South Africa has great colleges and universities that are doing their best to obtain the higher education requirements of students worldwide. You will find the below list of colleges and African universities, there are nine provinces in South Africa and each province has at least one university. This wide range of African institutions provides opportunities for prospective students looking for quality education. A number of these establishments also appear in the list of best universities in South Africa.
If you’re looking for the contact details of a specific university within your province? You came to the right place.
Remember if you are applying to a University you can complete your form (Central Application Office) on the CAO website. Please also see how to find your CAO status check. You can also use our online guide if you need any help calculating your APS score.
See below list of universities in South Africa within each province and some essential details for your help
Eastern Cape
Rhodes University (Rhodes / RU)
Rhodes University is a public research university located in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is one of four universities in the province.
Faculties: Humanities, Commerce, Law, Science, Education and Pharmacy
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Madibaz / NMMU)
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is a South African tertiary education institution with its main administration in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. NMMU is a comprehensive university offering professional and vocational training. The University has six campuses – five in Port Elizabeth and one in George.
Faculties: Arts, Business and Economic Sciences, Education, Engineering, Built Environment & IT, Health Sciences, Law, Science
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was a key institution of higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959.
Faculties: Education, Science & Agriculture, Social Sciences & Humanities, Management & Commerce, Law
WSU is a developmental university, focusing on urban renewal and rural development by responding to the socio-economic needs of community, commerce and industry through science, technology and innovation.
Faculties: Science, Engineering and Technology, Health Sciences, Business, Management Sciences & Law, Education.
Founded in 1981, Central University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the small city of Bloemfontein, Free State. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Welkom. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa. Central University of Technology (CUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology; Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences; Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Management Sciences
The University of the Free State is a multi campus public university in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State. As part of the mission to become ‘a university recognised across the world for excellence in academic achievement and in human reconciliation’, the university, its staff, students and alumni play a pivotal role in the central parts of South Africa, the country as a whole, the region, Africa and abroad.
Faculties: Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Humanities and Theology.
Established in 2003, Tshwane University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Pretoria, Gauteng. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa, Witbank, Nelspruit, Polokwane. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa. Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Engineering and the Built Environment, Science, Humanties, Management Science, Information and Communication Technology, Arts, Economics and Finance.
Founded in 2005, University of Johannesburg is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Johannesburg, Gauteng. University of Johannesburg (UJ) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Art, Design and Architecture, Education, Engineering and the Built Environment, Economic and Financial Sciences, Science, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Management.
Established in 1908, University of Pretoria is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large city of Pretoria, Gauteng. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa, University of Pretoria (UP) is a very large coeducational higher education institution. University of Pretoria (UP) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Arts & Humanities, Business & Social Sciences, Medicine & Health, Engineering, Science & Technology
The University of South Africa is the largest university on the African continent and attracts a third of all higher education students in South Africa. UNISA has a reputable, comprehensive, flexible and accessible open distance learning institution that is motivating a future generation. Offer internationally accredited qualifications and have world-class resources.
Faculties: Accounting Sciences, Economic and Management Science, Education, Human Sciences, Law, Science, Engineering & Technology, Agriculture & Environmental Sciences,
Founded in 1922, University of the Witwatersrand is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Johannesburg, Gauteng. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Commerce, Law and Management, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Science, Humanities, Science
Founded in 1966, Vaal University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium-sized town of Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Klerksdrop, Kempton Park, Secunda, Upington, Sebokeng. Vaal University of Technology (VUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees, bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Engineering and Technology, Applied & Computer Sciences, Human Sciences, Management Sciences.
Founded in 2002, Durban University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Durban University of Technology (DUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Applied Sciences, Accounting & Informatics, Arts and Design, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Management Sciences.
Founded in 2004, University of KwaZulu-Natal is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Westiville, Pinetown, Pietermaritzburg. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Engineering and Science, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Management
Founded in 1979, Mangosuthu University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Established in 1960, University of Zululand is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium-sized town of Kwadlangezwa, KwaZulu-Natal. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Umhlathuze. University of Zululand (UNIZULU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Founded in 1959, University of Limpopo is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the medium-sized town of Mankweng, Limpopo. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Medunsa. University of Limpopo (UL) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Humanities, Health Sciences, Management and Law, Science And Agriculture.
Established in 1982, University of Venda is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the large town of Thohoyandou, Limpopo. University of Venda offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Agriculture, Education, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, Human and Social Sciences, Law, Management Sciences, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
Established in 2014, University of Mpumalanga is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the large town of Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Siyabuswa. University of Mpumalanga offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Arts & Humanities, Business & Social Sciences, Science & Technology
Founded in 2004, North-West University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the small city of Potchefstroom, North West. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Mafikeng, Vanderbijlpark. North-West University (NWU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties:
For Mafikeng Campus – Agriculture, Science and Technology, Commerce and Administration, Education and Training, Human and Social Sciences, Law.
For Potchefstroom Campus- Arts, Economic and Management Sciences, Education Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Natural Sciences, Theology.
For Vaal Triangle Campus- Economic Sciences and Information Technology, Humanities.
Established in 2014, Sol Plaatje University is a public higher education institution located in the large town of Kimberley, Northern Cape. Sol Plaatje University (SPU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Natural and Applied Science, Economic and Management Science, Education, Humanties
Established in 1918, University of Cape Town is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large city of Cape Town, Western Cape. University of Cape Town (UCT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC / Bush / U Dubs)
Founded in 1959, University of the Western Cape is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of Bellville, Western Cape. University of the Western Cape (UWC) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Arts, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law, Natural Sciences.
Established in 1918, Universiteit Stellenbosch (University of Stellenbosch) is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the large town of Stellenbosch, Western Cape. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Tygerberg, Bellville, Saldanha. Universiteit Stellenbosch offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: AgriScience, Arts and Social Science, Education, Engineering, Law, Science, Theology, Economic and Management Science, Health Science, Business
Established in 2005, Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the large city of Cape Town, Western Cape. This institution has also branch campuses in the following location(s): Bellville, Mowbray, Wellington, Greenpoint. Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study.
Faculties: Applied Sciences, Business and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness Sciences, Informatics and Design.
