Top 10 Best Universities In South Africa 2023

South African universities are largely considered some of the best institutions of higher learning in Africa. Therefore, the best universities in South Africa are some of the oldest and finest citadels of learning on the continent; drawing in students and academics from all over the world.

The standard of learning obtainable in South Africa is quite high; the country’s learning institutions rank quite highly in all global rankings, and have produced notable people in almost every field of life. South African universities have contributed to medical research, and have even put a satellite in space.

While other universities in the country are also great places to study; there will always be some that will top any list.

Top 10 Best Universities In South Africa

1. University Of Cape Town

The University Of Cape Town is a public research university which is located in Cape Town, South Africa. This institution was established in 1829 as the South African College. However, the university was granted full university status in 1918. That makes the University of Cape Town the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest university in Sub-Saharan Africa in continuous operation.

The university has a Global Score of 68.0, and has a student body of 21,069. The University of Cape Town has 57 departments across six faculties offering bachelor’s degrees in English language. However, the university also offers Doctoral degrees, and other higher certifications.

2. University Of Witwatersrand

The University of Witwatersrand was established in 1896. The institution was established as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley, but has since developed into a complete university. The University operates multiple campuses; and is very much involved in research.

Wits University has a Global Score of 60.8; and has a student body of around 26,871.

The University was instrumental to the fight against racial discrimination, and saw the rise of student activism. The institution produced Nelson Mandela, as well as several other top political personalities in the country. Wits University is also one of the top institutions in the area of Law, Social Sciences and Sports.

3. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is a public research university which is located in the town of Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch (tie with the University of Cape Town) is the oldest university in South Africa, and the oldest in continuous existence in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The university gained full university status in 1918. The institution has maintained a very high standard of education, including research, and development of new technology. For example; it was Stellenbosch University that designed and developed Africa’s first microsatellite back in 1999; and since then the university has been involved in research and development of many other impressive things.

Stellenbosch University occupies the 304 position on the Best Global Universities list; and has a student body of around 24,907. The university has very good research facilities; particularly interesting is the department of botany which is developing plants with the view of fighting hunger and illnesses.

4. University Of Kwazulu Natal

University of Kwazulu Natal also known as UKZN, is a university located in the Kwazulu Natal province of South Africa. The university was established on 1 January 2004, with the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.

This is one of the best rated universities in South Africa; it occupies the 370th position on the global ranking. The university has a student body of around 33,855.

The university is known as a place to study amongst other courses; Law, Accounting, Engineering, and so on.

5. University Of Johannesburg

The University of Johannesburg is one of the most illustrious citadels of learning in South Africa. the university came into being in 2005, when Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) and Vista University’s Soweto and East Rand campuses.

This university is ranked the 421st in the world; and has a student body of about 50,167, and about 3000 of that number are international students from all over the world. This university has produced several notable alumni; and has established itself as a place where from all over the continent prefer to study.

6. University Of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria was established in 1908. It is located in the administrative capital of South Africa called Pretoria. This university has a student body of around 50,000 students, and a history of excellence behind it.

The University of Pretoria is ranked 452 in the world, and one of the most prestigious in South Africa. The university is very much involved in research work; the University of Pretoria has produced more research papers every year than any other South African university since 1997.

7. North West University

North West University is one of South Africa’s biggest universities with a student body of around 54,000. This university is a public research university located on three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark in South Africa. It came into existence by a merger of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, and the University of North-West in 2004.

North West University is ranked 487 in the global rankings, and the institution is one of South Africa’s most formidable. The institution made headlines in 2018 when they discovered a way to deal with the Fall Army Worm menace.

8. University Of The Western Cape

University of the Western Cape is one of the best universities in South Africa. It is a public research university located in Bellville, near Cape Town, South Africa, which was established in 1959, as a university for Coloured people only. By the creation of this university the Apartheid government basically segregated the school system.

Thankfully now, students can freely associate with each other regardless of ethnicity. The university has a student body of around 22000, and they come from all ethnic divides in South Africa and beyond.

This university is heavily involved in research and development of new things; there are many institutes and research facilities in the University of the Western Cape.

9. University Of South Africa

The University of South Africa is a mega university; there are very few that can match it for total enrollments in the whole of Africa. This institution has a student population of 420,000, most of whom study via correspondence.

This university has set the standards, and raised the bars when it comes to courses that were previously thought too demanding to be studied via correspondence.

The University of South Africa is ranked 821 in the global universities ranking.

10. University Of The Free State

University of the Free State was originally established as a part of Grey College back in 1904, but it became a full university in 1950. The university was initially an Afrikaans Language university, but now operates a multi language education system across several campuses.

This university is ranked 875 on the global rankings. It has a student body of about 37,000, and they come from all parts of South Africa, and the rest of the continent.

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Closing

The best universities in South Africa are old, public institutions that have maintained very high academic standards, and made real life contributions to the development of humanity. Furthermore, they have also produced some important personalities who have left their mark in history.