Best Engineering Schools in South Africa

 Best Engineering Schools in South AfricaSo are you contemplating studying an engineering course in the university? Well, studying an engineering course won’t be a bad idea after all.. Engineers are professionals that are in high demand all over the world. And if you are considering what school in Africa to study that your dream course (I mean Engineering), then you should consider coming to South Africa.

What you should know about South Africa

South Africa is a country well known for its ethnic and cultural diversity. The country is largely dominated by black Africans (about 80.7%). The rest populations include white (7.9%), color (8.8%) and Asian (2.6%).

South Africa consist of three capital cities with the executive, judicial and legislative arm of government based in Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein respectively. Their official language is English. Other languages spoken include Zulu, Afrikaans, Sesotho, Swazi and others. Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa.

Why study Engineering in South Africa

  1. High rate of Employability: Engineers are in high demand in South Africa and other parts of the world. You can never be jobless as a graduate of engineering except you choose to.
  2. Competitive Salary Scale: Engineers are well paid in South Africa
  3. Opportunity to explore the world: As an engineer, you will regularly be involved in projects and field research which will at times be in other locations. So as an engineer, you get to visit and know several places while working.
  4. High level of satisfaction on the job
  5. You have the opportunity to work in a team

Best Engineering Schools in South Africa

University of Pretoria

It was founded in 1908. The engineering school in this university is one of the largest engineering school in South Africa.

Some benefits of studying here include:

  • Graduates are highly esteemed nationally and Internationally.
  • The faculty offers its students necessary training that will make them relevant to the profession of engineering in South Africa and beyond.

Engineering courses in university of Pretoria include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering

University of Cape Town

This is the oldest institution of higher education in sub-Saharan Africa. It has more than 26,000 students from all over the globe.

Why choose university of Cape Town

  1. All engineering and built environment courses are internationally recognized.
  2. The engineering faculty has strong connections with relevant industry and government which help to sponsor important research project.
  3. The faculty is highly committed to excellence in teaching and research.

Engineering courses in university of Cape Town include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

University of Kwazulu Natal

The university located in King George, Durban was founded in Jan 1, 2014.

The school offers varying degrees’ options ranging from university degrees to doctorate which are fully accredited by the engineering council of Africa.

Engineering courses offered by university of Kwazulu Natal include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Bio resources Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

University of Witwatersrand

Established in 1922, the university of Witwatersrand prides itself as the third oldest university in South Africa. The faculty with five engineering schools and two built environment schools offer the best teaching, learning and research facilities.

Engineering courses offered in university of Witwatersrand include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Information Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Aeronautical Engineering

University of Stellenbosch

The university is located in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The faculty of engineering founded in 1944 is well known for producing high-quality engineers in South Africa.

Also, their excellent research and advisory services contribute great value to the engineering industry.

Engineering courses in the university of Stellenbosch include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronic
  • Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

University of South Africa (UNISA)

It was founded in 1873. Formerly called university of Cape of Good Hope, university of South Africa prides itself as the largest university in South Africa and Africa as a whole with over a hundreds of thousands of students.

Her school of engineering runs national engineering degree programs through Open Distance Learning (ODL).  This program is for students desiring to become professional technicians and technologists in various engineering disciplines.

Engineering courses in university of South Africa include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

University of Johannesburg

The university located in Johannesburg, South Africa is a public university formed in 2005 following the merger of three institutions. The university is one of the largest residential universities in South Africa with over 50,000 students enrolled.

They offer both undergraduate and post graduate programs.

Engineering courses in university of Johannesburg include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mining Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

North West University

It was created in 2004 as a result of merger of two universities. It is one of the largest university in South Africa with over 64,000 students enrolled. The faculty of engineering is working really hard to emerge as a training hub where high quality, versatile and innovative engineers will be produced.

Engineering courses in North West University include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Electromechanical Engineering
  • Computer and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

It was established on January 1, 2005 when the Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon were merged. It is the only university of technology in the Western Cape Town and also the largest in the country with over 32,000 students.

Engineering courses in the Cape Peninsula university of technology include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Maritime Studies
  • Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University was founded in January 2005, following the merger of three institutions. The school of engineering offers a variety of academic programs including national degrees, new senior certificate in Mechanotric Engineering, Bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Engineering Technology, Master’s and Doctorate’s degrees.

Engineering courses in Mandela Metropolitan university includes:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Marine Engineering
  • Mechanotrics Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering.

Tshwane University of Technology

It is a South African institution of high education. It resulted from the merger of three technikons:

  • Technikon Northern Gauteng
  • Technikon Northwest and
  • Technikon Pretoria

Engineering courses in Tshwane university of technology include:

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Mechanotrics Engineering
  •  Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Vaal University of Technology

Vaal University, established in 1966, is one of the largest residential universities in South Africa with about 25,000 students. Their programs have been fully accredited by relevant engineering professional body in South Africa.

Engineering Courses in Vaal University include:

  • Civil Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering and Operations Management
  • Metallurgical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

What does Engineers do?

Engineers convert the knowledge of science into technology and then converts that technology into a working solution. Engineering is a life-rewarding career, creating, designing and producing useful products and services for others.

  1. Aerospace Engineers

An aerospace engineer is involved in the designing, testing and manufacturing of aircraft, spacecraft, satellites and missiles. They can specialize in any particular type of aerospace products such as missiles and rockets, space crafts, helicopters, military fighter jets, commercial aircraft.

An Aerospace Engineer can specialize in any of the two areas:

  1. Aeronautical
  2. Astronautical
    1. Aeronautical Engineers: they design, develop and manufacture aircrafts, aeronautical system and aeronautical components in order to improve fuel efficiency and improve flight safety.
    1. Astronautical Engineers: they oversee the whole process involved in the development of spacecraft that functions outside the earth. They are known as rocket scientist. Some of the space crafts include rockets, missiles, space vehicles, navigational system, space launchers.

2.   Chemical Engineers: they transform raw materials into useful products like clothes, food, drink and energy. They are the brain behind a wide range of products like plastic, dyes, paper, medicine, fertilizers, etc. They design processes for producing, transforming and transporting materials. They do a lot of experimentation.

3. Civil Engineers: Civil engineers design and monitor the construction of roads, bridges, dams, tunnels, buildings, airports, water and sewage system and other large infrastructural projects. They apply the knowledge of science to improve infrastructure and common utilities that meet basic human needs.

4.   Electrical Engineers: Electrical engineers deals with electricity, electromagnetism and electronics. They apply principles of physics and mathematics, electronics to design and develop new electrical equipment and system to solve problem and test equipment. They work on various projects ranging from designing household appliance to large scale electrical telecommunication system, electrical power station and satellite communication system.

5.   Environmental Engineers: They make use of the principles of engineering, soil science, biology and chemistry to generate solutions to environmental issues. They are involved in recycling and disposal of waste, public health and control of water and air pollution.

6.   Mechanical Engineers: They play a very vital role in biotechnology, computer, aerospace, automotives, computer, electronics, automation and manufacturing industries.They are involved in the designing, developing, building and testing of all sorts of mechanical devices, tools, engines and machines. Some products they can design include transmissions, engine parts, aircraft engines, gas turbines, wind turbines, e.t.c.

7.         Mechanotrics Engineers: they apply the principles of electrical, mechanical, software and control engineering in their design and development so as to come up with a simpler, economical and more reliable way to do things. They design and build new products e.g robotic vehicles for underwater exploration. They introduce automation to factory production lines.They improve previous industrial/manufacturing processes e.g robotic floor cleaners.

In Conclusion

Engineering is one of the few professional courses that will always be of economic value and would never go into extinction. As a prospective engineer, your love for mathematics must be unparalleled because you will really need it on the job. Whatever field of engineering you chose to study, ensure to give it your best shot, don’t be a low ranger, be a high flyer because there are always rooms at the top.

Thanks for reading.

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