Going to the southern tip of Africa, you’ll find a multicultural country, South Africa. This nation is popular among foreigners as it offers many tourist spots such as parks, provinces, and more. Aside from being a good place for traveling, South Africa is an excellent country for studying humanities.

Interestingly, South Africa has a very diverse background and population. They even have 11 official languages showing how diversified their language, culture, and people are. If you’re going to study humanities here, you’ll have a real-life experience in a diverse country. You’ll see how they highly value their culture, background, and more.

Plus, South Africa has outstanding universities. If you’re going to study humanities here, the educational institutions here are widely open for those interested in the field. In this article, let’s talk about the best universities in South Africa for humanities!

What Topics Do You Learn in Humanities?

If you are looking to pursue a humanities degree, understand that there are several possible courses you can pursue, like religion, law, philosophy, art, sociology, and many others. Picking the right choice depends on your interests and career goals. You can sample some of the courses like law and marketing on our page to see if that might interest you. Additionally, if you are still unsure, you can check out other open courses listed on our website to explore your options.

Top Humanities Universities in South Africa

1. University of Cape Town

Built in 1829, the University of Cape Town is one of South Africa’s leading educational institutions. It is considered one of the oldest universities in the country, and for decades, they created a huge impact in education and research.

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town delivers an exceptional humanities program among its international students in South Africa. It is the second largest faculty in terms of student population. Many local and international students enter this faculty as they offer a broad range of specializations. They are further divided into 17 departments, ranging from arts, media to psychology, with the goal of covering all the human studies. As a student here, you’ll be exposed to various learning opportunities that will enhance your skills and competencies in the field.

Since its establishment, the Faculty of Humanities has produced remarkable graduates such as actors, composers, singers, and more. For the faculty’s teaching staff, it has a good set of instructors in the field, having an international reputation. Since the university has a good research standing, this faculty also delivers studies globally, and they have numerous research centers in the field.

2. University of the Witwatersrand

As they mark their 100th year in the industry, the University of the Witwatersrand is a top-tier institution and a leading school for humanities in South Africa. For this milestone, the university has received awards and recognitions nationally and globally for its outstanding research and teaching. They have a strong record of producing graduates in the field, and they continue to do so. This university is located in Johannesburg, one of the largest and populous cities in the county.

The University of the Witwatersrand has five faculties. One of them, the Faculty of Humanities, promotes five schools focusing on human studies such as arts, literature, social science, and others. They offer comprehensive academic programs, letting students develop their knowledge and skills in their respective fields.

In addition, the undergraduate programs are flexible. As a student here, you’ll be presented with numerous opportunities. Graduate programs in the Faulty of Humanities offer rigorous training in research and teaching, ensuring that they will maximize their education.

3. University of Pretoria

Started in 1908 as a small school, the University of Pretoria is now a top-performing and multicampus university and a top institution for humanities in South Africa. They have a high reputation in research, and they offer a wide range of academic programs that are open to local and international students. As they continue moving with their goals, they produce quality programs for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The University of Pretoria has nine faculties that are internationally recognized. For humanities degrees and programs, the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Humanities is highly regarded for its academic and research work. Today, they have 13 departments, and their programs have a good standing nationally. Globally speaking, political science, development studies, sociology, and other departments have a position in international rankings.

The Faculty of Humanities guarantees an exceptional learning experience as they offer academic programs built with excellent faculty staff, mostly finished with doctoral degrees and recognized researchers. They also have many international partners and resources for humanities studies as they engage their students in learning and research.

4. University of the Western Cape

Home to more than 23,000 students, the University of the Western Cape offers numerous degrees for undergraduate and graduate degrees. They cater to local and international students, and they have a broad range of programs.

The University of the Western Cape is a recognized humanities university in South Africa that has produced thousands of graduates in the field. Specifically, in the humanities faculty, their graduates are now professionals in the country and globally. This faculty offers a wide range of academic programs, and they have an excellent reputation in studies and research.

An undergraduate degree in humanities at the University of the Western Cape will equip you with a strong foundation in the field. As you continue your studies here, you’ll gain an excellent background in your chosen field. For graduate studies, you’ll have in-depth studies and research.

5. Rhodes University

The Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, is a well-built university for various academic disciplines. They offer multiple programs for undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees.

The Rhodes University’s largest faculty is the Faculty of Humanities that delivers a world-class humanities program in South Africa. It has four main divisions, the arts, social sciences, languages, and professional offering. In every category, they focus on specializations. As an incoming student here, you’ll have a lot of options in choosing a major. The university takes pride in its quality liberal arts education, as they continuously promote them and develop their students with the necessary skills and knowledge they need in the field.

Additionally, as a whole, Rhodes University provides a unique environment for its students. They have facilities, infrastructure, and other places for students’ learning. They also offer various student services and activities for engagement. As they continue promoting their programs, research, and services, the university develops its high reputation.

We hope that this article on the Best Humanities Universities in South Africa was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to know more!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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