Best universities in South Africa 2026

South Africa is one of the most developed countries on the continent, which opens up a variety of tourist opportunities for international students: stunning natural, urban landscapes, a unique cultural environment. Studying in an intercultural environment is a great opportunity to make new friends and make useful acquaintances.

Education for students in the best universities in South Africa included in the world and national rankings is a quality studying in English in a multicultural environment. Universities in South Africa offer bachelor's and master's degree courses. Classical universities focus on traditional theoretical, research-oriented education, technical schools focus on vocational education.

There are currently 23 state-funded higher education institutions and 115 private universities in South Africa. The educational programs at universities include most academic areas, there are MBA courses. For international students, upon admission, the procedures established for the enrollment of South African citizens apply.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What firstly should be considered when choosing a university? Subjects, employer value, percentage of employment in the first year after graduation?

It depends on the student - everyone determines the most important criteria for himself. I would advise you to take several rankings and compare them with each other, plus take into account the cost of the course, the location of the university and its scale, the percentage of graduates' employment. See where graduates continue their studies or where they go to work.

Universities in South Africa offer different tuition rates for students from neighboring countries, Africans and international students. The average tuition fee depends on the degree received: 16,000 — 22,000 RAND per year of study for a bachelor's degree, 20,000 - 30,000 rand per year for a master's degree. The bachelor's  program lasts three years. Those wishing to study for a master's degree must wait one year, after which they can apply for continuing education.

In case of enrolment, foreign students must provide a diploma of full secondary education and a certificate of proficiency in English — TOEFL or IELTS. The foreign students can enter one of the universities of South Africa only with a national certificate of secondary education with a maximum score, providing a portfolio of your scientific school papers or sports achievements, as well as having an interview with the dean. The requirements for applicants are high, and the level of education in universities is quite high.

Times Higher Education has published its annual ranking of the best universities in the world for 2022, including 11 South African universities. The publication compiles a global efficiency rating, which assesses universities that are intensively engaged in scientific research.

It assesses 13 performance indicators to ensure the most complete and balanced comparison. They are grouped into five areas: teaching (learning environment); research (volume, income and reputation of scientific research of the university); citation (the impact of research on the world scientific community); international prospects; profitability of the university. The ranking results are independently audited by PwC.

The University of Cape Town once again occupied top position in the local ranking as the best university in South Africa according to the Times Higher Education, although its position dropped by 28 places compared to the 2020 ranking.

Wits University also dropped in the ranking, falling out of the 201-250 group and falling into the 251-300 group together with Stellenbosch University.

The only university that rose to a higher position in the ranking was the University of South Africa (Unisa), which managed to rise from the 1001+ group to the 801-1000 group.

TOP universities in South Africa are the following:

• University of Cape Town
• University of the Witwatersrand
• Stellenbosch University
• University of Kwazulu-Natal
• Durban University of Technology
• Northwestern University
• University of Johannesburg
• University of Pretoria
• University of the Western Cape
• University of South Africa
• Tshwane University of Technology.

The best universities in South Africa are public institutions, as only they have the right to call themselves universities. Private for-profit and non-profit universities usually have other names, for example, colleges, institutes and business schools. Some of these institutions are branches of foreign universities.

South African public universities have an additional division into three types:

1. Traditional universities: They offer degrees in theoretical sciences. Among the core areas in such universities are the humanities and natural sciences, commerce and healthcare. The main emphasis in studying is on academic research.
2. Technological universities: They offer diplomas and degrees in practice-oriented disciplines. After studying at such a university, a student can immediately get a job in an industry company. In addiion to academic knowledge, students gain practical experience and develop relevant competencies.
3. Multidisciplinary universities: They combine both qualification areas. Such universities practice an integrated approach to education, focus on modern trends and demands of the labor market. After studying, young specialists have an excellent command of both the theoretical base and practical skills.

The first type includes, for example, the universities of Cape Town, and the third - the universities of Johannesburg. Some universities in South Africa occupy positions in the world rankings, may fall into the top 100, top 200 or top 800.

On average, if a student wants to get a bachelor's degree, they will need three years of studying, future masters need two years to complete a degree, and in some cases, one is enough.

The academic schedule at universities in South Africa is usually divided into semesters:

1. From February to June,
2. From July to November.

Universities in South Africa adhere to rules similar to Australia and New Zealand, so after three years of undergraduate study, students can only receive a regular diploma. To receive a document with honors, a graduate must take an additional academic year after the third year.

A year of study after a bachelor's degree counts as a master's degree, but in order to successfully complete an educational course, a student must write a research paper on a topic similar to the direction they studied at the bachelor's degree.