24 Best universities for Philosophy in South Africa

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Philosophy. A graph of 7.63M citations received by 499K academic papers made by 24 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 Philosophy

#1 in Africa

#413 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#2 in Africa

#464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 56,483
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#3 in Africa

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Philosophy

#4 in Africa

#494 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#5 in Africa

#597 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#6 in Africa

#608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Philosophy

#7 in Africa

#715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

8. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#9 in Africa

#862 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

9. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Philosophy

#11 in Africa

#1003 in the World

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

10. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Philosophy

#14 in Africa

#1210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 18,720
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1959

11. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Philosophy

#18 in Africa

#1307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

12. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Philosophy

#45 in Africa

#2077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

13. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#48 in Africa

#2125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

14. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Philosophy

#54 in Africa

#2232 in the World

Founded: 1916

15. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Philosophy

#68 in Africa

#2520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Philosophy

#72 in Africa

#2659 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

17. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#81 in Africa

#2785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

18. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Philosophy

#84 in Africa

#2810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

19. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Philosophy

#97 in Africa

#3137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

20. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Philosophy

#102 in Africa

#3184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Founded: 1966

21. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Philosophy

#124 in Africa

#3604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Enrollment: 12,639
Male:Female: 52:48
Founded: 1981

22. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Philosophy

#160 in Africa

#4232 in the World

Enrollment: 27,039
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 2005

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#183 in Africa

#4563 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#237 in Africa

#5543 in the World

Enrollment: 9,540
Male:Female: 47:53
Founded: 1979

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