24 Best universities for Philosophy in South Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.28M citations received by 136K 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

#446 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#2 in Africa

#494 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#3 in Africa

#499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Philosophy

#4 in Africa

#539 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#5 in Africa

#635 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

#641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Philosophy

#7 in Africa

#740 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

8. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#9 in Africa

#858 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

9. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Philosophy

#12 in Africa

#1078 in the World

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

10. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Philosophy

#16 in Africa

#1261 in the World

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

11. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Philosophy

#19 in Africa

#1386 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

12. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Philosophy

#47 in Africa

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

13. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#52 in Africa

#2211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

14. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Philosophy

#57 in Africa

#2362 in the World

Founded: 1916

15. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Philosophy

#74 in Africa

#2637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Philosophy

#76 in Africa

#2792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

17. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Philosophy

#84 in Africa

#2870 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

18. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#93 in Africa

#3066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

19. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Philosophy

#106 in Africa

#3319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

20. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Philosophy

#119 in Africa

#3511 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

21. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Philosophy

#125 in Africa

#3650 in the World

Founded: 1981

22. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Philosophy

#153 in Africa

#4145 in the World

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

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#179 in Africa

#4485 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#239 in Africa

#5498 in the World

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.