Academic Index Last updated: May 09, 2026

24 Best Universities in South Africa for Psychology

If you are looking to study Psychology in South Africa, our index highlights the top 24 domain-leading institutions. To determine these leaders, we isolated 162K specialized research publications which collectively generated 3.19M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Psychology

#34 in Africa #1406 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

2

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Psychology

#84 in Africa #2513 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

3

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Psychology

#18 in Africa #976 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

4

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Psychology

#115 in Africa #3065 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

5

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Psychology

#19 in Africa #977 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

6

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Psychology

#93 in Africa #2710 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

7

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Psychology

#10 in Africa #674 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

8

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Psychology

#90 in Africa #2642 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

9

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Psychology

#8 in Africa #614 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

10

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Psychology

#55 in Africa #1867 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

11

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Psychology

#11 in Africa #691 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

12

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Psychology

#41 in Africa #1567 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

13

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Psychology

#5 in Africa #440 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

14

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Psychology

#69 in Africa #2195 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

15

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Psychology

#3 in Africa #384 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

16

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Psychology

#71 in Africa #2204 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

17

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Psychology

#6 in Africa #482 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

18

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

For Psychology

#239 in Africa #5067 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

19

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Psychology

#61 in Africa #1992 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

20

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Psychology

#2 in Africa #353 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

21

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

For Psychology

#95 in Africa #2728 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

22

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Psychology

#44 in Africa #1633 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

23

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Psychology

#1 in Africa #249 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

24

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Psychology

#108 in Africa #2884 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded