Universities

Universities offer a broad range of degrees, diplomas and certificates, and will help widen access to tertiary education in the country. Public universities in South Africa are divided into three types:

• traditional universities, which offer theoretically-oriented university degrees;
• universities of technology ("Technikons"), which offer vocational oriented diplomas and degrees;
• comprehensive universities, which offer a combination of both types of qualification.

Many of South Africa's universities are world-class academic institutions, at the cutting edge of research in certain areas. Although subsidised by the state, the universities are autonomous, reporting to their own councils rather than government.

• Traditional universities
• Universities of technology
• Comprehensive universities
• Other degree granting institutes

Traditional universities

Institution	Nickname	Location
University of Cape Town	Ikeys / UCT	Cape Town
University of Fort Hare	UFH	Alice, East London
University of the Free State	Kovsies / UFS	Bloemfontein
University of KwaZulu-Natal	UKZN	Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Westville
University of Limpopo		Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa
North-West University	Pukke	Mafikeng, Mankwe, Potchefstroom,Vanderbijlpark
University of Pretoria	Tuks / Tukkies	Pretoria, Illovo (Johannesburg)[13]
Rhodes University	Rhodes	Grahamstown
University of Stellenbosch	Maties	Stellenbosch, Saldanha Bay, Bellville
University of the Western Cape	UWC	Bellville (Cape Town)
University of the Witwatersrand	Wits	Johannesburg

Universities of technology

Comprehensive universities