Academic Index Last updated: May 09, 2026

22 Best Universities in South Africa for Art & Design

Focusing specifically on Art & Design, our data science engine identified the 22 most influential universities in South Africa. To determine these leaders, we isolated 65.9K specialized research publications which collectively generated 791.3K citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Art & Design

#70 in Africa #2270 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

2

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Art & Design

#11 in Africa #813 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

3

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Art & Design

#117 in Africa #3288 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

4

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Art & Design

#10 in Africa #698 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

5

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Art & Design

#97 in Africa #2908 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

6

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Art & Design

#8 in Africa #496 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

7

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Art & Design

#88 in Africa #2819 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

8

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Art & Design

#5 in Africa #336 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

9

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Art & Design

#53 in Africa #1925 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

10

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Art & Design

#7 in Africa #487 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

11

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Art & Design

#67 in Africa #2180 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

12

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Art & Design

#3 in Africa #292 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

13

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Art & Design

#51 in Africa #1904 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

14

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Art & Design

#1 in Africa #258 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

15

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Art & Design

#50 in Africa #1891 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

16

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Art & Design

#4 in Africa #320 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

17

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Art & Design

#32 in Africa #1589 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

18

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Art & Design

#2 in Africa #262 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

19

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Art & Design

#25 in Africa #1380 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

20

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Art & Design

#6 in Africa #423 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

21

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Art & Design

#114 in Africa #3227 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

22

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Art & Design

#13 in Africa #893 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded