Universities

Choosing what to study and where to study can feel like a huge task. To help make it easier, we have compiled a list of faculties and departments in eight of South Africa’s major universities. There is also a note of which are the most popular courses in each faculty.

  1. UNISA (University of South Africa)
  2. UJ (University of Johannesburg)
  3. UWC (University of the Western Cape)
  4. UCT (University of Cape Town)
  5. Wits (University of the Witwatersrand)
  6. US/Stellies (University of Stellenbosch)
  7. TUT (Tshwane University of Technology)
  8. NWU (North-West University)

Faculties At The University Of South Africa (UNISA)

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Accounting Sciences

  • Department of Auditing
  • Department of Financial Accounting
  • Department of Management Accounting
  • Department of Taxation
  • Department of Financial Governance
  • Department of Financial Intelligence

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Accounting Sciences in Financial Accounting

Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

  • Department of Agriculture and Animal Health
  • Department of Life and Consumer Sciences
  • Department of Environmental Sciences
  • Department of Geography

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences Psychology and Physiology (with Genetics).

Economic & Management Sciences

  • Department of Decision Sciences
  • Department of Economics
  • Department of Finance, Risk Management and Banking
  • Department of Business Management
  • Department of Human Resource Management
  • Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
  • Department of Marketing and Retail
  • Department of Applied Management
  • Department of Public Administration and Management
  • Department of Operations Management

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Commerce

Education

  • Department of Adult Community and Continuing Education
  • Department of Educational Foundations
  • Department of Psychology of Education
  • Department of Inclusive Education
  • Department of Educational Leadership and Management
  • Department of Mathematics Education
  • Department of Science and Technology Education
  • Department of Language Education, Arts and Culture
  • Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies
  • Department of Early Childhood Education

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Postgraduate Certificate in Education in Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Teaching English

Human Sciences

  • Department of African Languages
  • Department of Afrikaans and Theory of Literature
  • Department of Art and Music
  • Department of Communication Science
  • Department of English Studies
  • Department of Information Science
  • Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages
  • Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
  • Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies
  • Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology
  • Department of History
  • Department of Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
  • Department of Religious Studies and Arabic
  • Department of Development Studies
  • Department of Health Studies
  • Department of Political Sciences
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Social Work
  • Department of Sociology

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Arts

Law

  • Department of Criminal and Procedural Law
  • Department of Jurisprudence
  • Department of Mercantile Law
  • Department of Private Law
  • Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law
  • Department of Criminology and Security Science
  • Department of Corrections Management
  • Department of Police Practice

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Laws.

Science, Engineering & Technology

  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Statistics
  • Department of Civil Engineering
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Electrical Engineering
  • Department of Mining Engineering
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Industrial Engineering
  • School of Computing departments

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Science General

Faculties At The University Of Johannesburg (UJ)

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

College of Business and Economics (CBE)

  • Department of Accountancy
  • Department of Commercial Accounting
  • Department of Applied Information Systems
  • Department of Information and Knowledge Management, which contains the Centre for Information and Knowledge Management
  • Department of Marketing Management
  • Technopreneurship Centre
  • Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED)
  • Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED)
  • DST-NRF, South African Research Chair in Industrial Development (SARCID)
  • Research Centre for Public and Environmental Economics (PEERC)
  • Economic Development and Well-being Research Group (EDWRG)
  • SARChI-Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation (TRCTI)
  • Department of Business Management, which contains the UJ Centre for Entrepreneurship
  • Department of Finance and Investment Management
  • Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, which contains the Centre for Work Performance
  • Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, which contains the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa)
  • Public Management and Governance
  • School of African Studies
  • Programmes in Tourism Management and Hospitality Management
  • Programme in Food and Beverage Operations
  • Hospitality Operations

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Com. Marketing Management

Faculty of Art, Design And Architecture

  • Architecture
  • Design Studies
  • Fashion Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Industrial Design
  • Interior Design
  • Jewellery Design and Manufacture
  • Multimedia
  • Visual Arts

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Department of Graphic (Communication) Design

Faculty of Education

  • Academic Administration
  • Childhood Education
  • Education and Curriculum Studies
  • Education Leadership and Management
  • Educational Psychology
  • Science and Technology Education​

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Post Graduate Certificate in Education 2022 (Contact Programme)

Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment

  • Department of Civil Engineering Science
  • Department of Civil Engineering Technology
  • Department of Construction Management & Quantity Surveying
  • Department of Urban and Regional Planning
  • Department of Mining Engineering and Mine Surveying
  • Department of Chemical Engineering Technology
  • Department of Metallurgy
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering Science
  • Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology
  • Department of Quality and Operations Management
  • Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science
  • Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the CCEUP(SA) Certification Programme.

Faculty of Health Sciences

  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Chiropractic
  • Emergency Medical Care
  • Environmental Health
  • Complementary Medicine
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences (Radiography)
  • Nursing
  • Optometry
  • Podiatry
  • Sport and Movement Studies

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery

Faculty of Humanities

  • LanCSAL (Department of Languages, Cultural Studies and Applied Linguistics)
  • African Languages
  • Communication and Media
  • Strategic Communication
  • Anthropology and Development Studies
  • English
  • History
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Politics and International Relations​
  • Psychology
  • Religion Studies
  • Social Work and Community Development
  • Sociology

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor Of Social Work (BSW)

Faculty of Law

  • Mercantile Law
  • Practical Business Law
  • Private Law
  • Procedural Law
  • Law Clinic
  • Public Law

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Law (LLB)

Faculty of Science

  • Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Biotechnology and Food Technology
  • Department of Botany & Plant Biotechnology
  • Chemical Sciences
  • Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies
  • Geology
  • Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
  • Zoology

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Information Technology

Johannesburg Business School

  • Centre for African Business
  • JBS Centre for Entrepreneurship

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) with a Digital Transformation lens

Faculties At The University Of The Western Cape (UWC)

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Faculty Of Arts And Humanities

  • Department of African Language Studies
  • Department of Afrikaans and Nederlands
  • Department of Anthropology
  • Department of English
  • Department of Foreign Languages
  • Department of Geography, Environmental Studies and Tourism
  • Department of History
  • Department of Library and Information Science
  • Department of Linguistics
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Department of Religion and Theology
  • Department of Sociology
  • Department of Women’s and Gender Studies 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Arts.

Faculty Of Community And Health Sciences

  • Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
  • Department of Occupational Therapy
  • Department of Physiotherapy
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Social Work
  • Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science


One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the BA Honours Psychology

Faculty Of Dentistry

  • Department of Community Oral Health
  • Department of Conservative Dentistry
  • Department of Craniofacial Biology (including Forensics + Genetics)
  • Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Pathology
  • Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery and Anaesthesiology and Sedation
  • Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Department of Oral Hygiene
  • Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology
  • Department of Orthodontics
  • Department of Paediatric Dentistry
  • Department of Prosthetic Dentistry 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Oral Health.

Faculty Of Economic And Management Sciences

  • Department of Accounting
  • Department of Economics
  • Department of Industrial Psychology
  • Department of Information Systems
  • Department of Political Studies

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the BCom.

Faculty Of Education

  • Department of Educational Psychology
  • Department of Educational Studies
  • Department of Language Education 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the PGCE

Faculty Of Law

  • Department of Criminal Justice & Procedure
  • Department of Mercantile and Labour Law
  • Department of Private Law
  • Department of Public Law and Jurisprudence

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the LLB

Faculty Of Natural Sciences

  • Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
  • Department of Biotechnology
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Earth Sciences
  • Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
  • Department of Medical Biosciences
  • Department of Physics and Astronomy
  • Department of Statistics and Population Studies 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Computer Science

Faculties At The University Of Cape Town (UCT)

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED)

  • Academic Development Programme (ADP)
  • Careers Service (CS)
  • Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT)
  • Centre for Educational Assessment (CEA)
  • Dean’s Office Projects
  • Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking – d-school 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Undergraduate Teaching.

Commerce

  • College of Accounting
  • Department of Finance and Tax
  • School of Economics
  • Education Development Unit
  • Information Systems
  • School of Management Studies
  • African Institute of Financial Markets & Risk Management (AIFMRM)
  • The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Com.

Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE)

  • Departmental Overview
  • Academic Support Programme
  • CPD
  • Communication Studies 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Electrical Engineering

Health Sciences

  • Anaesthesia & Perioperative Medicine
  • Health Sciences Education
  • Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Human Biology
  • Integrative Biomedical Sciences
  • Medicine
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics & Child Health
  • Pathology
  • Public Health & Family Medicine
  • Psychiatry & Mental Health
  • Radiation Medicine
  • Surgery

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is Family Medicine

Humanities

  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Centre for African Studies
  • Centre for Film & Media Studies
  • Centre for Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies
  • Department of Knowledge & Information Stewardship
  • English Language & Literature
  • Environmental & Geographical Science
  • Historical Studies
  • Languages & Literatures, School of
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics & Applied Mathematics
  • Michaelis School of Fine Art
  • Organisational Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Political Studies
  • Psychology
  • School for African & Gender Studies, Anthropology & Linguistics (AXL)
  • School of Economics
  • School of Education
  • Social Development
  • Sociology
  • South African College of Music
  • Statistical Sciences
  • Study of Religions


One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the PGCE.

Law

  • Commercial Law
  • Public Law
  • Private Law

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the LLB

Science

  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Environmental & Geographical Science
  • Geological Sciences
  • Mathematics & Applied Mathematics
  • Molecular & Cell Biology
  • Oceanography
  • Physics
  • School of IT (incorporating Computer Science and Information Systems)
  • Statistical Sciences

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Computer Science

Faculties At The University Of The Witwatersrand (Wits)

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Commerce, Law and Management

  • Accountancy
  • Business Sciences
  • Economics and Finance
  • Law
  • Wits Business School
  • Wits School of Governance 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Com

Engineering and the Built Environment

  • Architecture and Planning
  • Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering
  • Construction Economics & Management
  • Electrical & Information Engineering
  • Mechanical, Industrial & Aeronautical Engineering
  • Mining Engineering 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Civil Engineering

Health Sciences

  • Anatomical Sciences
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Oral Health Sciences
  • Pathology
  • Physiology
  • Public Health
  • Therapeutic Sciences 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Dental Science

Humanities

  • Wits School of Arts
  • Wits School of Education
  • Human and Community Development
  • Literature, Language and Media
  • Social Sciences 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the BA General.

Science

  • Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
  • Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Sciences
  • Geosciences
  • Mathematics
  • Molecular and Cell Biology
  • Physics
  • Statistics and Actuarial Science 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. Biological Sciences

Faculties At Stellenbosch University

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

AgriSciences

  • Agricultural Economics
  • Agronomy
  • Animal Science
  • Conservation Ecology and Entomology
  • Food Science
  • Forest and Wood Science
  • Genetics
  • Horticultural Science
  • Plant Pathology
  • Soil Science
  • Viticulture and Oenology 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. in Conservation Ecology

Arts & Social Sciences

  • Drama
  • Music
  • Visual Arts
  • African Languages
  • Afrikaans and Dutch
  • Ancient Studies
  • English
  • ​​General Linguistic​s
  • Modern Foreign Lan​guages
  • Geography and Environmental Studies
  • History
  • Information Science
  • Journalism
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology and Social Anthropology 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Social Work

Economic & Management Sciences

  • School of Accountancy
  • ​​Business Management
  • Economics​
  • Industrial Psychology​
  • Logistics​
  • Statistics and Actuarial Science

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Com. Management Sciences

Education

  • Curriculum Studies
  • Education Psychology Studies
  • Educational Psychology

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the PGCE

Engineering

  • Civil
  • Electrical and Electronic
  • Industrial
  • Mechanical and Mechatronic
  • Process (Chemical)

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Eng. Electrical and Electronic

Law

  • African Procurement Law Unit
  • Pavocat Stellenbosch Academy (PSA)
  • The Development and Rule of Law Programme (DROP)

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the LLB

Medicine & Health Sciences

  • Anaesthesiology and Critical Care
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Centre for Health Professions Education
  • Family and Emergency Medicine
  • Global Health
  • Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology
  • Medicine
  • Nursing and Midwifery
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics and Child Health
  • Pathology
  • Psychia​try
  • Sport Science
  • Surgical Sciences

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery

Military Science

  • Human Resource Development
  • Security and Africa Studies
  • School for Science and Technology
  • Geospatial Studies and Information Systems
  • School for Organisation and Resource Management

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Mil. in Human and Organisational Development

Science

  • Biochemistry 
  • Botany and Zoology
  • Chemistry and Polymer Science
  • Earth Sciences
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Mathematics
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiological Sciences

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Sc. in Sports Science.

Theology

  • Old & New Testament (ONT)
  • Practical Theology & Missiology (PTM)
  • Systematic Theology & Ecclesiology (STE)

 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Th

Faculties At Tshwane University Of Technology

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Business School

  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Leadership and Governance
  • Agri-Impact
  • Technology and Innovation

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration

Arts & Design

  • Design Studies
  • Fine & Studio Arts
  • Interior Design
  • Performing Arts
  • Visual Communication

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts

Economics And Finance

  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Economics
  • Finance and Investment
  • Public Sector Finance 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Accounting

Engineering And The Built Environment

  • Architecture and Industrial Design
  • Building Sciences
  • Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Geomatics
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Electrical Engineering

Humanities

  • Applied Languages
  • Integrated Communication
  • Journalism
  • Law
  • Public Management
  • Safety and Security Management
  • School of Education
  • Distance Education

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Law

Information And Communication Technology

  • Computer Science
  • Computer Systems Engineering
  • Informatics
  • Information Technology 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Multimedia Computing

Management Sciences

  • Business and Information Management Services
  • Business School
  • Hospitality Management
  • Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Marketing, Supply Chain Management and Sport Management
  • Operations Management
  • People Management and Development
  • Tourism Management

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Diploma in Hospitality Management

Science

  • Adelaide Tambo School of Nursing Science
  • Animal Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Biotechnology and Food Technology
  • Chemistry
  • Crop Sciences
  • Environmental Health
  • Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences
  • Horticulture
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Nature Conservation
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Physics
  • Sport, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Environmental Health

Faculties At North-West University

Departments In Each Faculty

Each faculty has many departments. These departments are listed by faculty below.

Economic and Management Sciences

  • Accounting Sciences
  • Business School
  • Economic Sciences
  • Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management
  • Management Sciences
  • Tourism Management 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the B.Com. Economics

Education

  • Language Education
  • Psycho-Social Education
  • Professional Studies in Education
  • Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
  • Commerce and Social Studies in Education 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the PGCE

Engineering

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering: Minerals Processing
  • Computer and Electronic Engineering
  • Electromechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Mechatronics
  • Nuclear Engineering  

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is Electromechanical Engineering

Health Sciences

  • Consumer Sciences
  • Dietetics
  • Human Movement Sciences
  • Nursing Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Physiology
  • Psychosocial Health 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Social Work

Humanities

  • Communication
  • Government Studies
  • Languages
  • Music
  • Philosophy
  • Social Sciences 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Arts

Law

  • Law 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the LLB.

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

  • Physical and Chemical Sciences
  • Biological Sciences
  • Geo Sciences and Spatial Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
  • Computer Science and Information Systems
  • Business Mathematics and Informatics
  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the Bachelor of Biological Sciences

Theology

  • Ancient Language and Text Studies
  • Honours
  • Minister Training
  • Pastoral Care
  • Theology: Open Distance Learning 

One of the most popular courses in this faculty is the BA Honours in Theology

What Are The Top 10 Universities In South Africa?

The top 10 universities in South Africa are:  

  • University of Cape Town
  • University of the Witwatersrand
  • Stellenbosch University
  • University of Johannesburg
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • University of the Western Cape
  • North-West University
  • Rhodes University
  • University of Pretoria
  • University of the Free State

How Many Universities Does South Africa Have?

There are currently 26 public universities all around the country. There are also more than 50 TVET colleges. 

What Is The Smallest University In South Africa?

The smallest university in South Africa is Rhodes University, with roughly 8 000 students. 

Author: Chloe Bydawell 
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 4, 2022