Are you drawn to culture, communication, human behavior, or the arts? South African universities offer a wide range of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences programmes—ideal for future educators, researchers, writers, artists, historians, social workers, and public servants. Here’s the complete list of universities offering BA and related qualifications in 2026.
Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences – University Programmes in South Africa
1. Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
- BA in Media, Communication & Culture
- BA in Politics & Economics
- BA (Psychology)
- Bachelor of Music
- Diploma in Public Relations
- Diploma in Public Management
2. North-West University (NWU)
- BA Humanities (English, Setswana, Psychology, History, etc.)
- BA in Public Governance
- BA in Communication
- BA in Music and Society
- BA in Language and Literary Studies
- BA in Behavioural Sciences
- Bachelor of Social Sciences (Development, Population, Psychology, Sociology, etc.)
3. Rhodes University
- BA (General)
- BA in Fine Art
- BA in Journalism
- BA in Music
- BA in Social Science
- BA in Economics & Politics
4. Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
- BA in Humanities
- BA Honours in History, Sociology, Languages (Afrikaans, English, Setswana)
- BA in Heritage Studies
- BA in Anthropology & Archaeology
5. Stellenbosch University (SU)
- BA in Humanities
- BA in Language and Culture
- BA in International Studies
- BA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE)
- BA in Visual Arts
- BA in Music
- BA in Human Resource Management
6. University of Cape Town (UCT)
- BA in Film, Drama, Languages, Literature, Media, and more
- BA in Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology, Politics, Anthropology)
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Fine Art
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
7. University of Fort Hare (UFH)
- BA in General, Applied Communication, Development, Psychology, Sociology, etc.
- BA Honours in Philosophy, Music, History, African Languages, Criminology
- BA in Social Work
- Bachelor of Theology
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
8. University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- BA in Anthropology, Development Studies, History, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religion, Sociology
- Bachelor of Social Work
- BA Honours & PG Certificates available
9. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- BA in General Studies, Music, International Studies, Visual Art, Philosophy, Politics & Law
- BSocSci in General Studies, Housing, Environmental Management, Government & Ethics
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Theology
10. University of Limpopo (UL)
- BA in Sociology, Anthropology, Political Studies, Cultural Studies, Communication Studies, Performing Arts, Media Studies, Language Practice
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Information Studies
11. University of Venda (UNIVEN)
- BA in Media Studies, Development Studies, Language Practice, International Relations, Youth in Development
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Theology and Religious Studies
12. University of South Africa (UNISA)
- BA in African Languages, Development Studies, History, Sociology, Criminology, Communication Studies
- BA in Policy Studies, Visual Multimedia Arts, Creative Writing
- Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Theology
13. University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- BA (3-Year & Extended)
- Bachelor of Library and Information Studies (BLIS)
- Bachelor of Theology
- BA in Human Ecology
- Bachelor of Community Development
14. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- BA in Digital Arts, Theatre & Performance, Fine Arts, Film, Music, Speech-Language Pathology
- BA in Psychology, Sociology, International Relations, Philosophy
- Bachelor of Social Work
- BA in Education
- Bachelor of Political Studies
15. University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
- BA in Psychology, Sociology, Drama, Intercultural Communication, Tourism, Criminology
- BA in Environmental Planning & Development
- BA in Information Science
- Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political & International Studies
Why Choose Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences?
- Explore human culture, society, politics, and communication
- Build careers in education, journalism, public policy, creative arts, social work & more
- Many programmes lead to honours, master’s, and research opportunities
Pro Tip
- Most BA applications close between August and October
- Look for extended curriculum options if your APS is slightly below the standard entry requirement
Would you like the APS score requirements or application links added for each university? Just say the word!