List of universities in South Africa

Short description: None

| Parts of this organization (those related to enrolment numbers in all applicable tables, with sources and dates) need to be updated. Please update this organization to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2026)

|

Location of South Africa

This is a list of universities in South Africa. In this list, colleges and universities are defined as accredited, degree-granting, tertiary institutions. As of September 2022, only South African public degree-granting institutions may call themselves a "university", whereas other accredited private for-profit or not-for-profit degree-granting institutions tend to call themselves colleges, institutes, or business schools.[1]

Some of these private institutions are local campuses of foreign universities. Degree-granting institutions (both public and private) must be registered with, and have their specific degree programs accredited by, the Council on Higher Education.

In 2004 South Africa started reforming its public higher education system,[2] merging and incorporating small public universities into larger institutions, and renaming all higher education institutions "university" (previously there had been several types of higher education institution).

The country's universities and "technikons", which were incorporated with others and thus no longer exist, are listed at the end of the article.

Two new universities were launched in 2013;[3] Sol Plaatje University and the University of Mpumalanga. They are tentatively classified in the universities of technology category, pending clarification of their programs.

## Contents

* 1 Public universities
* 1.1 Traditional universities
* 1.2 Comprehensive universities
* 1.3 Universities of technology
* 2 Private degree-granting seminaries, institutes and colleges
* 2.1 Theological seminaries
* 2.2 Institutes
* 3 University rankings
* 4 University research collaboratives
* 5 Defunct institutions
* 6 See also
* 7 References

## Public universities

Public universities in South Africa are divided into three types: traditional universities, which offer theoretically oriented university degrees; universities of technology ("technikons"), which offer vocational oriented diplomas and degrees; and comprehensive universities, which offer a combination of both types of qualification.[4][5]

### Traditional universities

* University of Cape Town

* University of Fort Hare

* University of the Free State

* University of KwaZulu-Natal

* North-West University

* University of Pretoria

* Rhodes University

* Stellenbosch University

* University of the Western Cape

* University of the Witwatersrand

Institution  | Nickname  | Founded  | University status  | Undergrad  | Postgrad  | Total  | Location(s)  | Medium

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Cape Town  | Ikeys / UCT  | 1 October 1829[6] | 2 April 1918[6] | 17,685  | 11,329  | 29,427 (2024)[7] | Cape Town | Eng
University of Fort Hare  | UFH / Blues  | 1916[8] |  | 9,074  | 2,000  | 13,000+ (2025)[9] | Alice, East London, Bhisho | Eng
University of the Free State  | Kovsies / UFS  | 28 January 1904[10] | 1950[11] | 21,193 (2011)  | 5,082 (2011)[12] | 40,248 (2025)[13] | Bloemfontein, QwaQwa  | Eng
University of KwaZulu-Natal  | UKZN / Natal / Impi  | 1 January 20041[14] | 1 January 2004[14] | 33,456  | 13,064  | 46,000 (2025)[15] | Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Westville  | Eng
University of Limpopo  | Turfloop  | 1 January 20051[16] | 1 January 2005[16] | 17,273  | 3,327  | 20,600  | Polokwane, Turfloop  | Eng
North-West University  | NWU / Pukke / Eagles  | 1 January 20041[17] | 1 January 2004[17] | 50,409  | 7,245  | 55,096 (2025)[18] | Mafikeng, Mankwe, Potchefstroom, Vanderbijlpark  | Afr (Potchefstroom campus), Eng (Mafikeng campus), Setswana (Vaaldriehoek campus)
University of Pretoria  | Tuks / Tukkies / UP[19] | 4 March 1908[20] | 10 October 1930[21] | 35,9422 | 12,5412 | 56,453[22] | Pretoria, Johannesburg3[23] | Eng
Rhodes University  | Rhodes / RU  | 31 May 1904[24] | 10 March 1951  | 5,456  | 1,127  | 6,700  | Grahamstown  | Eng
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University4 | SMU (formerly MEDUNSA)  | 16 May 2014[25] | 16 May 2014  |  |  | 6,410 (2018)[26] | Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria | Eng
Stellenbosch University  | Maties, Stellies  | 1866[27] | 2 April 1918[27] | 17,970[28] | 9,853  | 34,000 (2025)[29] | Stellenbosch, Saldanha Bay, Bellville, Tygerberg  | Eng, Afr
University of the Western Cape  | UWC / Bush / U Dubs  | 1959[30] | 1970[30] | 11,836  | 3,390  | 15,226  | Bellville  | Eng
University of the Witwatersrand  | Wits, Witsies  | 1896[31] | 1922[31] | 25,835  | 15,867  | 41,702 (2025)[32] | Johannesburg | Eng

Note1: By merger of existing institutions

Note2: Exact and current numbers not available, these numbers are from the University of Pretoria's wiki.

Note3: The university's business school the Gordon Institute of Business Science has a campus in Illovo and an inner-city campus on Pritchard Street, in downtown Johannesburg.

Note4: Split out from the University of Limpopo into which Medical University of South Africa had previously merged.

### Comprehensive universities

* University of Johannesburg

* University of South Africa (Unisa)

* University of Venda

Institution  | Nickname  | Founded  | Undergrad  | Postgrad  | Total  | Location(s)  | Medium

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

University of Johannesburg  | UJ  | 1 January 20051 (1967 as RAU, Technikon Witwatersrand and the East Rand campus of Vista University)  | 41,229  | 13,296  | 54,525 (2025)[33] | Johannesburg, Soweto  | Eng
Nelson Mandela University  | Madibaz / NMU  | 1 January 20052 (1964 as UPE)  | 19,768  | 2,884  | 22,652  | Port Elizabeth, George  | Eng
University of South Africa  | Unisa  | 1873 (UCGH)  |  |  | 370,000+ (2025)[34] | Distance education, headquartered in Pretoria, campuses and regional offices nationwide  | Eng
University of Venda  | Univen  | 1982  |  |  | 10,968  | Thohoyandou  | Eng
Walter Sisulu University  | WSU/ALL BLACKS  | 1977 (Unitra)  |  |  | 32,081 (2018)[35] | East London, Butterworth, Mthatha, Queenstown  | Eng
University of Zululand  | UniZulu  | 1960  | 6,456  | 369  | 6,825  | Empangeni  | Eng

Note1: By merger of existing institutions
Note2: By merger of existing institutions

### Universities of technology

* Cape Peninsula University of Technology

* Tshwane University of Technology

Institution  | Nickname  | Founded  | University status  | Undergrad  | Postgrad  | Total  | Location(s)  | Medium

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Cape Peninsula University of Technology  | CPUT/Cats  | 20051 | 2005  |  |  | 35,000+ (2026)[36] | Bellville, Cape Town | Eng
Central University of Technology  | CUT/Ixias  | 1981  |  |  |  | 22,380 (2026)[37] | Bloemfontein, Welkom  | Eng
Durban University of Technology  | DUT  | 20021 | 2002  |  |  | 23,000  | Durban, Pietermaritzburg | Eng
Mangosuthu University of Technology  | MUT  | 1979  | 2007  | 14,000  | 500  | 14,500 (2025)[38] | Umlazi  | Eng
University of Mpumalanga  | UMP  | 2013  | 2013  |  |  |  | Mbombela | Eng
Sol Plaatje University  | SPU  | 2013  | 2013  |  |  |  | Kimberley, Northern Cape | Eng
Tshwane University of Technology  | TUT/Vikings  | 20031 | 2003  |  |  | 66,209 (2025)[39] | Pretoria, Mbombela, Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Witbank  | Eng
Vaal University of Technology  | VUT  | 1966  | 2003  |  |  | 17,000  | Vanderbijlpark, Secunda, Kempton Park, Klerksdorp, Upington  | Eng

Note1: By merger of existing institutions

## Private degree-granting seminaries, institutes and colleges

### Theological seminaries

Institution  | Nickname  | Founded  | Enrollment  | Type  | Location(s)  | Medium

|
|
|
|
|
|

Auckland Park Theological Seminary  | ATS  | 1997 (1956)  |  | Theological seminary  | Johannesburg | Eng
Open Christian University  | OCU  | 2021  | Rolling Enrollment  | Theological  | Online  | Eng
Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa  |  | 1951  |  | Theological seminary  | Johannesburg | Eng
George Whitefield College  |  | 1989  |  | Theological seminary  | Cape Town | Eng
South African Theological Seminary  | SATS  | 1996  |  | Theological seminary  | Online  | Eng
St Augustine College of South Africa  |  | 1999  |  | Private Tertiary Academic Institution  | Johannesburg | Eng

### Institutes

Institution  | Nickname  | Founded  | Enrollment  | Type  | Location(s)  | Medium

|
|
|
|
|
|

Two Oceans Graduate Institute  | TOGI  | 2017  |  | Registered private higher education institution  | Distance/Online  | Eng

## University rankings

League tables of South African universities are largely based on international university rankings, because there have not as yet been published any specifically South African rankings.

## University research collaboratives

* Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC)
* Foundation of Tertiary Institutions of the Northern Metropolis (FOTIM)
* Higher Education South Africa (HESA)
* Southern Education and Research Alliance (SERA)

## Defunct institutions

Institution  | Location  | Founded  | Closed  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Bond South Africa  | Sandton  |  | 2004[40] | Reopened as a new institution. Now Varsity College, part of IIE
Border Technikon  | East London  |  | 2005  | Merged. Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
University of Bophuthatswana  | Potchefstroom  | 2004  |  | Now part of North-West University
University of the Cape of Good Hope  | Cape Town | 1873  | 1916  | Renamed University of South Africa
Cape Technikon  |  |  |  | Now part of Cape Peninsula University of Technology
University of Durban-Westville  | Westville  | 1972  | 1 January 2004[14] | Now part of University of KwaZulu-Natal
Eastern Cape Technikon  | Butterworth  | 1994  | 2005  | Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
Medical University of South Africa  | Ga-Rankuwa  | 1976  | 1 January 2005[16] | Now part of University of Limpopo
Technikon Natal  | Durban  |  |  | Now part of Durban University of Technology
University of the North  | Polokwane | 1959  | 1 January 2005[16] | Now part of University of Limpopo
University of Natal  | Pietermaritzburg, Durban  | 1910  | 1 January 2004[14] | Now part of University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of North-West, formerly the University of Bophuthatswana  | Mafikeng |  | 1 January 2004[17] | Now part of North-West University
Port Elizabeth Technikon.  | Port Elizabeth, George  | 1882[41] | 2005  | Now part of Nelson Mandela University
University of Port Elizabeth  | Port Elizabeth  | 31 January 1964  | 2005  | Now part of Nelson Mandela University
Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education  | Potchefstroom  | 29 November 1869  | 1 January 2004[17] | Now part of North-West University
Rand Afrikaans University  | Johannesburg | 1967  | 2005  | Now part of University of Johannesburg
Technikon SA  |  |  | 1 January 2004[42] | Now part of University of South Africa
Transvaal University College  | Johannesburg, Pretoria | 1906  | 1910/1930  | Predecessor of the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand. The University of the Witwatersrand was named the Transvaal University College from 1906 to 1910. The University of Pretoria was established as the Pretoria branch of the Transvaal University College in 1908 and retained that name until 1930.
University of Transkei  | Transkei  | 1977  | 2005  | Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
University of Gazankulu  | Giyani  | ?  | ?  | Probably distributed between the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo
Vista University  | Multi-city campus university  | 1981  | 2004/2005  | Now merged with the Nelson Mandela University, the University of the Free State, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria, the University of South Africa and the Vaal University of Technology.
Technikon Witwatersrand  | Johannesburg | 1925  | 2005  | University of Johannesburg

## See also

* Ranking of South African universities
* List of colleges and universities by country
* List of post secondary institutions in South Africa
* List of South African universities by endowment
* List of South African university chancellors and vice-chancellors
* List of medical schools in South Africa
* List of law schools in South Africa
* List of business schools in South Africa
* List of architecture schools in South Africa
* Open access in South Africa
* Higher Education South Africa
* Academic boycotts of South Africa (historical Apartheid-era)

## References

1. ↑ "Draft Policy For The Recognition Of South African Higher Education Institutional Types. Determined In Terms Of Section 3 Of The Higher Education Act (act 101 Of 1997, As Amended)". Republic of South Africa: Department of Higher Education and Training. April 2022. https://www.dhet.gov.za/Policy and Development Support/22 08 03 Policy on Recognition of South African Higher Education Instituional Types_docx.pdf.
2. ↑ The restructuring of South African higher education: rocky roads from policy formulation to institutional mergers, 2001-2005. Terri Barnes, Narend Baijnath, Kalawathie Sattar (1st ed.). Pretoria: Unisa Press. 2010. ISBN 978-1-86888-524-4. OCLC 631055581.
3. ↑ "South Africa's new universities named". http://www.southafrica.info/about/education/universities-250713.htm.
4. ↑ "www.sauvca.org.za | highered". http://www.sauvca.org.za/highered/.
5. ↑ HESA Structures
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "University of Cape Town / About the university / Introducing UCT". http://www.uct.ac.za/about/intro/history/. Our history. Retrieved 13 May 2011
7. ↑ "UCT Fact Sheet 01: "About UCT"". April 2024. https://www.news.uct.ac.za/images/userfiles/files/publications/factsheets/UCT_FactSheet_01_AboutUCT.pdf.
8. ↑ "The Presidency | University of Fort Hare (1916–)". http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/pebble.asp?relid=1042.
9. ↑ "UFH: About Us / Stats". https://www.ufh.ac.za/about-us#Stats.
10. ↑ "University of the Free State Brief history". http://www.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx?id=11. Brief History. Retrieved 28 April 2011
11. ↑ Username *. "University of the Free State". SARUA. http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_University of the Free State.
12. ↑ "University of the Free State UFS About Us". http://www.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx.
13. ↑ UFS Department of Communication and Marketing (2025). "UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE Institutional Profile 2025". https://www.ufs.ac.za/docs/default-source/institutional-profiles/2025-ufs-institutional-profile_sept-2025-final.pdf?sfvrsn=60bce420_1.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "History- University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal". http://www.ukzn.ac.za/About-UKZN/UKZN-History.aspx. History – University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved 13 May 2011
15. ↑ "UKZN at a glance - final". March 2025. https://www.news.uct.ac.za/images/userfiles/files/publications/factsheets/UCT_FactSheet_01_AboutUCT.pdf.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "University of Limpopo". Ul.ac.za. http://www.ul.ac.za/index.php?Entity=UL Historical Background.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "NWU, History of the NWU". Nwu.ac.za. 2004-01-01. http://www.nwu.ac.za/nwu/history.html.
18. ↑ "NWU Quick Stats 2025-2026". https://www.nwu.ac.za/sites/www.nwu.ac.za/files/files/i-institutional-information/pocket-statistics/NWU Quick Stats 2025-2026.pdf.
19. ↑ "New Students | University of Pretoria". Web.up.ac.za. http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=33.
20. ↑ "Geskiedenis > Universiteit van Pretoria". http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=2&subid=2&ipklookid=2. History of the University of Pretoria. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
21. ↑ "Pretoria School of Architecture". Artefacts.co.za. http://www.artefacts.co.za/main/Buildings/style_det.php?styleid=368.
22. ↑ "UP at a glance". 2025. https://issuu.com/universityofpretoria/docs/up_in_a_nutshell_2025_3bf67a9028c582?fr=xKAE9_zMzMw.
23. ↑ Campuses. Retrieved 1 October 2010
24. ↑ "Rhodes University-Where Leaders Learn". Ru.ac.za. 24 April 2015. http://www.ru.ac.za/rhodes/introducingrhodes/historyofrhodes.
25. ↑ Nzimande, Blade. "HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, 1997 (ACT No. 101 OF 1997) ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University". Government Gazette (Government Printing Works) 587 (37658). http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Gazettes/37658_16-5_HighEduTrain.pdf. Retrieved 28 September 2017. Alt URL
26. ↑ "A Little Giant Surely Reaching its Milestones". https://www.smu.ac.za/a-little-giant-surely-reaching-its-milestones/.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Historical Background". http://www.sun.ac.za/university/history/history.htm. . Retrieved 13 May 2011
28. ↑ "Stellenbosch University Statistical Profile 2012" , Official Stellenbosch University Website, SU Consensus, June 2012
29. ↑ "Stellenbosch University: Institutional Profile". 2025. https://files.su.ac.za/public/stellenbosch-university/documents/2025-11/stellenbosch-university-institutional-profile.pdf.
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "History [ Home | CMS | showfulltext ]". http://www.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=cms&action=showfulltext&id=gen11Srv7Nme54_8987_1210050562&menustate=about.
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Short history of the University | Getting to know Wits | About Wits - Wits University". http://www.wits.ac.za/aboutwits/introducingwits/short-history-of-the-university/3162/short_history_of_the_university.html. . Retrieved 13 May 2011
32. ↑ "WITS Facts and Figures". 2025. https://www.wits.ac.za/about-wits/facts-and-figures/.
33. ↑ UJ - Division for Institutional Planning Evaluation and Monitoring (DIPEM) (2024). "Key Stats 2024". https://dipem.uj.ac.za/stats/.
34. ↑ "UNISA Facts Sheet Brochure". February 2025. https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/corporate_web/Content/About/Documents/19611_UNISA Facts Sheets Brochure_February 2025_D3 (002).pdf.
35. ↑ "VC's state of the university address: Convocation AGM". 2018. http://www.wsu.ac.za/waltersisulu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/20180901-Convocation-AGM.docx.
36. ↑ "About CPUT". CPUT. https://www.cput.ac.za/about-cput.
37. ↑ "CUT at a glance". 2026. https://www.cut.ac.za/cut-at-a-glance.
38. ↑ "MUT Factsheet 2025". https://www.mut.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MUT-Factsheet-2025.pdf.
39. ↑ "Campus Facts and Figures". 2025. https://www.tut.ac.za/about/facts-and-figures/.
40. ↑ The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (2004). Breaking News Archive – June 2004 . Retrieved 2 February 2008.
41. ↑ "Port Elizabeth (PE) Technikon". Study South Africa. http://www.mantramedia.us/sites/studysa/universities/petech.htm.
42. ↑ "This website was recently revamped". Unisa.ac.za. http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=7.

Template:South African universities

* v
* t
* e

Lists of universities in Africa

Sovereign states|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Benin
* Botswana
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cameroon
* Cape Verde (Cabo Verde)
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Comoros
* Democratic Republic of the Congo
* Republic of the Congo
* Djibouti
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Eritrea
* Eswatini (Swaziland)
* Ethiopia
* Gabon
* The Gambia
* Ghana
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
* Kenya
* Lesotho
* Liberia
* Libya
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Rwanda
* São Tomé and Príncipe
* Senegal
* Seychelles
* Sierra Leone
* Somalia
* South Africa
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Togo
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

States with limited
recognition

* Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
* Somaliland

Dependencies and
other territories

* Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (Spain)
* Madeira (Portugal)
* Mayotte / Réunion (France)
* Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)

Template:South African Business Schools

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List of universities in South Africa. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Organization:List_of_universities_in_South_Africa&oldid=4336765"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template