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Top 10 South African Universities

Here is a ranking of the top 10 Universities in South Africa.

They say that every stage of a child’s education is essential. Tertiary school education is important. The South African education system has been called one of the best in Africa. Most universities in Mzansi were ranked higher in a list of universities on the continent. Here are the top 10;

1. University Of Cape Town

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Source: Flickr

The University of Cape Town reigns supreme in the ranking of the top universities in the country. It is also ranked the top university in Africa. On the 2022 ranking of the universities in the world, the University of Cape Town is at number 183 and 160 in the 2023 ranking. The school was founded in 1829 and has upheld its tradition of academic excellence and effecting social change and development. It is one of the most beautiful schools in South Africa. Its campus is located at the foot of Table Mountain’s Devil’s Peak and features panoramic views of much of Cape Town.

2. Stellenbosch University

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Source: Language Centre

Stellenbosch University comes in second in the ranking of Universities in South Africa. It is also second in the ranking of Universities in the African continent. The released 2022 ranking sees it at 251-300. On the 2023 ranking, it remains the same as in the 2022 ranking. The school has upheld its dedication to academic excellence, research, innovation, and being a great study environment. It also boasts one of the highest proportions of postgraduate students in the country, of which almost ten percent are international students. The origin of the school can be traced back to the 17th century. It is located in the Jonkershoek Valley in the heart of the Western Cape Winelands.

3. University of the Witwatersrand

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Source: Unicon

The University of the Witwatersrand comes in third on the list. It is also in the same ranking as Stellenbosch University in the 2022 ranking of Universities in the world and the 2023 ranking. It has been called one of the leading universities in the world. It is also the only university in the country that features in the top 1% in the world in seven defined fields of research according to the 2007 ISI international rankings. The University of the Witwatersrand is located in Johannesburg. It is one of Africa’s premier research universities. It strives to be innovative, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and focusing on sustaining globally competitive standards of excellence in learning, teaching, and research.

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal comes in fourth on this list. It remains one of Mzansi and Africa’s top colleges, offering the best academic development to students in the country and various parts of the world. It ranks at number 351-400 in the 2022 ranking of Universities in the world and 401-500 in the 2023 ranking. It is one of the younger universities in the country. It was formed on 1 January 2004 due to the merger between the University of Durban-Westville and the University of Natal. It merged the rich history of the former two universities.

5. Durban University of Technology

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Source: IOL

The Durban University of Technology rounds out the top 5 in this list. It first ranked in the top 5 in 2021. It featured at number 401-500 in the 2022 ranking of the top universities in the world. It also featured at 501-600 in the 2023 ranking. The multi-campus university is located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established in 2022 as a result of the merging of Technikon Natal and ML Sultan Technikon. At the time, it was known as the Durban Institute of Technology. It currently has five campuses in Durban and two in Pietermaritzburg. It is one of five technical institutions on the African continent to offer Doctoral Degrees.

6. North-West University

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Source: Wikipedia

The North-West University of South Africa has risen in the ranks to be where it is today. It ranks at number 6 on this list, making it the sixth-best university in the country. It ranks 501-600 in the 2022 ranking of universities worldwide and 601-800 in the 2023 ranking. The University is also one of the youngest in the country. It was established on January 1st, 2004, after the merger of Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and the University of the North-West. It combines the different historical backgrounds and cultures of the two universities. It offers a rich range of study choices at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

7. University of the Western Cape

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Source: EWN

Ranking number seven on the list is the University of the Western Cape. It also ranks at 601-800 on both the 2022 and 2023 rankings of the top universities in the world. The University of the Western Cape was established in 1960 by the South African government as a university for people of colour in South Africa. It is located in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It has been at the helm of historical change in the country.

8. University of Johannesburg

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Source: Joburg.org

Featuring number eight on this list is the University of Johannesburg. The school ranks 601-800 in the 2022 and 2023 rankings of the top universities in the world. It is one of the largest, multi-campus, residential universities in the country. The school aims to achieve the highest distinction in scholarship and research within the tertiary education context. Over the years, the school has risen in the ranks of the top 1000 universities in the world. It boasts a lot of research and addresses the needs of South African society. It also fosters ideas rooted in African epistemology.

9. University of Pretoria

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Source: University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria ranks at number 9 on this list. Many years back, it ranked higher within the top 5. In the 2022 ranking of the top universities in the world, the University of Pretoria is at 601-800, and 801-1000 in the 2023 ranking. This school was established in 1908 with only a staff of four professors and three lecturers. The first campus was the Kya Rosa, a house in the center of Pretoria. It became a fully-fledged university in 1930 and has since grown to be one of the top schools in the country and the world.

10. University of the Free State

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Source: The Education Magazine

The University of the Free State closes out the list with a ranking of 10. It did not feature in the 2022 ranking of the top universities in the world but is at number 801-1000 in 2023. It is a multi-campus public university located in Bloemfontein, the capital city of the Free State. It was first established in 1904 as a tertiary section of Grey College. In 1950, it was declared an independent Afrikaans-language university in 1950. The school also boasts two satellite campuses.

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