contributes meaningfully to the country’s skills pipeline while maintaining high standards.

The institution also faces the responsibility of ensuring that its shiny new infrastructure doesn’t overshadow its core mission: producing capable, ethical, and adaptable graduates. The mega campus, with all its bells and whistles, will ultimately be judged not on its architecture but on the calibre of the graduates who walk out its doors.

A New Era In Sandton

For Sandton, the arrival of Emeris adds another dimension to its identity. Already the financial hub of Africa, the district will now host a world-class educational institution with capacity for thousands of students – anywhere from 15’000 to 30’000. This convergence of business and academia could foster new synergies, from research collaborations to talent pipelines, further cementing Sandton’s status as a city within a city.

Stand a chance to WIN with The Sandton Times.

Advertise on The Sandton Times today!

Head back to The Sandton Times Home Page for more stories.