Academic Index Last updated: June 22, 2026

16 Best Universities in South Africa for Software Engineering

Focusing specifically on Software Engineering, our data science engine identified the 16 most influential universities in South Africa. Our methodology evaluated 647.8K subject-specific papers and 13.97M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Software Engineering

#1 in Africa #457 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

2

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Software Engineering

#3 in Africa #537 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

3

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Software Engineering

#6 in Africa #598 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

4

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Software Engineering

#8 in Africa #761 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

5

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Software Engineering

#12 in Africa #906 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

6

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Software Engineering

#22 in Africa #1126 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

7

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Software Engineering

#57 in Africa #1958 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

8

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Software Engineering

#62 in Africa #2007 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

9

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Software Engineering

#13 in Africa #920 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

10

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Software Engineering

#4 in Africa #578 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

11

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Software Engineering

#77 in Africa #2249 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

12

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Software Engineering

#69 in Africa #2146 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

13

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Software Engineering

#68 in Africa #2089 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

14

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Software Engineering

#30 in Africa #1365 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

15

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Software Engineering

#35 in Africa #1551 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

16

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Software Engineering

#76 in Africa #2241 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded