# List of universities in South Africa

This is a list of universities in South Africa. In this list, colleges and universities are defined as accredited, degree-granting, tertiary institutions. As of September 2022, only South African public degree-granting institutions may call themselves a "university", whereas other accredited private for-profit or not-for-profit degree-granting institutions tend to call themselves colleges, institutes or business schools.
Some of these private institutions are local campuses of foreign universities. Degree-granting institutions (both public and private) must be registered with, and have their specific degree programs accredited by, the Council on Higher Education.
In 2004 South Africa started reforming its public higher education system, merging and incorporating small public universities into larger institutions, and renaming all higher education institutions "university" (previously there had been several types of higher education institution). The country's universities and "technikons", which were incorporated with others and thus no longer exist, are listed at the end of the article.
Two new universities launched in 2013, Sol Plaatje University and the University of Mpumalanga. They are tentatively classified in the universities of technology category, pending clarification of their programs.

## Public universities

Public universities in South Africa are divided into three types: traditional universities, which offer theoretically oriented university degrees; universities of technology ("technikons"), which offer vocational oriented diplomas and degrees; and comprehensive universities, which offer a combination of both types of qualification.

### Traditional universities

* University of Cape Town
* University of Fort Hare
* University of the Free State
* University of KwaZulu-Natal
* North-West University
* University of Pretoria
* Rhodes University
* Stellenbosch University
* University of the Western Cape
* University of the Witwatersrand
| Institution | Nickname | Founded | University status | Undergrad | Postgrad | Total | Location(s) | Medium |
| University of Cape Town | Ikeys / UCT | 1 October 1829 | 2 April 1918 | 18,421 | 10,653 | 29,074 | Cape Town | Eng |
| University of Fort Hare | UFH / Blues | 1916 | | 9,074 | 2,000 | 11,074 | Alice, East London, Bhisho | Eng |
| University of the Free State | Kovsies / UFS | 28 January 1904 | 1950 | 21,193 | 5,082 | 26,275 | Bloemfontein, QwaQwa | Eng |
| University of KwaZulu-Natal | UKZN / Natal / Impi | 1 January 2004$^1$ | 1 January 2004 | 33,456 | 13,064 | 46,520 (2016) | Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Westville | Eng |
| University of Limpopo | Turfloop | 1 January 2005$^1$ | 1 January 2005 | 17,273 | 3,327 | 20,600 | Polokwane, Turfloop | Eng |
| North-West University | NWU / Pukke / Eagles | 1 January 2004$^1$ | 1 January 2004 | 43,596 | 3,235 | 44,008 | Mafikeng, Mankwe, Potchefstroom, Vanderbijlpark | Afr (Potchefstroom campus), Eng (Mafikeng campus), Setswana (Vaaldriehoek campus) |
| University of Pretoria | Tuks / Tukkies / UP | 4 March 1908 | 10 October 1930 | 35,942$^2$ | 12,541$^2$ | 48,483 | Pretoria, Johannesburg$^3$ | Eng |
| Rhodes University | Rhodes / RU | 31 May 1904 | 10 March 1951 | 5,456 | 1,127 | 6,700 | Grahamstown | Eng |
| Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University$^4$ | SMU (formerly MEDUNSA) | 16 May 2014 | 16 May 2014 | | | 6,410 (2018) | Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria | Eng |
| Stellenbosch University | Maties, Stellies | 1866 | 2 April 1918 | 17,970 | 9,853 | 27,823 | Stellenbosch, Saldanha Bay, Bellville, Tygerberg | Eng, Afr |
| University of the Western Cape | UWC / Bush / U Dubs | 1959 | 1970 | 11,836 | 3,390 | 15,226 | Bellville | Eng |
| University of the Witwatersrand | Wits, Witsies | 1896 | 1922 | 24 621 | 13 234 | 38 353 | Johannesburg | Eng |
Note$^1$: By merger of existing institutions
Note$^2$: Exact and current numbers not available, these numbers are from the University of Pretoria's wiki.
Note$^3$: The university's business school the Gordon Institute of Business Science has a campus in Illovo and an inner-city campus on Pritchard Street, in downtown Johannesburg.
Note$^4$: Split out from the University of Limpopo into which Medical University of South Africa had previously merged.

### Comprehensive universities

* University of Johannesburg
* University of South Africa (Unisa)
* University of Venda
| Institution | Nickname | Founded | Undergrad | Postgrad | Total | Location(s) | Medium |
| University of Johannesburg | UJ | 1 January 2005$^1$ (1967 as RAU, Technikon Witwatersrand and the East Rand campus of Vista University) | | | >50,000 | Johannesburg, Soweto | Eng |
| Nelson Mandela University | Madibaz / NMU | 1 January 2005$^2$ (1964 as UPE) | 19,768 | 2,884 | 22,652 | Port Elizabeth, George | Eng |
| University of South Africa | Unisa | 1873 (UCGH) | | | 300,000 | Distance education, headquartered in Pretoria, campuses and regional offices nationwide | Eng |
| University of Venda | Univen | 1982 | | | 10,968 | Thohoyandou | Eng |
| Walter Sisulu University | WSU/ALL BLACKS | 1977 (Unitra) | | | 32,081 (2018) | East London, Butterworth, Mthatha, Queenstown | Eng |
| University of Zululand | UniZulu | 1960 | 6,456 | 369 | 6,825 | Empangeni | Eng |
Note$^1$: By merger of existing institutions
Note$^2$: By merger of existing institutions

### Universities of technology

* Cape Peninsula University of Technology
* Tshwane University of Technology
| Institution | Nickname | Founded | University status | Total (2011) | Location(s) | Medium |
| Cape Peninsula University of Technology | CPUT/Cats | 2005$^1$ | 2005 | 32,000 | Bellville, Cape Town | Eng |
| Central University of Technology | CUT/Ixias | 1981 | | 21,993 | Bloemfontein, Welkom | Eng |
| Durban University of Technology | DUT | 2002$^1$ | 2002 | 23,000 | Durban, Pietermaritzburg | Eng |
| Mangosuthu University of Technology | MUT | 1979 | 2007 | | Umlazi | Eng |
| University of Mpumalanga | UMP | 2013 | 2013 | | Mbombela | Eng |
| Sol Plaatje University | SPU | 2013 | 2013 | | Kimberley, Northern Cape | Eng |
| Tshwane University of Technology | TUT/Vikings | 2003$^1$ | 2003 | 60,000 | Pretoria, Mbombela, Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Witbank | Eng |
| Vaal University of Technology | VUT | 1966 | 2003 | 17,000 | Vanderbijlpark, Secunda, Kempton Park, Klerksdorp, Upington | Eng |
Note$^1$: By merger of existing institutions

## Private degree-granting seminaries, institutes and colleges
### Theological seminaries

| Institution | Nickname | Founded | Type | Location(s) | Medium |
| Auckland Park Theological Seminary | ATS | 1997 (1956) | Theological seminary | Johannesburg | Eng |
| Open Christian University | OCU | 2021 | Rolling Enrollment | Theological | Online, HQ in Bethal | Eng |
| Baptist Theological College of Southern Africa | | 1951 | Theological seminary | Johannesburg | Eng |
| George Whitefield College | | 1989 | Theological seminary | Cape Town | Eng |
| South African Theological Seminary | SATS | 1996 | Theological seminary | Online (HQ Bryanston) | Eng |
| St Augustine College of South Africa | | 1999 | Private Tertiary Academic Institution | Johannesburg | Eng |

### Institutes

| Institution | Nickname | Founded | Enrollment | Type | Location(s) | Medium |
| Two Oceans Graduate Institute | TOGI | 2017 | | Registered private higher education institution | Distance/Online (HQ Cape Town) | Eng |

## University rankings

League tables of South African universities are largely based on international university rankings, because there have not as yet been published any specifically South African rankings.

## University research collaboratives

* Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC)
* Foundation of Tertiary Institutions of the Northern Metropolis (FOTIM)
* Higher Education South Africa (HESA)
* Southern Education and Research Alliance (SERA)

## Defunct institutions

| Institution | Location | Founded | Closed | Notes |
| Bond South Africa | Sandton | | 2004 | Now Varsity College, part of IIE |
| Border Technikon | | | 2005 | Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science |
| University of Bophuthatswana | | | | Now part of North-West University |
| University of the Cape of Good Hope | Cape Town | 1873 | 1916 | Renamed University of South Africa |
| Cape Technikon | | | | Now part of Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
| University of Durban-Westville | Westville | 1972 | 1 January 2004 | Now part of University of KwaZulu-Natal |
| Eastern Cape Technikon | | 1994 | 2005 | Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science |
| Medical University of South Africa | Ga-Rankuwa | 1976 | 1 January 2005 | Now part of University of Limpopo |
| Technikon Natal | | | | Now part of Durban University of Technology |
| University of the North | Polokwane | 1959 | 1 January 2005 | Now part of University of Limpopo |
| University of Natal | Pietermaritzburg, Durban | 1910 | 1 January 2004 | Now part of University of KwaZulu-Natal |
| University of North-West, formerly the University of Bophuthatswana | Mafikeng | | 1 January 2004 | Now part of North-West University |
| Port Elizabeth Technikon. | Port Elizabeth, George | 1882 | 2005 | Now part of Nelson Mandela University |
| University of Port Elizabeth | Port Elizabeth | 31 January 1964 | 2005 | Now part of Nelson Mandela University |
| Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education | Potchefstroom | 29 November 1869 | 1 January 2004 | Now part of North-West University |
| Rand Afrikaans University | Johannesburg | 1967 | 2005 | Now part of University of Johannesburg |
| Technikon SA | | | 1 January 2004 | Now part of University of South Africa |
| Transvaal University College | Johannesburg, Pretoria | 1906 | 1910/1930 | Predecessor of the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand. The University of the Witwatersrand was named the Transvaal University College from 1906 to 1910. The University of Pretoria was established as the Pretoria branch of the Transvaal University College in 1908 and retained that name until 1930. |
| University of Transkei | Transkei | 1977 | 2005 | Now part of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science |
| University of Gazankulu | Giyani | ? | ? | Probably distributed between the University of Venda and the University of Limpopo |
| Vista University | Multi-city campus university | 1981 | 2004/2005 | Now merged with the Nelson Mandela University, the University of the Free State, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria, the University of South Africa and the Vaal University of Technology. |
| Technikon Witwatersrand | Johannesburg | 1925 | 2005 | University of Johannesburg |