5 Best Business & Management Universities in South Africa

University of Pretoria leads the 5 Business & Management universities in South Africa at #362 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Fort Hare (#16 in South Africa) and Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science (#23 in South Africa). Across the whole list there are 33 courses to choose from.

Subject

Level

University type

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Universities 5 Programs 33 Scholarships 1

5 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

1Best overall

QS World #362 #4 in South Africa South Africa

University of Pretoria

Public University · 3 courses in Business & Management

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#362 QS World University Rankings 2026

#4 in South Africa

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2Top pick

#16 in South Africa South Africa

University of Fort Hare

Public University · 5 courses in Business & Management

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—Tuition (indicative)

1916Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#16 in South Africa · by research impact

353,278 citations · h-index 198

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3Top pick

#23 in South Africa South Africa

Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science

Public University · 8 courses in Business & Management

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—Tuition (indicative)

2005Founded

27,500Students

—International

Admissions open

#23 in South Africa · by research impact

95,775 citations · h-index 110

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4Ranked

#24 in South Africa South Africa

Central University of Technology

Public University · 10 courses in Business & Management

All 10 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#24 in South Africa · by research impact

80,425 citations · h-index 103

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5Ranked

#26 in South Africa South Africa

Univerisity of Mpumalanga

Public University · 7 courses in Business & Management

All 7 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#26 in South Africa · by research impact

28,388 citations · h-index 65

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How these universities are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — University of Pretoria at #362 — so it heads the list. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Pretoria has the largest research record in this group, with 3,266,028 citations and an h-index of 428.

Public, private and where they are

The split is 5 public to 0 private institutions. The oldest is University of Fort Hare, founded in 1916. Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science is the largest, with 27,500 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 22 bachelor's, 10 diploma and 1 master's. The usual length is 4 years and 2 years. 97% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Central University of Technology offers the widest choice, with 10 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in South Africa for Business & Management?

University of Pretoria (QS World #362), University of Fort Hare (#16 in South Africa) and Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science (#23 in South Africa) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer Business & Management in South Africa?

5 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Business & Management course take in South Africa?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 2 years the next most common.

When do Business & Management courses start in South Africa?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Business & Management online with a university in South Africa?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Business & Management courses in South Africa?

Central University of Technology, with 10, ahead of Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science (8).

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