Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

24 Best Universities in South Africa for History

If you are looking to study History in South Africa, our index highlights the top 24 domain-leading institutions. Based on 691.7K scholarly articles and 14.56M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in History. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For History

#1 in Africa #126 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

2

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For History

#2 in Africa #181 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

3

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For History

#3 in Africa #225 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

4

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For History

#5 in Africa #287 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

5

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For History

#7 in Africa #401 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

6

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For History

#8 in Africa #479 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

7

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For History

#12 in Africa #694 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

8

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For History

#29 in Africa #1104 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

9

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For History

#55 in Africa #1668 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

10

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For History

#67 in Africa #1810 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

11

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For History

#82 in Africa #2010 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

12

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

For History

#255 in Africa #4942 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

13

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For History

#45 in Africa #1513 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

14

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

For History

#214 in Africa #4232 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

15

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For History

#16 in Africa #751 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

16

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For History

#118 in Africa #2779 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

17

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For History

#9 in Africa #569 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

18

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For History

#80 in Africa #1984 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

19

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For History

#6 in Africa #394 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

20

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For History

#150 in Africa #3270 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

21

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For History

#4 in Africa #250 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

22

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For History

#119 in Africa #2794 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

23

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For History

#92 in Africa #2292 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

24

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For History

#32 in Africa #1167 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded