If you want to experience life in one of the most diverse and complex countries in Africa, studying in some of the Best Universities in South Africa for international students can give you such experience in abundant measures.
The country stands out in many areas, offering some of the most striking natural landscapes and wildlife in the world, diverse and dynamic cities and towns, and a large selection of leading universities with an international perspective.
That is why we have prepared a list of the best universities in South Africa for international students.
Gone are the days when study abroad programs meant staying in the West. Today, you can revolutionize your education anywhere in the world.
Africa is climbing the world stage of the best universities with universities in South Africa making waves. In recent times, Africa was not known by international students as a good destination to study abroad.
But in the recent world ranking of universities, many African universities have been included and most of these African universities on the world list are in South Africa.
This article will help you make a wise and informed decision on how to apply for admission in the Best Universities in South Africa.
Education System in South Africa
The education system in South Africa is one of the best in Africa, as most South African universities occupy a prominent place in the latest ranking of the best universities in the continent.
Some of the best universities in South Africa are among the first 1000 universities in the world, and the first is among the top 500.
To some extent, it may not sound so encouraging that the top-ranking African university struggled to reach the top 500 on a list dominated by the US. Yet, it is still something to be encouraged, since most universities in South Africa attract foreign students because of their higher learning standards.
You may be interested to know that South Africa has made remarkable progress in the development of her education system as a democratic country, which has played an important role in its national identity.
South Africa, with a population of 50.58 million people, has a rich mix of culture, languages and religious beliefs. The country is a good place to be and has people from various nations, races, and religions. The majority of the people who live there are Africans representing 75.5 of the population.
There are more than eleven official languages in South Africa. The country is popularly known as the “rainbow nation” that symbolizes its unique multicultural and racial attributes.
About South Africa
You cannot mention South Africa without recognizing the role that apartheid has played in shaping today’s cultural and political landscape. However, through the hard work and persistence of international icons, such as Nelson Mandela, South Africa has joined to become the “Rainbow Nation” as it is known today.
International students will be surprised at the ways in which cultural diversity has combined to create a new national narrative as they go through any of the many popular student destinations in South Africa.
Today, South Africa is a parliamentary republic with three capitals, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Cape Town, each with its own political responsibility. In addition, South Africa claims to be the second-largest economy in Africa, making it an attractive place for international business and commerce.
Why Universities in South Africa are Good Choices for International Students.
There are several reasons why people should study in the beautiful country of South Africa. They include the following: Cheap universities in South Africa for international students:
- South Africa is one of the leading countries in Africa by education. It also offers a wide variety of languages. You can choose one in ten languages to study in South Africa. South Africa also has excellent teachers who can guarantee their knowledge.
- The cost of living in South Africa is relatively cheap. You can survive in South Africa even if you have up to $400 in your pocket. It will be enough to cover the expenses of food, travel, accommodation and utility bills in a month. According to some universities in South Africa, undergraduate programs in South Africa will cost $2,500- $4,500. At the same time, graduate programs will cost you around $2,700- $3,000. The price is for one academic year.
- South Africa has great colleges and universities that are doing their best to obtain the higher education requirements of students worldwide who want to study in English.
- South Africa has about 10 languages among which students can decide to enroll in any academic program of their choice.
- In addition to an environment conducive for learning, South African universities have highly qualified teachers.
- The cost of living and education in South Africa is affordable thanks to the low exchange rate.
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Cost of living in South Africa
Living in South Africa can cost a person about $400 a month, which can be used to cover expenses such as food, utility bills, lodging and travel expenses.
Tuition fees in South Africa
Tuition Fees for international students in South Africa are quite affordable compared to those in most developed countries. The learning standard is high class despite the low fees. It is approximately $2,500 – $4,500 for undergraduate programs and $2,700 – $3,000 for postgraduate studies per academic year.
Academic Calendar in South African Universities
It will usually take three years of full-time study to complete a bachelor’s degree, and one or two years to complete a master’s degree. Generally, the academic calendar in South Africa consists of two semesters. The first semester begins at the beginning of February to early June and the second semester begins at mid-July to late November.
How many Public Universities are in South Africa?
There are over 26 public universities in South Africa. These universities offer international students the opportunity to study in South Africa. They offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees in various courses obtainable anywhere in the world. In this writing, we shall discuss the top 15 of those universities.
Here is the list of the best universities in South Africa for international students by 2024 ranking.
This ranking is purely based on Web metrics (Not Academic) which uses certain parameters including their QS ranking among world universities, programs, and tuition.
- University of Cape Town
- University of the Witwatersrand
- Stellenbosch University
- University of Pretoria
- University of Johannesburg
- University of KwaZulu Natal
- Rhodes University
- University of the Western Cape
- Northwest University
- University of South Africa
- University of Venda
- University of Fort Hare
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
- University of Limpopo
- University of the Free State
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is ranked number 456 among the best universities in the world. UCT was founded in 1829 and has a proud tradition of academic excellence and of achieving change and social development through its academic pioneers, teachers, and students.
It is also famous for its amazing beauty, with its campus located at the foot of Table Mountain Devil’s Peak, with panoramic views of much of Cape Town.
UCT aspires to become a first-level academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of the expansion of global networks and a different point of view in Africa, the University of Cape Town is committed, through innovative research and studies, to deal with the key problems of our natural and social world.
Accounting, Economics, Finance and Tax, Information Systems, Architecture, Planning and Geometrics, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Economics and Management, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences Education, Human Biology, Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Child Health, Pathology, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Public Health and Family Medicine, Radiation Medicine, Surgery, African and Gender Studies, Anthropology and Linguistics, Dance, Drama, Economics, Education, English Language and Literature, Film and Media Studies, Fine Art, Historical Studies, South African College of Music, Philosophy, Political Studies, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Development, Sociology, Law, Archaeology, Astronomy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental and Geographical Science, Geological Sciences, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Oceanography, Physics and Statistical Sciences.
R21, 500 for undergraduate program
R75, 000 for international students
R60, 000 for postgraduate program with additional R3, 750 for PhD program.
The university is rated 1st in the country and 120th in the world.
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand has a reputation based on research and academic excellence. Wits are one of the only two universities in Africa classified in two separate international rankings as a leading institution in the world and are the only university in the country that ranks in the top 1% in the world in seven research fields defined according to 2007 ISI international ranking.
The University of the Witwatersrand is located in Johannesburg, a world-class city, with countless opportunities for students and staff to participate and present solutions.
The University of the Witwatersrand is one of the leading research universities in Africa that strives to be innovative, where the limits of knowledge are exceeded and focuses on maintaining competitive standards of excellence worldwide in learning, teaching, and research.
Accountancy, commerce, economics, management, law, Architecture & Planning, Chemical, and Metallurgical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Construction Economics & Management, Electrical & Information Engineering, Mechanical, Industrial & Aeronautical Engineering, and Mining Engineering, dentistry, medicine, medical and health sciences, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, pharmacy, Social Sciences, Literature, and Language Studies, Human and Community Development, Arts, and Education, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences; Chemistry; Physics; Molecular and Cell Biology; Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies; Geosciences; Mathematics; Statistics and Actuarial Science, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics.
R44, 910 for undergraduate program
R65, 300-R151, 970 for masters program
R204, 100 for MBA program
R20, 670 for PhD program
The University is ranked 2nd in South Africa and 176th among universities in the world. Its business school is rated 6th in Africa and the Middle East.
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University is one of the best universities in South Africa for international students and is ranked 400 in the world in academic excellence, research, innovation and study environment.
She takes pride in the fact that she has one of the highest proportions of graduate students in the country, of which almost ten percent are international students.
The university is located in the picturesque Jonkershoek Valley, in the heart of Western Winelands. The first roots of the University date back to the 17th century, when regular school instruction began.
The university offers undergraduate and master’s program in courses within the field of Arts and Social Sciences, Science, Education, AgriSciences, Law, Theology, Economic and Management Sciences and Engineering
R20, 520-R21, 690 for undergraduate and postgraduate diploma program for African students
R43, 380 for undergraduate and postgraduate diploma program for international non-African students
The university is rated 2nd in South Africa, 3rd in Africa and 390th in the world
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria began its activities in 1908 with a staff of only four professors and three lecturers. Thirty-two students enrolled in courses at the first campus, Kya Rosa, a house in the center of Pretoria.
The University of Pretoria became a full-fledged university in 1930. The name Tuks, for the University of Pretoria, derives from the acronym of College, that is, TUC and the Pretoria branch of Transvaal University College (TUC) was the precursor from the University of Pretoria.
The institution has proven its worth over the years by maintaining a high level and world-class talents.
Technology Management, Built Environment, Dentistry, Engineering, Health Care Sciences, Health Systems and Public Health, Information Technology, Medicine, Public Management and Administration and veterinary science.
R30, 000-R66, 000 for undergraduate programs
The university is ranked 3rd in South Africa and 261st in the world.
University of KwaZulu Natal
The University of KwaZulu Natal ranks 500 in the world and is one of the best universities in South Africa. The University of KwaZulu-Natal was formed on January 1, 2004, as a result of the merger between the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal.
The new university brings together the rich stories of the two previous universities.
The two KwaZulu-Natal universities were among the first South African institutions to merge in 2004 according to the government’s higher educational restructuring plans that will eventually reduce the number of higher educational institutions in South Africa from 36 to 21.
The university is made up of four colleges and many schools which fell under the colleges and offers courses like
Agriculture, Engineering, Science, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Religion, Philosophy and Classics, Social Sciences, Applied Human Sciences, Built Environment and Development Studies, Education, Law and Management Studies, Accounting, Economics, and Finance.
R24, 300-R53, 100 for undergraduate studies(depending on the course applied for)
R39, 770-R44, 000 for a masters program
R30, 680-R40, 000 for a doctorate program
UKZN was ranked 4th among universities in South Africa and 500th in the world.
University of Johannesburg
The University of Johannesburg is surely one of the best universities in Africa. It is one of the largest multi-campus residential universities in South Africa and seeks to achieve maximum distinction in scholarships and research within the context of higher education.
The university provides the ideal terrain for interdisciplinary research and has more than 90 qualified researchers. The University fosters ideas that are rooted in African epistemology, but also addresses the needs of South African society and the African continent, as it is committed to contributing to sustainable growth and development.
Industrial Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Jewellery Design and Manufacture, Multimedia, Visual Art, Business and Economics, Education, Engineering, Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering Science, Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, Metallurgy, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Science, Mine Surveying, Mining Engineering, Quality and Operations Management, Town and Regional Planning, Laser Research, Water and Health Research, Biomedical Technology, Chiropractic, Emergency Medical Care, Environmental Health, Homeopathy, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Medical Imaging and Radiation (Radiography), Nursing, Optometry, Podiatry, Sport and Movement Studies, Law, Nanotechnology, Energy and sustainable Development, aquatic, Eco-toxicology, Economic Geo-metallurgy. Computer Science and Software Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics and Engineering Mathematics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Food Technology, Botany and Plant Biotechnology, Chemistry, Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies, Geology, Physics, Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Zoology.
R102, 280-R110, 330 for undergraduate program
R14, 634-R171, 158 for postgraduate program
The University is rated 5th in South Africa, 7th in Africa and 601st in the world
University of the Western Cape
Located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. The University of the Western Cape was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university only for people of colour.
Among the higher academic institutions, he has been at the forefront of South Africa’s historic change, playing a distinctive academic role to help build an equitable and dynamic nation.
The key concerns of the University of the Western Cape regarding access, equity and quality in higher education arise from the broad practical commitment to help the historically marginalized to participate fully in the life of the nation.
The school offers undergraduate and master’s program in courses within the field of Arts, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law and Natural Sciences
R18, 880 for undergraduate studies for local students
R36, 595 for undergraduate studies for international students
R33, 070 for postgraduate studies
The university is rated 6th in South Africa, 7th in Africa and 885th in the world
Rhodes University
Rhodes University is a 104-year-old South African institution with a well-established reputation for academic excellence.
Located in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Rhodes is a small university that has the distinction of having between the best approval and undergraduate graduation rates in South Africa, excellent graduate success rates and the best research production per academic staff member.
This is a testament to the quality of the students Rhodes attracts and the academic provision and the Rhodes staff’s commitment to student development and success.
R26, 590-R30, 705 for an undergraduate program
R35, 700-R37, 600 for international students
It offers undergraduate and master’s program in courses within the field of Humanities, Commerce, Law, Science, Education and Pharmacy.
The school is ranked 8th in South Africa and 904th in the world.
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Northwest University (NWU)
Northwest University is a university with multiple campuses that covers two important South African provinces.
The University of the Northwest was established on January 1, 2004 after the merger of Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of the Northwest, which are two universities with very different historical backgrounds and cultures.
NWU is among the most diverse, best managed and innovative universities in South Africa.
Northwest University offers students an exceptionally rich range of study options at the undergraduate and graduate levels that span the spectrum of academic disciplines, from agriculture and arts to commerce, engineering, education, health, law, natural sciences and theology.
R31,100- R47, 000 for undergraduate program.
Accounting Sciences, Business and Governance (Business School), Economic Sciences, Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, Management Sciences, Tourism, Language Education, Psycho-Social Education, Professional Studies in Education, Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, Commerce and Social Studies in Education, Chemical and Mechanicals Engineering, Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Human Movement Sciences, Kinderkinetics, Pharmacy, Psychosocial Health, Physiology, Consumer Sciences, Nutrition, Occupational Hygiene, Nursing, Communication Studies, Government Studies, Languages, Music, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Mercantile Law, Public Law, Private Law, Physical and Chemical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Geo- and Spatial Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Computer Science and Information Systems, Business Mathematics and Statistics, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Christian ministry and Leadership and Ancient Language and Text Studies
The University is ranked 9th in South Africa and 1188th among universities in the World.
University of South Africa
The University of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest university in Africa and attracts a third of all higher education students across South Africa with a staff of more than 300,000 students, including African and international students in 130 countries around the world, which makes it one of the mega universities in the world.
The main distance education institution in Africa that nourishes the inspiring leaders of tomorrow. UNISA is an accredited, comprehensive, flexible and accessible open distance education institution that is motivating a future generation and offers internationally accredited qualifications with world-class resources.
R21, 000 for undergraduate studies
Tourism, Language Education, Chemical and Mechanicals Engineering, Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering, Consumer Sciences, Nutrition, Law, Agricultural Sciences, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Business and Statistics
The university is ranked 10th in South Africa and 1228th in the world.
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Formed in 2005, Nelson Mandela University (formerly Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, NMMU, formerly Port Elizabeth University (UPE)) is among the top universities in South Africa with its main administration in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth.
There are more than 3,000 international students, including students from the United States, France, China, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and many African countries.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is a new generation university, distinguished by the wide range of study options and paths open to students. NMU encourages innovation, fosters creativity, adopts technology and develops people to face the challenges of tomorrow.
R93, 770 for undergraduate program
R17, 940-R22, 460 for masters program
R18, 280-R20, 110 for PhD program
Music, Art and Design, Architecture, Languages, Governance, Media, Communication and Culture, Law, Business and Economic Sciences, Industrial Psychology and Human Resources, Accounting, Economics, Development and Tourism, Management Sciences, Initial Teacher Education, Continuing Professional Development, Education Research & Engagement, Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Built Environment, Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Care Sciences, Lifestyle Sciences, Medicinal Sciences, Bimolecular & Chemical Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management and Nelson Mandela University Business School
The University is rated 12th in South Africa and 1311th in the world.
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare is known as one of the affordable and best universities in South Africa.
It was a key institution of higher education for black Africans from 1916 to 1959. It offered a Western-style academic education to students throughout sub-Saharan Africa, creating the African black elite.
Fort Hare alumni were part of many subsequent independence movements and governments of recently independent African countries.
In 1959, the apartheid system subsumed to the university, but now it is part of the post-apartheid public higher education system in South Africa. He is known for his notable students, which include several African heads of state and Nobel Prize winners.
R18, 620-R44, 374 for undergraduate programs
R26, 000-R45, 000 for international students
R12, 470-R21, 600 for postgraduate program
It offers undergraduate and master’s program in courses within the field of Education, Science, Agriculture, Social Sciences & Humanities, Management & Commerce and Law.
The school is ranked 17th in South Africa and 1879th in the world
University of the Free State
The University of the Free State is a public university with multiple campuses in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State and the judicial capital of South Africa. It is one of the universities in South Africa.
It was established in 1904, its chancellor is Dr. Khotso Mokhele and Vice-Chancellor Francis Petersen. Its location is in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa.
In 1910, the Orange River Colony Parliament passed legislation declaring the GUC an official educational institution in the fields of Arts and Sciences.
The University was declared a full-fledged independent university in 1950, and the name was changed again to the University of the Free State of Orange.
In February 2001, the name of the University changed to the University of the Free State, which was adopted to reflect the real character of the institution and its environment.
R16, 500 for undergraduate studies
R19,910 for international students
The school runs an undergraduate and postgraduate program which offers courses like;
Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Humanities, and Theology
The university is rated 18th in South Africa and 2095th in the world.
University of Limpopo
Since 2005, the University of Limpopo exists as an institution in the province of Limpopo, South Africa. It was formed by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA).
These previous institutions formed the campus of Turfloop and MEDUNSA of the university, respectively. In 2015, the MEDUNSA campus was divided and became the Sefako Makgatho University of Health Sciences.
R30, 772-R49, 000 for undergraduate program
R30, 716-R41, 686 for Masters Program
R43, 600 fo
Languages & Communication Studies, Social Sciences, Education, Policing, Law, Accountancy, Economics & Management, Physical & Mineral Sciences, Molecular & Life Sciences, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Medicine and Health Science
The University is ranked 18th in the country and 2982nd in the world
University of Venda
The University of Venda (UNIVEN) is a comprehensive rural-based South African university, located in Thohoyandou in the province of Limpopo. It was established in 1982 under the government of the Republic of Venda.
It was established in 1982 to serve the inhabitants of the Bantustan Venda, however, the student body at Univen never consisted only of Venda students, a student from all over the Northern Transvaal attended the Institution.
With the tertiary education reform program of the South African government in the new millennium, Univen became an “integral university”, offering courses theoretically and practically oriented.
R31, 630-R38, 980 for undergraduate studies
R12, 000-R24, 000 for masters studies
R13, 000-R26, 640 for PhD studies
The school offers undergraduate and master’s programs in courses within the field of Agriculture, Education, Environmental Science, Health Sciences, Human and Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and Law.
The institution is rated 19th in the nation and 3347th in the world.
FAQs-Best Universities in South Africa
The University of Cape Town. Consistently ranked number one among the top universities in South Africa, the University of Cape Town (UCT) is placed 22nd in the BRICS rankings and joint 200th in the world
South Africa’s universities, colleges, medical schools, engineering schools, and law schools are highly respected and well-known in the education and academic communities, and they continue to offer prestigious Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.
Stellenbosch University is one of the leading universities that offer pharmacy degrees in South Africa.
The University of Witwatersrand is located in Johannesburg, South Africa; and it is one of the best engineering schools that competes with institutions such as the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria.
Conclusion
If your desire is to achieve your academic future abroad, South Africa is a great study destination for you. You now have the opportunity to obtain an undergraduate and even postgraduate degree in some of the Best Universities in South Africa. So, take advantage of this now and start applying for admission.
References
- https://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/africa/southafrica/guide
- https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/brics-rankings/top-10-universities-south-africa
- https://www.usaf.ac.za/http://africauniversities.org/south-africa/
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