24 Best universities for Sociology 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 Sociology. A graph of 2.43M citations received by 175K 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 Sociology

#1 in Africa

#151 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Sociology

#2 in Africa

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Sociology

#3 in Africa

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#4 in Africa

#251 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Sociology

#5 in Africa

#263 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#6 in Africa

#356 in the World

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

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Sociology

#7 in Africa

#443 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Sociology

#8 in Africa

#476 in the World

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

9. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Sociology

#12 in Africa

#620 in the World

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

10. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Sociology

#13 in Africa

#627 in the World

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

11. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Sociology

#17 in Africa

#764 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

12. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Sociology

#28 in Africa

#1089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

13. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Sociology

#33 in Africa

#1213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

14. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Sociology

#37 in Africa

#1358 in the World

Founded: 1916

15. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#47 in Africa

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Sociology

#52 in Africa

#1695 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

17. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Sociology

#62 in Africa

#1877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

18. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Sociology

#63 in Africa

#1882 in the World

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

19. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Sociology

#64 in Africa

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

20. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Sociology

#100 in Africa

#2436 in the World

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

21. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Sociology

#110 in Africa

#2646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

22. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Sociology

#116 in Africa

#2753 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

23. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Sociology

#124 in Africa

#2960 in the World

Founded: 1981

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Sociology

#255 in Africa

#5069 in the World

Founded: 1979

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