If you’re passionate about painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, or curatorial practice, a degree in Fine Arts or Visual Arts offers the perfect platform to express your creativity and engage with the world through artistic innovation. South Africa’s leading universities provide specialised training in contemporary and traditional art forms, while also encouraging critical thinking and conceptual development.
Here’s your 2026 guide to the top South African universities offering Fine Arts and Visual Arts degrees:
1. Rhodes University – Eastern Cape
Programme Offered:
- Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA)
Why Choose Rhodes?
Rhodes is known for its rigorous studio practice and critical theory balance. Students major in disciplines like painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and new media while engaging in curatorial and visual culture studies.
2. University of Cape Town (UCT) – Western Cape
Programme Offered:
- BA in Fine Art (BAFA) – Michaelis School of Fine Art
Why Choose UCT?
UCT’s Michaelis School is one of Africa’s most prestigious art schools. It offers state-of-the-art facilities, a vibrant artistic community, and professional training in contemporary art practices, visual studies, and art history.
3. University of Limpopo (UL) – Limpopo
Programme Offered:
- BA in Contemporary and Applied Art
Why Choose UL?
UL focuses on art in community development and cultural expression. The programme encourages socially engaged art and introduces students to practical design and communication skills.
4. Stellenbosch University (SU) – Western Cape
Programme Offered:
- BA in Visual Arts
- Postgraduate degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education
Why Choose SU?
SU combines studio art with theory and research. Students specialise in fields like painting, photography, ceramics, printmaking, and sculpture, and the university supports international art exchanges and exhibitions.
5. University of the Western Cape (UWC) – Western Cape
Programme Offered:
- BA in Visual Arts and Culture (through interdisciplinary pathways)
Why Choose UWC?
UWC offers an interdisciplinary approach, linking visual arts with culture, heritage, and identity studies—ideal for students interested in art activism and cultural critique.
6. University of South Africa (UNISA) – Distance Learning
Programmes Offered:
- BA in Visual Multimedia Arts
- BA Honours in Visual Arts
- Short Learning Programmes in Creative Arts & Art History
Why Choose UNISA?
UNISA is perfect for students who prefer to study remotely or part-time. Its visual arts curriculum supports digital and multimedia explorations, making it ideal for modern creatives.
7. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) – Gauteng
Programme Offered:
- BA Fine Arts (BAFA) – Wits School of Arts
Why Choose Wits?
Wits offers a dynamic and politically conscious fine arts programme. Students explore experimental and conceptual practices with access to top galleries and creative hubs in Johannesburg.
What You’ll Learn in a Fine Arts / Visual Arts Degree:
- Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Photography
- Digital Media and Installation Art
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Curating and Exhibition Design
- Critical Theory and Research Methodologies
- Community and Public Art Practice
Career Opportunities:
- Professional Artist (Painter, Sculptor, Photographer, etc.)
- Curator or Gallery Manager
- Arts Educator or Lecturer
- Illustrator or Multimedia Designer
- Arts Administrator or Cultural Policy Advisor
- Art Therapist (with further training)