University of Cape Town Vs University of Witwatersrand Comparison

When you talk of the top universities in South Africa and in Africa as a whole, the University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand are obviously the first two, University of Cape Town Vs University of Witwatersrand Comparison. These two universities are highly rated in Africa and the world in general with the University of Cape Town taking the lead.

If you want to get quality tertiary education in South Africa, UCT and Wits are top universities that offer quality education for students. The quality of education and facilities make them always top the list of the Best Global Universities in Africa and South Africa.

The two universities attract top students in Africa and outside Africa. If you are undecided on which university to enrol for between the two, this post will guide you on it but we can assure you that the two are good choices for you.

We will be comparing these two universities using data we find during our research. Before we go into the comparison in detail, let us take a brief look at their history.

UCT vs Wits Comparison

The University of Cape Town and Witwaterands University are both top universities in South Africa and Africa. We will be comparing the two institutions together using the below factors.

History and Contribution

The University of Cape Town, UCT was established in 1829 as the South African College, a high school for boys. This college has a small tertiary education facility that grows during the discovery of gold and diamond in the north.

From 1880 to 1900, the South African College developed into a fully-fledged university as a result of constant funding from private institutions and the government. During this time, the university built its departments of mineralogy and geology to help in the discovery of diamonds and gold.

In 1918, UCT was formally established on the basis of the Alfred Beit bequest and additional substantial gifts from mining magnates Julius Wernher and Otto Beit. The years 1902 and 1918 witnessed the establishment of a Department of Education and Medical School.

The University of Cape Town played a significant role in opposing apartheid during the period of 1960 to 1990 which makes UCT earn itself the nickname “Moscow on the Hill”. UCT also gives room for female students admission into the institution with a trial of four female students but later admit more in honour of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1887.

The history of Witswatersrand University can be traced back to the South Africa School of mining establishment in 1896 in Kimberley. It was transferred later to Johannesburg as the Transvaal Technical Institute in 1904 and later became the Transvaal University College in 1906. Four years later, it was renamed the South African School of Mines and Technology.

It became a full university in 1922 and was incorporated as the University of the Witwatersrand in Merch. Wits was inaugurated after seven months, the University’s first Chancellor was Prince Arthur of Connaught, Governor-General of the Union of South Africa and Professor Jan H. Hofmeyr its first Principal.

In 1923, the University gradually move from Eloff Street to the first completed teaching buildings at Milner Park (the Botany and Zoology block – housing the departments of Geology, Botany, Zoology and Applied Mathematics).

Wits also contribute to the opposition of the apartheid regime, the Wits community organise a peaceful protest to stand against racial discrimination.

Wits University has contributed greatly to the development of the South African community and it is well recognised by international organizations for its academic excellence and research.

The two schools both have their history traced to mining though UCT was established before Wits and they have both contributed to the development of South Africa since their establishment. They both go against the apartheid regime and contribute to female education.

Achievements and Accreditations

In the second world war, Wits staff took an active role in the development and construction of radar. Wits have so many achievements to its name like being the first South African university to have a nuclear accelerator, to have a computer, to study building materials and early Afrikaans, to produce a systematic climatological atlas of Southern Africa and to achieve a successful graft of plastic cornea.

South Africa first dental hospital was established by Wits and it is also the first South African university to open a clinic for the treatment of speech defects. Wits medical students started the first blood transfusion service in the Union of South Africa and Wits Medical school are also the first to undertake the first clinical survey of childbirth in African tribal conditions.

Wits University’s scholars have also greatly advanced the theory of human origin and evolution.

UCT has 40 sports clubs and over 100 societies, it is also the most rated research institution in South Africa. The University of Cape Town boast 35 A-rated researchers, the National Research Foundation (NRF) A-rating is given to researchers that have been recognised in their field for high-quality research and the impact of their recent research output.

It also has six P-rated researchers, this is given to promising young scholars, usually under the age of 35 by the National Research Foundation (NRF) for their demonstrations in their field.

UCT was the first university in Africa that has its own public transport system called the Jammie Shuttle, and the first n South Africa to have a dedicated policy on HIV/AIDS, as well as on sexual and racial harassment.

Wits is well accredited by many international and South African organizations, the essence of accreditation is that it exempts the graduate of this degree from taking any further university-level exams before being allowed to take the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) or being admitted to the Professional Interview (PI).

Wits Accreditations

Below are Wits programme accreditation from international and local organizations:

The Wits School of Accountancy:

• Level 1 accreditation status, the highest level of accreditation awarded by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
• Wits students achieved a 91% pass rate in part one of the SAICA qualifying examinations in 2015 and a 93% pass rate in the 2014 SAICA Assessment of Professional Competence examinations.

The Wits Business School:

• The South African Council for Higher Education.
• International accreditation from the Association of MBAs.
• Member of the Association of African Business Schools, the South African Business Schools Association and the Partnership in International Management.

The Wits School of Public Health:

Wits School of Public Health is recognised internationally for its research and academic excellence. It was awarded a grant by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases by the World Health Organization supported by UNICEF, the UNDP and the World Bank to run an implementation science postgraduate training programme with the University of North Carolina.

The school enjoys partnerships with local and international institutions like:

• The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Brown University
• Colorado University
• The Swiss Tropical Institute foster state of the art public health teaching and research programmes

Wits’ Architecture degrees:

Wits Architecture degree is accredited by the South African Council of Architects and the Commonwealth Association of Architects.

Planning degrees are accredited by the South African Council for Planning.

The Wits Actuarial Science Programme:

Wits Actual Science Programme is well recognised by international bodies like the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK, Institute of Actuaries of Australia and Actuarial Association of Europe.

Wits programme provide an exemption from 1 of the examinations to qualify as a professional actuary of the Actuarial Society of South Africa.

Wits’ Engineering degrees

Wits undergraduate engineering degrees are recognised by the Engineering Council of South Africa and professional engineering accrediting bodies in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong.

Wits’ BSc Honours degree in quantity surveying is accreditation:

• The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession
• The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK)
• The Chartered Institute of Building (UK)

The BSc Honours in Construction Management accreditation:

• The Chartered Institute of Building
• The South Africa Council for the Project and the Construction Management Professions.

The BSc Construction Studies degree accreditation:

• The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession
• The South Africa Council for the Project and the Construction Management Professions.

UCT accreditation

The UCT is a well-recognised school and its programmes are accredited by both national and international bodies. The University of Cape Town is an accreditor for the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Medical and Dental Professions Board.

UCT Faculty of Engineering degree and Built Environment (EBE)  are well recognised internationally. The Faculty of Law (LLB) is fully accredited by South Africa’s Council on Higher Education (CHE).

The Practical Nurse Program is fully approved by the:

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Executive Office of Health and Human Services
• Department of Public Health

The Division of Nurse Education at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School is fully accredited by the Commission on Occupational Education and the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).

Both UCT and Wits are well accredited by both national and international bodies. Having a degree from any of the institutions will earn you recognition by institutional bodies related to your field.

Ranking

Both the University of Cape Town and Witwatersrand University is highly ranked in South Africa and internationally. UCT is ranked as the best University in Africa and South Africa while Wits is ranked as the second-best university in Africa and South Africa.

These two universities have been at the top of ranking in Africa and South Africa for years. UCT is ranked #109 in Best Global University ranking while Wits is ranked at #212, there is a lot of gap between UCT and Wits in the Best Global University Ranking.

The two universities courses are highly ranked worldwide. UCT course rankings are as follows: