The Best Universities in South Africa to Study Computer Science and IT in 2023

Are you a South African or International student and you are looking for the best universities in South Africa to study Computer Science? Below is a list of the best universities in South Africa to study Computer Science. These schools have stood the test of time and are trusted for quality education in computer science.

According to the report, the demand for IT professionals has increased by 13% since 2015. An increase in salaries has accompanied this growth in demand.

This increase in hiring activity and salaries is great news for job seekers in the field, and for those who plan on studying IT or computer sciences at university.

But which university should a prospective student choose to get the best-quality education and degree?

MyBroadband spoke to South Africa’s top universities to find out what they can offer IT and computer science students. Please note that the universities are not listed in any order.

List Of The Best School In South Africa To Study Computer Science And IT
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List Of The Best School In South Africa To Study Computer Science And IT

#1. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)

Wits has invested over R4 million in furnishing its new computer laboratory at its School of Electrical and Information Engineering, allowing it to deliver courses with a “large computing component”.

“We also have software laboratories, which are used by our postgraduate students doing research, such as the Convergence Lab and the Telecommunications Laboratory,” said Wits, adding that it is home to one of two IBM Research Laboratories in Africa.

Wits also recently merged its School of Computer Science with the Wits School of Computational and Applied Mathematics to form the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics (CSAM).

Electrical and Information Engineering

Wits offers a four-year engineering degree focusing on information engineering and accommodate 250 first-year students annually.

The first and second-year courses are standard for all Electrical and Information Engineering students. In the third year, a student can choose their curriculum in either Electrical or Information Engineering.

Degrees available include:

BSc (Eng) Hon Electrical and Information Engineering – 4 years
BEng Biomedical Engineering – 3 Years
BEng Digital Arts – 3 Years

The university’s information engineering researchers are also involved in the following projects:

Software Development Methodologies
Smart Electricity Grids
Big Data
Bioinformatics

Computational Sciences

The Computer Science program at Wits includes a “significant amount” of programming in all courses at an undergraduate level.

“Students are introduced to high-performance computing, data science and big data, mobile computing, artificial intelligence, networking, databases, and theoretical computer science,” said Wits.

“The Computer Science program will also partner with the advanced Mathematics of Finance program to develop innovative courses in computing in finance.”

The CSAM School currently has 280 undergraduate students and over 50 honors students.

Degrees on offer include:

BSc Computational and Applied Mathematics
BSc Computer Science

Honors, Master’s, Ph.D., and postdoctoral options are also available to students.

“Wits provides a stimulating environment, and our students are selected regularly to participate in international competitions where they compete against the best.”

#2. University of Pretoria (UP)

The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT (EBIT) is one of the best in the world, said the university, with its engineering ranked in the top 1% globally – according to International Science Index’s Essential Science Indicators.

“UP is one of the few universities that offers all the main disciplines in engineering, such as Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronic, Industrial, Mechanical and Aeronautical, Metallurgical, and Mining Engineering.”

UP’s EBIT Faculty has around 11,700 students, making it the largest Faculty at UP. The annual intake of new first-year engineering students is approximately 1,400.

Computer Science, IT, and Informatics

The EBIT facility has the only A-rated Professor in Computer Science in South Africa, said UP. At the same time, the BCom Informatics degree is the only degree in Africa that the Accreditation Board internationally accredits for Engineering and Technology of the USA.

The facility also has the only Virtual Reality Mine Design Centre in Africa.

“According to industry visitors, the modern and well-equipped facilities in the EBIT faculty has been one of the key attractions to our campus, while the high expectations that professors set for their students make EBIT graduates highly sought after by the industry.”

The School of IT at UP takes in around 500 first-year students a year, and offers the following courses:

Bachelor of Information Science with a focus on Multimedia or Publishing
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

“The Department of Information Science in the School of IT is also the host for the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics research center.”

#3.Stellenbosch University

The Computer Science division at Stellenbosch University is one of three divisions in its Department of Mathematical Sciences.

“We are one of the smaller computer science departments in the country, but it highly sought our students after because they graduate with strong programming skills and a solid theoretical basis,” said the university.

Stellenbosch can accommodate over 300 first-year students, including those taking Computer Science as an elective but not as their third-year major.

Courses available in Computer Science at the university include:

BSc Computer Science

The Faculty of Science offers BSc Mathematical Sciences: Computer Science. Computer Science will be your major subject that can lead to an honors degree.

BCom Computer Science

The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences offers the BCom Mathematical Statistics and Operations Research program with an option to focus on Computer Science.

BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering

The Faculty of Engineering offers a BEng degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with the option to focus on Computer Science. The engineering students follow the same Computer Science courses as BSc students.

Practical experience

“A feature of our department is our focus on entrepreneurship and practical experience. Last year, two MSc students won €25,000 for the WorkMode app they developed for Ericsson’s applications competition.”

The university said their postgraduate students also gain entry into doctoral research programs internationally, such as those hosted by Oxford University and Carnegie Mellon University.

#4. University of Johannesburg (UJ)

The University of Johannesburg’s Academy of Computer Science and Software Engineering takes in around 370 first-year students each year.

The Academy is the only university faculty in the southern hemisphere that offers a BSc IT degree accredited by the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, said UJ.

“The BSc Hons IT has been fully re-accredited for five years. Students studying at the Academy can forego the examinations to become internationally Chartered IT Professionals subject to terms and conditions.”

Students at the Academy can choose between:

BSc IT
BSc Computer Science and Informatics

“For students who need a little more support in mathematics, the Academy also offers a four-year extended degree program.”

Practical application

“The Academy maintains strong industry relationships and uses its alumni community to ensure that people active in the IT industry teach students.”

“An example of such collaboration with industry is the introduction next year of an honors level course in DevOps, which will be taught by one of the top three South Africans in this field.”

UJ said final-year undergraduate students also take part in a year-long group project solving a real-world industry problem.

“Projects are entered into the Microsoft Imagine Cup, with the UJ Academy winning the national finals four times in the past six years. Teams from the Academy have won the Discovery Hackathon in South Africa twice – 2014 and 2015 – since its inception.

#5. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)

NMMU hosts a Department of Computing Sciences and a School of ICT, which different faculties run.

Computing Sciences

NMMU takes in around 120 first-year students each year – with the capacity for more – and offers the following Computer Science degrees:

BSc Computer Science
BSc Information Systems
BCom Computer Science and Information Systems
BCom Information Systems
BCom Accounting Sciences (four-year degree for Chartered Accountants who also major in Computing Sciences)

“BCom and BSc honor in Computer Science, MCom and MSc in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Computer Science are also available,” said NMMU.

The university said it runs a “hybrid department” which offers Computer Science and Information Systems modules in all its degrees, which it says is a standout feature.

“With 11 Ph.D. full-time staff members, we are one of the best-qualified computing departments in the country. We are also one of a few computing departments with a fully-equipped Usability Laboratory.”

NMMU also hosts a Telkom Centre of Excellence and international collaboration with the University of Oldenburg in Germany.

Information Technology

Information Technology courses at NMMU include:

Higher Certificate
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Postgraduate Diploma
Masters
PhD

The Higher Certificate Information Technology course takes in 130 new students over two campuses yearly, while the Diploma Information Technology course takes in 350 students annually.

“Prof Paula Kotzé, an Adjunct Professor in the School of ICT and a Senior Researcher in the Centre for Community Technologies, was awarded the International 2014 IFIP TC13 Pioneers in Human-Computer Interaction Award. The professor is also an NRF B-rated researcher,” said the university.

In 2014, two NMMU students were selected as international finalists in the game design category of the Microsoft ImagineCup – the first time a South African game design project has made it to the finals.

The university also offers a Cisco Academy Support Centre.

#6. University of Cape Town (UCT)

The University of Cape Town’s Department of Information Systems takes in over 1,200 first-year students each year. It offers a variety of programs, while Computer Science is taught as a major subject in the Bachelor of Science degree within the Science Faculty.

Computer Science

The university offers a BSc in Computer Science degree to students, which also caters to those wanting to study computer engineering or computer game development.

“Students who get both the BSc Computer Science and the BSc Honours in Computer Science at UCT become Chartered I.T. Professionals (UK) since the British Computer Society accredits these degrees as being of an international standard,” said UCT.

The Computer Science Honours degree allows students to enter MSc and Ph.D. programs.

“Computing can also be combined with Information Systems as part of a BCom degree within the Commerce Faculty. While Business Science is a four-year degree offering business knowledge along with Computer Science, the BCom in Information Systems and Computer Science is a 3-year degree offering fewer business courses and more computing courses,” said UCT.

Computer Science students can also continue their studies once graduating, with honors degrees, Master’s in Information Technology or Computer Science, and Ph.D. options available.

Information Systems

For undergraduate students, the Department of Information Systems offers the following degrees:

Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Business Sciences

Postgraduate courses include:

Information Systems – Honours
Master of Commerce in Information Systems
Doctorate in Information Systems

“In all courses up to Honours level, extensive practical project work is done with a variety of system development tools. At senior levels, students interact with real clients outside the university, building valuable career skills while developing small commercial applications,” said UCT.

“Our IS undergraduate classes are now smaller and students are receiving more personal attention from academic staff than before. Our IS programs are preparing students to enter a high-demand area with a projected severe shortage of graduates.”

#7. Rhodes University

This University is one of the best universities in South Africa to study Computer Science. The school offers an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, a BSc in Information Systems, and a four-year BSc in Software Development.

Honors degrees and Master’s degrees by thesis, or by coursework and thesis (part-time), are also available at Rhodes.

The Computer Science department is headed by Professor George Wells, who completed his Ph.D. in Parallel and Distributed Computing at the University of Bristol.

Rhodes University was asked to provide feedback but did not respond by the time of publication. Information in the article was taken from the university’s websites.

#8. North-West University

This citadel of knowledge offers Computer Science and Information Technology qualifications at its Potchefstroom campus.

Undergraduate students can study:

BSc Computer and Mathematical Sciences
BSc Information Technology-Computer Science

Postgraduate students can choose from:

Honors BSc Computer Science and Information Systems
Honors BCom Computer Science and Information Systems
MCom Computer Science and Information Systems
Ph.D. in Computer Science

Dr. Estelle Taylor is the subject chair and senior lecturer for the faculty.

North-West University was asked to provide feedback but did not respond by the time of publication.

#9. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

The University of KwaZulu-Natal offers Computer Science as a major for the BSc degree and in the BSc(CSIT) program at its Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses.

The College of Agriculture oversees falling under the School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science,, Engineering, and Science.

“Students majoring in Computer Science for the BSc degree typically offer either Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry or Economics as a second major,” said UKZN.

“Students in the BSc(CSIT) program may choose to major in Computer Science and in Information Systems, or may choose to double major in Computer Science.”

UKZN was asked to provide feedback but did not respond by the time of publication.

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