AFDA Gqeberha
Established 2015
AFDA Gqeberha was established in 2015 at a small campus in Newton Park. The student numbers soon outgrew the site and the campus was moved to Bird Street in Central into an old museum and heritage building.
The campus started with offering the BA in Motion Picture Medium, and the BA in Live Performance soon followed suit. By 2018, the Postgraduate BA Honours degree started and in 2019, the 1-year Higher Certificate was started at the campus. The campus hosts a growing but tightly knit and diverse community of passionate staff and students all invested in and focussed on the creative economy.
The Gqeberha campus is within 5min from all the top amenities, most importantly the beautiful beaches and beachfront promenade of Nelson Mandela Bay. The Central area is host to a melting pot of arts and culture, including the Opera Theatre, art galleries and also many historical and cultural sites and buildings.
10 Good Reasons to Study at AFDA Gqeberha
- Historic “Bird Street” Campus: The campus is housed in a beautifully renovated heritage building in the historic Central area, once home to the original Port Elizabeth Museum.
- Walk in the Footsteps of Icons: The campus occupies the exact site where South Africa’s famous resistance theatre was born. Students literally “walk in the paths of global icons” like John Kani and Athol Fugard, who performed there as the Serpent Players.
- Cornerstone of a New Industry: Unlike the established hubs of Joburg or Cape Town, Gqeberha offers students the chance to be pioneers in a burgeoning regional industry, helping to build the creative economy of the Eastern Cape from the ground up.
- Tightly Knit Community: The Gqeberha campus is known for its “growing but tightly knit” and diverse community, providing a personalized and supportive learning environment.
- Prime Coastal Location: Situated just 5 minutes from the top amenities of Nelson Mandela Bay, students have immediate access to stunning beaches and a beachfront promenade for both lifestyle and filming locations.
- Cultural Melting Pot: The Central area is a hub for arts and culture, featuring the Opera Theatre, art galleries, and numerous historical sites that serve as inspiration and sets for student productions.
- International Recognition (CILECT): Despite its regional focus, Gqeberha students benefit from AFDA’s full membership in CILECT, ranking the school alongside world-class institutions like USC and UCLA.
- Project-Led, No Exam Assessment: The campus follows AFDA’s signature pedagogy, no traditional sit-down exams. Assessment is entirely project-led, mimicking industry practices through market response and expert reviews.
- Inclusive Fee Model: Like all AFDA campuses, tuition is all-inclusive, meaning students are provided with the necessary equipment, facilities, and materials to realize their projects without hidden hiring costs.
- Elite Gear and Parity: Students train on industry-standard equipment, including ARRI camera systems, ensuring they gain technical skills that are directly transferable to international film sets.