Best Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Universities in South Africa [2026 Rankings]

1

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in Africa #1085 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

2

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#85 in Africa #2413 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

3

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Africa #851 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

4

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#136 in Africa #3383 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

5

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Africa #777 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

6

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#118 in Africa #3073 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

7

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Africa #586 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

8

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#97 in Africa #2657 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

9

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Africa #483 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

10

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#39 in Africa #1642 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

11

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Africa #542 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

12

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in Africa #1802 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

13

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Africa #398 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

14

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#76 in Africa #2300 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

15

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Africa #335 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

16

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#77 in Africa #2304 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

17

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Africa #314 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

18

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#239 in Africa #4934 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

19

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#50 in Africa #1814 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

20

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Africa #266 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

21

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#149 in Africa #3591 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

22

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#29 in Africa #1421 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

23

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Africa #208 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

24

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#126 in Africa #3190 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

24 Best Universities in South Africa for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

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