Find information about universities in South Africa, including university applications, application dates, admission requirements, APS score requirements, the National Benchmark Tests (NBT), university information, student enrolment and funding options.
This guide covers all 26 public universities in South Africa, with information to help prospective students compare institutions, understand admission requirements and find the right university for their chosen qualification.
UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA: CONTENTS
- UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
- HOW TO APPLY TO UNIVERSITY
- UNIVERSITY APPLICATION DATES
- UNIVERSITY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- APS SCORE REQUIREMENTS BY UNIVERSITY
- APS CALCULATOR
- NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBT)
- FIND FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has 26 public universities, comprising traditional universities, universities of technology and comprehensive universities. The institutions differ in their academic structures, qualifications, campuses, admission systems and student populations.
CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (CPUT)
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 6 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 36,072 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 66,988 TIUs |
| CPUT Website | https://www.cput.ac.za/ |
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology is a university of technology based in Cape Town, with an academic focus that includes applied technology, engineering, business, health and design-related fields.
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN (UCT)
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 6 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 30,600+ |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 70,575 TIUs |
| UCT Website | https://www.uct.ac.za/ |
The University of Cape Town is a research-intensive university in Cape Town offering undergraduate and postgraduate study across six academic faculties, including Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Science.
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (CUT)
| Location | Bloemfontein & Welkom, Free State |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 21,617 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 29,058 TIUs |
| CUT Website | https://www.cut.ac.za/ |
The Central University of Technology has campuses in Bloemfontein and Welkom in the Free State and specialises in career-focused and technology-oriented higher education.
DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (DUT)
| Location | Durban & Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 6 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 34,508 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 61,245 TIUs |
| DUT Website | https://www.dut.ac.za/ |
The Durban University of Technology is a university of technology with campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Its programmes include technology, engineering, business, health sciences, arts and other career-focused disciplines.
UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE (UFH)
| Location | Alice, East London & Bhisho, Eastern Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 6 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 17,604 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 34,450 TIUs |
| UFH Website | https://www.ufh.ac.za/ |
The University of Fort Hare is a public university in the Eastern Cape with campuses including Alice, East London and Bhisho. It offers programmes across fields including education, law, management, science, agriculture and the humanities.
UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE (UFS)
| Location | Bloemfontein & Qwaqwa, Free State |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 7 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 39,964 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 78,278 TIUs |
| UFS Website | https://www.ufs.ac.za/ |
The University of the Free State has campuses in Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa and offers undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications across a broad range of academic fields.
UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG (UJ)
| Location | Johannesburg, Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 8 faculties/college |
| Approx. Students | 54,577 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 106,095 TIUs |
| UJ Website | https://www.uj.ac.za/ |
The University of Johannesburg is a comprehensive public university in Gauteng with campuses across Johannesburg. It offers qualifications ranging from certificates and diplomas to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL (UKZN)
| Location | Durban & Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 colleges |
| Approx. Students | 46,624 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 95,016 TIUs |
| UKZN Website | https://www.ukzn.ac.za/ |
The University of KwaZulu-Natal has campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg and offers programmes across areas including health sciences, engineering, science, agriculture, law, education, humanities and management.
UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO (UL)
| Location | Polokwane/Mankweng, Limpopo |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 23,455 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 54,442 TIUs |
| UL Website | https://www.ul.ac.za/ |
The University of Limpopo is based in Mankweng near Polokwane and has a strong focus on health sciences, science and agriculture, humanities, education, management and related fields.
NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY (NMU)
| Location | Gqeberha, Eastern Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 7 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 32,954 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 56,360 TIUs |
| NMU Website | https://www.mandela.ac.za/ |
Nelson Mandela University is based primarily in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape and offers programmes across fields including business, law, education, engineering, health sciences, science, humanities and the built environment.
NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY (NWU)
| Location | Potchefstroom, Mahikeng & Vanderbijlpark |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 8 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 57,610 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 97,131 TIUs |
| NWU Website | https://www.nwu.ac.za/ |
North-West University has campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across science, engineering, education, law, business, humanities and health-related fields.
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA (UP)
| Location | Pretoria, Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 9 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 54,500+ |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 118,260 TIUs |
| UP Website | https://www.up.ac.za/ |
The University of Pretoria is a comprehensive research university with nine faculties covering fields such as engineering, the built environment and IT, health sciences, law, education, humanities, natural and agricultural sciences, veterinary science, economics and management.
RHODES UNIVERSITY
| Location | Makhanda, Eastern Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 6 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 8,445 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 17,667 TIUs |
| Rhodes University Website | https://www.ru.ac.za/ |
Rhodes University is based in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape and offers undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research across humanities, science, commerce, pharmacy, law and education-related fields.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA (UNISA)
| Location | Pretoria / nationwide |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 8 colleges |
| Approx. Students | 371,757 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 211,635 TIUs |
| UNISA Website | https://www.unisa.ac.za/ |
The University of South Africa is a distance-learning university serving students throughout South Africa and internationally. Its colleges cover a wide range of disciplines and qualifications, making it one of the largest universities in the country by student headcount.
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY
| Location | Stellenbosch, Western Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 10 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 35,370+ |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 89,256 TIUs |
| Stellenbosch University Website | https://www.sun.ac.za/ |
Stellenbosch University is a research-intensive university in the Western Cape with ten faculties and a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (TUT)
| Location | Pretoria & Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 7 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 62,461 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 110,645 TIUs |
| TUT Website | https://www.tut.ac.za/ |
Tshwane University of Technology is a university of technology based in Gauteng. It offers career-focused qualifications across technology, engineering, business, humanities, information and communication technology and other professional fields.
UNIVERSITY OF VENDA (UNIVEN)
| Location | Thohoyandou, Limpopo |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 15,816 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 31,940 TIUs |
| UNIVEN Website | https://www.univen.ac.za/ |
The University of Venda is based in Thohoyandou in Limpopo and offers programmes across areas including science, agriculture, health sciences, education, management, law and humanities.
VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (VUT)
| Location | Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 20,885 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 37,469 TIUs |
| VUT Website | https://www.vut.ac.za/ |
Vaal University of Technology is based in Vanderbijlpark and provides career-focused education and training in technology, engineering, business, applied sciences and related fields.
WALTER SISULU UNIVERSITY (WSU)
| Location | Mthatha, Buffalo City, Butterworth & Komani |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 7 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 29,899 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 55,489 TIUs |
| WSU Website | https://www.wsu.ac.za/ |
Walter Sisulu University has campuses across the Eastern Cape, including Mthatha, Buffalo City, Butterworth and Komani. It offers qualifications across health sciences, education, business, law, science, engineering and humanities.
UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (UWC)
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 7 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 25,370 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 53,380 TIUs |
| UWC Website | https://www.uwc.ac.za/ |
The University of the Western Cape is based in Cape Town and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across health sciences, science, education, law, business, humanities and other disciplines.
UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND (WITS)
| Location | Johannesburg, Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 5 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 41,432 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 106,006 TIUs |
| Wits Website | https://www.wits.ac.za/ |
The University of the Witwatersrand is a research-intensive university in Johannesburg with academic strengths that include health sciences, engineering, science, commerce, law and the humanities.
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND (UNIZULU)
| Location | KwaDlangezwa & Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 19,014 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 35,898 TIUs |
| University Website | https://www.unizulu.ac.za/ |
The University of Zululand is based in KwaDlangezwa in northern KwaZulu-Natal, with a presence in Richards Bay. It offers programmes across arts, education, science, commerce, law and other professional fields.
SOL PLAATJE UNIVERSITY (SPU)
| Location | Kimberley, Northern Cape |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 4 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 5,972 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 12,191 TIUs |
| University Website | https://www.spu.ac.za/ |
Sol Plaatje University is based in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate study across education, humanities, economic and management sciences, and natural and applied sciences.
UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA (UMP)
| Location | Mbombela, Mpumalanga |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | Academic schools |
| Approx. Students | 10,168 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 24,686 TIUs |
| University Website | https://www.ump.ac.za/ |
The University of Mpumalanga is based in Mbombela and offers programmes across areas including agriculture, education, information technology, hospitality, management, science and humanities.
MANGOSUTHU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (MUT)
| Location | Umlazi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 3 faculties |
| Approx. Students | 14,638 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 22,799 TIUs |
| University Website | https://www.mut.ac.za/ |
Mangosuthu University of Technology is based in Umlazi, Durban, and focuses on career-oriented education in engineering, information technology, management, natural sciences and related fields.
SEFAKO MAKGATHO HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY (SMU)
| Location | Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng |
|---|---|
| Faculties / Academic Divisions | 5 academic schools |
| Approx. Students | 6,918 |
| 2027 DHET Enrolment Target | 28,415 TIUs |
| University Website | https://www.smu.ac.za/ |
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is based in Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng, and specialises in health sciences education, training and research.
HOW TO APPLY TO UNIVERSITY
If you are planning to study at a university in South Africa, you should check the institution’s application process, application dates, admission requirements and programme-specific requirements before submitting an application.
Read our complete guide to how to apply to university in South Africa, including the information you may need when completing an online university application.
UNIVERSITY APPLICATION DATES
University application dates differ between institutions and programmes. Some universities also have earlier closing dates for programmes such as medicine, health sciences and other high-demand qualifications.
Check the latest university application dates before applying, as meeting the general closing date does not necessarily mean that every programme is still accepting applications.
UNIVERSITY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
University admission requirements depend on the institution, qualification and programme. Requirements can include the National Senior Certificate (NSC), specific school subjects, minimum achievement levels, an APS or admission score, and in some cases additional selection requirements.
See our guide to university admission requirements in South Africa before applying.
APS SCORE REQUIREMENTS BY UNIVERSITY
An APS score can be used by universities as part of the admission process, but there is no single APS system that applies identically to every university or every qualification.
Our APS Score Requirements by University guide explains how APS and other admission-score systems are used by South African universities and provides programme-specific information where available.
Remember that meeting a published minimum score does not necessarily guarantee admission. Universities can apply additional subject, programme, selection, capacity or ranking requirements.
APS CALCULATOR
Use our APS calculator and guide to work out your APS score and understand how university admission scores are calculated.
NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBT)
The National Benchmark Tests (NBT) are used by some South African universities and programmes as part of their admissions or placement processes.
Find information about the National Benchmark Tests, including the different tests and who may need to write them.
FIND FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY
University fees and the cost of studying can make higher education difficult to afford. Students should investigate bursaries, scholarships, government funding and other forms of student financial assistance before or during the application process.
Visit our bursaries in South Africa directory to find funding opportunities by field of study, company, government department and other funding providers.
You can also explore bursaries for specific study areas, including engineering bursaries, medical bursaries, law bursaries and other fields.
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This university information was last updated in September 2026.
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