University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa • Founded 2004 • World Rank #627
Updated May 2026
Overview
Founded in 2004, the University of KwaZulu-Natal is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Durban (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), KwaZulu-Natal.
This institution also has branch campuses in Westiville, Pinetown and Pietermaritzburg. Officially recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training of South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a very large-sized coeducational South African higher education institution.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 20-year-old South African higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades.
International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
UKZN also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
University of KwaZulu-Natal's campus location, postal address, and the channels students typically use to reach the admissions team. Verified contact points help avoid third-party impersonators.
Academic Details
Academic statistics for University of KwaZulu-Natal — including its student body and academic staff numbers. Read these alongside rankings; institution scale changes how rankings should be interpreted.
Academic Structures
Browse the academic-unit structure of University of KwaZulu-Natal. Multi-faculty programmes exist but are usually administered by a lead faculty that handles admissions and credentialing.
Unit 4 items
- College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Humanities
- College of Law and Management Studies
Degrees
The degree levels available at University of KwaZulu-Natal — bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and others — are organised below. Each tier signals a different depth of specialisation and minimum study duration.
Bachelor's 101 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Accountancy
- Actuarial Science
- Administration
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Anatomy
- Anthropology
- Applied Chemistry
- Applied Linguistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Architecture
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Catholic Theology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Christian Religious Studies
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Arts
- Comparative Sociology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Construction Engineering
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Dental Hygiene
- Dental Studies
- Dietetics
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Engineering
- English Studies
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- Fine Arts
- Forestry
- Genetics
- Geology
- Heritage Preservation
- Higher Education
- Higher Education Teacher Training
- Horticulture
- Human Resources
- Industrial Chemistry
- Information Management
- Information Technology
- Interior Design
- International Studies
- Investment Analysis
- Italian
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Law
- Literature
- Logistics Management
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media Studies
- Medical Science
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Mineralogy
- Music
- Music Education
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Operations Research
- Optometry
- Performing Arts
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Physiology
- Plant Pathology
- Police Studies
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Real Estate
- Social Policy
- Social Studies
- Social Work
- Soil Science
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Surgery
- Surveying and Mapping
- Telecommunications Technology
- Theology
- Tourism
Master's 138 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Accountancy
- Administration
- Adult Education
- African Languages
- African Studies
- Afrikaans
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Anaesthesiology
- Anatomy
- Ancient Civilizations
- Applied Linguistics
- Architecture
- Archiving
- Banking
- Business Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Cardiology
- Catholic Theology
- Christian Religious Studies
- Clinical Psychology
- Commercial Law
- Community Health
- Computer Engineering
- Constitutional Law
- Construction Engineering
- Criminal Law
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Curriculum
- Data Processing
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Development Studies
- Dietetics
- Dutch
- Economic History
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Engineering
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- Finance
- Fine Arts
- Food Science
- Forensic Pathology
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- German
- Gerontology
- Greek
- Greek (Classical)
- Health Administration
- Heritage Preservation
- Higher Education
- History
- Human Resources
- Indigenous Studies
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Information Sciences
- Internal Medicine
- International Business
- Investment Analysis
- Labour Law
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Latin
- Law
- Leadership
- Linguistics
- Literacy Education
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Management Systems
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Marine Transport
- Maritime Law
- Marketing
- Mathematics Education
- Media Studies
- Medical Science
- Medical Technology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Midwifery
- Music
- Neurology
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Occupational Health
- Occupational Therapy
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Optometry
- Orthopaedics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Peace and Disarmament
- Performing Arts
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Political Sciences
- Private Administration
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Radiology
- Regional Planning
- Rehabilitation and Therapy
- Religious Studies
- Science Education
- Social Policy
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Social and Preventive Medicine
- Sociology
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Surgery
- Surveying and Mapping
- Taxation
- Theology
- Tourism
- Town Planning
- Transport Economics
- Transport Management
- Urology
- Virology
- Waste Management
- Water Management
Doctoral 28 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Accountancy
- Administration
- Agriculture
- Architecture
- Business Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Construction Engineering
- Economics
- Education
- Engineering
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Law
- Literature
- Management
- Medical Science
- Medicine
- Music
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Surveying and Mapping
- Theology
Diploma & Certificate 2 programs
Diploma and certificate routes deliver focused, applied training for fast entry into skilled occupations.
- Music
- Vocational Education
Other 107 programs
- Accountancy
- Administration
- Adult Education
- African Languages
- Afrikaans
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Ancient Civilizations
- Anthropology
- Applied Linguistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Architecture
- Art History
- Bible
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Business and Commerce
- Catholic Theology
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Christian Religious Studies
- Communication Arts
- Computer Science
- Construction Engineering
- Consumer Studies
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Development Studies
- Dutch
- Ecology
- Economic History
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Technology
- Educational and Student Counselling
- English Studies
- Entomology
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Ethics
- Finance
- Fine Arts
- French
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- German
- Government
- Graphic Design
- Greek
- Greek (Classical)
- Heritage Preservation
- History
- Horticulture
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Latin
- Library Science
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Media Studies
- Medical Science
- Microbiology
- Mineralogy
- Multimedia
- Music
- Nursing
- Peace and Disarmament
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Plant Pathology
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Regional Planning
- Religion
- Religious Studies
- Science Education
- Small Business
- Social Policy
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Soil Science
- Statistics
- Surveying and Mapping
- Teacher Trainers Education
- Technology Education
- Theology
- Tourism
- Town Planning
- Zoology
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Department of Higher Education and Training of South Africa.
Edgewood (Campus) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Education
Howard College (Campus) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architecture
- Arts and Humanities
- Engineering
- Law
- Management
- Natural Sciences
- Nursing
- Social Sciences
Pietermaritzburg (Campus) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agriculture
- Education
- Fine Arts
- Law
- Management
- Natural Sciences
- Theology
Agriculture, Engineering and Science (College) 44 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Applied Mathematics
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Botany
- Cell Biology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Crop Production
- Dietetics
- Earth Sciences
- Ecology
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Food Science
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geology
- Horticulture
- Marine Biology
- Mathematics
- Meat and Poultry
- Mechanical Engineering
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Natural Resources
- Nutrition
- Pathology
- Physics
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Soil Science
- Statistics
- Surveying and Mapping
- Water Science
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Health Sciences (College) 38 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anaesthesiology
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Biomedicine
- Cardiology
- Dermatology
- Diabetology
- Endocrinology
- Epidemiology
- Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
- Gastroenterology
- Gerontology
- Health Sciences
- Laboratory Techniques
- Medical Technology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Nephrology
- Neurological Therapy
- Neurology
- Nursing
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Paediatrics
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Plastic Surgery
- Pneumology
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Rheumatology
- Surgery
- Urology
- Virology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Humanities (College) 62 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- African Languages
- Afrikaans
- Architecture
- Art Education
- Asian Religious Studies
- Bible
- Christian Religious Studies
- Classical Languages
- Communication Studies
- Computer Education
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Dance
- Demography and Population
- Development Studies
- Dutch
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Sciences
- English
- Ethics
- Foreign Languages Education
- French
- Gender Studies
- German
- History
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Information Sciences
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Islamic Studies
- Italian
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Leadership
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mathematics Education
- Media Studies
- Music
- Music Education
- Music Theory and Composition
- Musicology
- Native Language Education
- Opera
- Performing Arts
- Philosophy
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Religion
- Religious Studies
- Rural Planning
- Science Education
- Singing
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Technology Education
- Theatre
- Theology
- Town Planning
- Translation and Interpretation
- Visual Arts
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law and Management Studies (College) 20 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Commercial Law
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Finance
- Fiscal Law
- Health Administration
- Information Sciences
- International Business
- Labour Law
- Law
- Management
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Marine Transport
- Maritime Law
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Taxation
Common Career Paths
- Operations Manager
- Project Manager
- HR Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
All active programmes at University of KwaZulu-Natal are listed by degree level. Cross-reference against the divisions section to identify which faculty owns each programme — that determines admissions handling.
107 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in South Africa
Bachelor's Degree 19 programmes
Showing 10 of 19.
Honours Degree 15 programmes
Showing 10 of 15.
Master's Degree 52 programmes
Showing 10 of 52.
Diploma 5 programmes
Postgraduate Certificate 2 programmes
Postgraduate Diploma 14 programmes
Showing 10 of 14.
How to apply to University of KwaZulu-Natal
Step-by-step guidance for applying to University of KwaZulu-Natal, covering the typical sequence from programme selection to admissions follow-up.
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1
Browse the programme catalogue
Use the programme finder to browse University of KwaZulu-Natal's 107 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.
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2
Check eligibility for your chosen programme
Programme-level requirements at University of KwaZulu-Natal typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.
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3
Get your documents ready
Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.
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4
Apply through the official channel
University of KwaZulu-Natal processes applications through www.ukzn.ac.za. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.
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5
Reach out and track your application
Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. You can reach the institution by email at [email protected] or by phone at +27 (31) 260 1111. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of KwaZulu-Natal
Common questions students ask about University of KwaZulu-Natal — answers pulled straight from the institution's published profile.
In what year was University of KwaZulu-Natal established?
University of KwaZulu-Natal was founded in 2004 (approximately 22 years ago).
Where can I find University of KwaZulu-Natal?
The institution is located in Durban, South Africa.
Is University of KwaZulu-Natal a public or private institution?
It is a public higher-education institution.
How many students does University of KwaZulu-Natal have?
The institution has a student body of 35,000-39,999.
What is University of KwaZulu-Natal's ranking?
It ranks #627 globally and #5 in South Africa.
What programmes are available at University of KwaZulu-Natal?
University of KwaZulu-Natal offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How is University of KwaZulu-Natal organised academically?
The institution comprises 4 academic units.
Is University of KwaZulu-Natal accredited?
The institution holds recognition from South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA); Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
How do I find University of KwaZulu-Natal online?
The institution's website is www.ukzn.ac.za.
Members of Association of African Universities (AAU)
Universities sharing Association of African Universities (AAU) affiliation with University of KwaZulu-Natal offer comparable mobility and recognition benefits. Affiliated institutions often coordinate on academic standards and credit-transfer pathways.
Faculties at nearby universities
Within easy reach of University of KwaZulu-Natal, these institutions host comparable faculties and admissions structures — useful for regional shortlisting. Regional universities often coordinate on credit transfer and joint programme delivery.
Where Else to Study Medicine
Programme-level scholarships for Medicine students vary substantially across South Africa institutions. Often the less-marketed scholarships are the easiest to secure for qualified applicants.
Universities Compared with University of KwaZulu-Natal
Endowment and financial peer comparison signals institutional resources and scholarship depth. Universities comparable to University of KwaZulu-Natal in this dimension often offer similar aid packages.
Studying in South Africa: guides and resources
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