Finance Department

I've been a student at VC Sandton for about five years now. Unfortunately, over the past three years, the quality of service—particularly from the finance department—has significantly declined. Despite consistently paying my fees on time, my student portal has been repeatedly blocked without valid reason.

During my undergraduate studies, just before graduation, I received an email from finance claiming my account was overdue. This was incorrect. I submitted proof of payment, but my certificate was still withheld. It took four separate visits to campus before they finally released my certificate.

In the same year I graduated, I enrolled in a new programme at the same institution. There was a clear mix-up during admissions. I was registered for a module I had not selected, and when I raised the issue, I was told it was my fault. One of the campus advisors even said, “There’s no proof—it's your word against theirs,” and suggested I should have recorded the conversation to prove my case. I was shocked that a representative of an academic institution would make such a statement, implying that students need to record every interaction with staff to protect themselves.

Now, in my final year, my portal has been blocked again, this time due to an outstanding fee for that same disputed module. The fee was supposed to be deferred to the following year, yet I’m being held accountable and penalised for an error that was not mine.

VC Sandton has shown a clear lack of empathy and accountability throughout my experience. I stayed with the institution because I believed they genuinely cared about their students and would eventually rectify past issues. Sadly, that hasn’t been the case. The ongoing stress and lack of support have been incredibly disappointing.