18 Best universities for Media Studies in South Africa

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Media Studies. A graph of 43.3K citations received by 6.51K academic papers made by 18 universities in South Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Media Studies

#1 in Africa

#150 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Media Studies

#2 in Africa

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Media Studies

#3 in Africa

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Media Studies

#4 in Africa

#301 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Media Studies

#5 in Africa

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Media Studies

#6 in Africa

#355 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Media Studies

#7 in Africa

#405 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Media Studies

#8 in Africa

#407 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

9. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Media Studies

#9 in Africa

#476 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

10. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Media Studies

#11 in Africa

#514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

11. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Media Studies

#12 in Africa

#522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

12. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Media Studies

#26 in Africa

#1119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

13. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Media Studies

#28 in Africa

#1199 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

14. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Media Studies

#31 in Africa

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

15. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Media Studies

#40 in Africa

#1428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

16. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Media Studies

#41 in Africa

#1433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

17. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Media Studies

#46 in Africa

#1493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

18. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Media Studies

#59 in Africa

#1561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

The best cities to study Media Studies in South Africa based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, and Durban.