Are you passionate about understanding the past and preserving cultural heritage for future generations? If so, a degree in History or Heritage Studies could be your calling. In South Africa, several top universities offer robust undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in History, Heritage Studies, Archaeology, and related fields. Here’s a breakdown of institutions offering these programmes in 2026.
1. Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
Faculty of Humanities
- BA (Politics & Economics)
- BA (Media, Communication & Culture)
- BA (Law)
- Bachelor of Music (School Music, Performing Arts, Music Technology)
2. North-West University (NWU)
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- BA Humanities – Specialisations include History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology, and Philosophy
- BSocSc with History, Development Studies, Population Studies
- BA with History and Society, Politics and Society
- Bachelor of Social Sciences with History
- BA in Behavioural Sciences
3. Rhodes University
Faculty of Humanities
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Social Science (BSS)
- Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA)
- Bachelor of Journalism (BJourn)
- Postgraduate: MA and PhD in History and other Humanities fields
4. Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
Faculty of Humanities
- Higher Certificate in Heritage Studies
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- BA Honours in Archaeology
- BSocSci Honours in Heritage Studies and History
- MA in Archaeology, Heritage Studies, History
5. Stellenbosch University (SU)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- BA in Humanities
- BA in Development and the Environment
- BA in Political, Philosophical and Economic Studies (PPE)
- BA in International Studies
- BA in Visual Arts
- BA in Drama and Theatre Studies
6. University of Cape Town (UCT)
Faculty of Humanities
- BA in History, Film Studies, Visual and Art History
- BA in Archaeology
- BA in African Languages & Literatures
- Bachelor of Social Science: Sociology, Social Anthropology, Politics & International Relations
- BA in Theatre & Performance, Fine Art, and Music
7. University of Fort Hare (UFH)
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- BA Honours in History, Philosophy, African Languages
- MA in History and other related disciplines
- PhD in Humanities
8. University of Limpopo (UL)
School of Social Sciences
- BA in Cultural Studies
- BA in Political Studies
- BA in Sociology and Anthropology
- BA in Criminology and Psychology
- BA in Performing Arts
9. University of South Africa (UNISA)
College of Human Sciences
- BA with History, Archaeology, and Heritage combinations
- Specialised combinations such as:
- BA History and African Languages
- BA Archaeology and Development Studies
- BA Archaeology and Anthropology
- BA Archives and Records Management and History
- BA in Heritage and Cultural Tourism
- BA in Ancient History and Archaeology
10. University of Venda (UNIVEN)
Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education
- BA in Development Studies
- BA in Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- BA in Youth in Development
- Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies, International Relations, Language Practice)
- Bachelor of Theology and Religious Studies
Why Study History or Heritage Studies?
Studying History and Heritage helps you:
- Understand societal evolution and cultural identity
- Build careers in education, museums, tourism, and government
- Prepare for postgraduate study in law, politics, archaeology, and more
Whether you’re interested in politics and society or passionate about preserving South Africa’s diverse heritage, these universities offer high-quality programmes designed to shape thought leaders and researchers of tomorrow.