Academic Index Last updated: June 22, 2026

22 Best Universities in South Africa for Literature

We ranked the top 22 universities for Literature in South Africa based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 685.5K specialized research publications which collectively generated 14.49M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Literature

#1 in Africa #202 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

2

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Literature

#2 in Africa #219 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

3

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Literature

#3 in Africa #236 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

4

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Literature

#6 in Africa #342 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

5

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Literature

#7 in Africa #427 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

6

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Literature

#8 in Africa #513 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

7

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Literature

#11 in Africa #696 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

8

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Literature

#26 in Africa #1344 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

9

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Literature

#36 in Africa #1502 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

10

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Literature

#53 in Africa #1880 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

11

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Literature

#56 in Africa #1903 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

12

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Literature

#72 in Africa #2182 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

13

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Literature

#50 in Africa #1785 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

14

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Literature

#12 in Africa #763 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

15

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Literature

#127 in Africa #3240 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

16

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Literature

#9 in Africa #523 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

17

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Literature

#45 in Africa #1709 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

18

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Literature

#5 in Africa #279 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

19

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Literature

#149 in Africa #3559 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

20

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Literature

#4 in Africa #250 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

21

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Literature

#117 in Africa #3025 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

22

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Literature

#71 in Africa #2143 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded