Education Institutions - Universities

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) opened on 1 January 2005, the result of the merging of the PE Technikon the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University (Vista PE).

The University of Mpumalanga, a comprehensive university, was formally and legally promulgated through the publication of Government Notice (No. 36772) on 22 August 2013 and launched on the 31st of October 2013. The Interim Council appointed the Strategic Management Team which managed the day to day operations of the university.

Rhodes University is a small tertiary institution situated in Grahamstown. Their website says that they have just over 8 200 students and they are among the best undergraduate and graduate pass rates in South Africa. 18% of the students studying at Rhodes are international students. 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) opened on 1 January 2005, the result of the merging of the PE Technikon the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University (Vista PE).

The NWU offers more than just an education: we offer people a place in the world. Academically, students benefit from great choice and flexibility, enabling them to fulfil their potential and start preparing for their careers. 

Stellenbosch is a historic university town located next to the Boland Mountains. Their website claims that they are home to 29 000 students, this includes 4 000 foreign students from 100 different countries, as well as 3 000 permanent staff members (1 000 of which are academics).

The University of Limpopo's vision is to be a leading African University focused on the developmental needs of its communities and epitomising academic excellence and innovativeness. This year the university is 60 years old.

The University of the Free State is more than 115 years old and is housed at three campuses in the province. The University of the Free State (UFS) creates opportunities and growth through leading learning and teaching, focused research, and impactful engagement with society.

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is the largest open distance learning institution in Africa, the longest standing dedicated distance education university in the world. According to the Unisa website, they enrol nearly one-third of South African students.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) offers world-class, internationally recognised academic programmes based on curricula informed by cutting-edge developments in both undergraduate and postgraduate education, and that are designed to prepare students for the world of work and for global citizenship.

The University of Pretoria (UP) is one of Africa’s top universities and the largest contact university in South Africa. They produce socially impactful research to find solutions for the world’s most pressing issues. We have a high quality of teaching and learning in the classroom, online, or in communities.

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is located in Bellville, Cape Town. They are a national university committed to excellence in teaching and learning. UWC has four different Rector programmes including the HIV/AIDS programme, the Centre for Performing Arts, Gender Equity and the International Relations Office.

The University of Witwaterstrand (Wits University) is located in Johannesburg. They offer a range of degrees, diplomas and short courses as well as online and part time courses. Wits University is said to have produced more millionaires than any other university in South Africa.

The University of Cape Town, referred to as UCT, is South Africa's oldest university and has its main campus on the slopes of Table Mountain in Rondebosch. UCT has a proud tradition of academic excellence and is currently the top-rated university in Africa and one of the top-rated universities in the world. 

The University of Zululand (Unizulu) is a comprehensive university offering approximately 252 accredited degrees, diploma and certificate courses across the faculties of Arts; Education; Science and Agriculture as well as Commerce, Administration and Law at the KwaDlangezwa and Richards Bay campuses.

The University of Venda is located in Thohoyandou, in the Vembe district of the Limpopo Province. Their mission is to produce graduates with knowledge, skills and qualifications which are locally relevant and globally competitive. They value quality and excellence, accountability, transparency, integrity, respect, diversity, social responsibility and community engagement, and Ubuntu. 

Walter Sisulu University of Technology aims to have an impact on the community and also on the country by responding to the needs of the people. Student residence is available near the campuses. Arts and culture, sport and a library is available at all campuses to ensure that the students have a good campus environment for learning and socializing.

The Sol Plaatjie University website claims that Sol Plaatjie University was the first university to be opened after the Apartheid era, Sol Plaatjie was opened in 2014. SPU is located in Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province. 

The Sefako Makgatho University is found in Pretoria in Gauteng, and was established in 2015. Their website says that their mission is to provide top-quality health sciences research, education and services, and their motto is 'knowledge for quality health care services'.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal, also known as UKZN, is a university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.