The University of Zululand, usually called UNIZULU, is a comprehensive university on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. It started in 1960 as the University College of Zululand, a college linked acade…
Universities
Universities in South Africa are where most matric learners picture themselves after school — and there are 26 public universities to choose from, spread right across the country. Some, like the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch University, are old and internationally ranked. Others,
like the University of Mpumalanga and Sol Plaatje University, are newer campuses built to bring university education closer to communities that never had it on their doorstep before. There genuinely is a public university option within reach of every part of South Africa.
It helps to know there are three kinds. Traditional universities (think Rhodes University or the University of Pretoria) focus on academic degrees. Universities of technology (like Tshwane University of Technology or Durban University of Technology) focus on practical, career-ready diplomas and degrees. Comprehensive universities (like the University of Johannesburg or Nelson Mandela University) offer a mix of both. None of these is "better" — they're just different doors into different kinds of careers, and this page covers all of them together. If you specifically want the practical, hands-on route, our University of Technology listings are worth a look too.
Getting in isn't just about your matric pass — most universities calculate an APS score (Admission Point Score) from your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, and some also require a National Benchmark Test (NBT). Every course has its own matric requirements, so it's worth checking the specific subjects and marks needed before you apply, not just the university's general reputation. Applying usually opens the year before you want to start, and it's smart to apply to more than one institution as a backup.
Money is often the real question, not marks. NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) funds qualifying students at all public universities, covering tuition, and often accommodation and a living allowance too — it's worth applying for even if you're not sure you'll qualify.
One more thing worth knowing: UNISA (University of South Africa) is a distance-learning university that takes students from anywhere in the country, which makes it a genuine option if you can't relocate for study.
Browse the university profiles below to compare courses, entry requirements and where each one is based.
TypeDistance Learning(29)Home Schooling(1)Nursing Colleges(12)Private Colleges(13)Private Higher Institutions(28)TVET Colleges(2)Universities(15)Universities of Technology(2)
TypeUniversities
ProvinceEastern Cape(5)Free State(2)Gauteng(5)KwaZulu-Natal(4)Limpopo(3)Mpumalanga(4)North West(2)Northern Cape(2)Western Cape(6)
All institutions: 1–15 of 15
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North-West University, known as the NWU, is a South African public university. It came into being on 1 January 2004, when the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the Universit…
The University of Mpumalanga, known as UMP, is a public university established under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act 101 of 1997), as amended. Its establishment was made public through a Governme…
The University of the Free State, known as UFS, is a public university whose history goes back to 1904, when it opened in Bloemfontein as Grey University College. Its faculty rule books state that it…
The University of KwaZulu-Natal, known as UKZN, is a public university formed on 1 January 2004 through the merger of the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville, part of a nationa…
The University of the Witwatersrand, generally known as Wits, is a public research university in Johannesburg, Gauteng. History Its origins go back to 1896, when the South African School of Mines was…
The University of Fort Hare is a public university founded in 1916. It is governed under the Higher Education Act, 1997, with oversight from the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Its website…
Nelson Mandela University is a public university based in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. It was formed on 1 January 2005 when the University of Port Elizabeth, the PE Technikon and the Port Elizabeth…
The University of Johannesburg is a public university formed in 2005 through the merger of the Rand Afrikaans University, the Technikon Witwatersrand, and the Soweto campus of Vista University. Its C…
Walter Sisulu University, known as WSU, is a comprehensive higher education institution in the Eastern Cape. It came into being in 2005 when three older institutions were merged: the University of Tr…
The University of Cape Town is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university status in 1918, making it the…
The University of Limpopo (UL), widely known by its historic name Turfloop, is a public university based in Mankweng, near Polokwane in Limpopo Province. It traces its origins to the University of th…
The University of the Western Cape is a public university based in Bellville, in the Western Cape. It operates under the Higher Education Act, 1997, and its own institutional statute fixes its seat a…
Stellenbosch University is a public university in the Western Cape. It began as a university in its own right on 2 April 1918, when Victoria College was reconstituted as the University of Stellenbosc…
The University of Pretoria is a public university in Gauteng that, in its own words, exists in accordance with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997. It opened in 1908 in a small house with four profe…
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