Where To Study Law In South Africa
Choosing to study Law is a rather popular choice in South Africa and luckily, the country offers many options for where to study law.
Which University Can I Study Law in South Africa?
We have helped you by listing the major universities and colleges that offer law courses so you can choose from the universities to see which one you would prefer to study at.
What are the common questions that young people ask when they think of studying the law?
- Where to study and duration of study for a lawyer
- Where can I study law?
- Where to study to become a lawyer in South Africa
- Types of Law Courses in South Africa
We have provided the information below to help you find out more about studying the law and the different options that are available to you in South Africa.
University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) offers a Law qualification which they say will equip you for entry into the legal profession – in the private or public sector, as an attorney or an advocate, as a legal adviser or a legal academic, or possibly, in time, as a magistrate or a judge.
The Faculty is made up of four departments: Criminal Justice and Procedure, Mercantile and Labour Law, Private Law, and Public Law and Jurisprudence.
To learn more about studying law at UWC, visit the UWC website here.
Unisa
The University of South Africa, or what we all call Unisa offers Law qualifications to study through their open distance learning method, which is a combination of online and self study. If you're thinking of studying law at Unisa, you are then going to be opened to a world of possibilities.
Unisa's College of Law is made up of two parts: School of Law and School of Criminal Justice.
If you want to know more about studying Law at Unisa, visit the Unisa website here.
University of Cape Town
At the University of Cape Town (UCT), you will find their Faculty of Law to be worthwhile.
The Law Faculty is organised into three departments: Commercial Law, Public Law and Private Law. Each of these departments is responsible for course offerings and research in particular areas of legal theory, knowledge and practice. In addition, each department is home to one or more specialised academic and research units.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) has a Department of Applied Legal Studies which offers a Bachelor of Paralegal Studies course.
This course is perfect for you've considered a career as a Paralegal Practitioner. Students will be exposed to a unique blend of theory, procedure and practice in Public, Private and Mercantile Law.
For more information on studying Law at CPUT, visit the CPUT website here.
University of Johannesburg
If you're located in Johannesburg and you want to study Law, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) might be where you end up. UJ offers law through their Faculty of Law.
Within this faculty, they offer traditional law programmes such as BA Law, BCom Law and LLB, as well as LLM degrees by dissertation and coursework and LLD degrees in various important fields.
In addition to these degrees, the Faculty has a strong non-formal programmes division that offers postgraduate diplomas, certificates and short courses in specialised areas such as tax law, compliance, criminal justice and forensic investigation, insolvency law, labour law, corporate law and drafting of contracts.
If you want to know more about studying Law at UJ, visit the UJ website here.
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has the School of Law which is a premier institution for legal studies on the African continent.
Wits offers a BA with Law, BCom with Law and LLB. They also have postgraduate law courses. Wits' study programmes are highly prized in the marketplace for high standards of academic excellence and practical relevance. The wide range of subjects taught by acknowledged experts allows students to develop themselves into world-class legal specialists.
To find out more about studying Law at Wits, visit the Wits website here.
University of Pretoria
The Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria (UP) strives to be an internationally recognised leader in socially relevant legal research and education in South Africa and the world.
Within UP's Faculty of Law, they have multiple departments: Centre for Human Rights, Jurisprudence, Mercantile Law, Private Law, Procedural Law and Public Law. They offer LLB, BA in Law and BCom Law.
If you want to know more about studying Law at UP, visit the UP website here.
Vaal University of Technology
Vaal University of Technology (VUT) offers Law and Law-related qualifications through their Department of Legal Services.
The following qualifications are offered at VUT: Diploma in Labour Law, Diploma in Legal Assistance, Diploma in Policing, Diploma in Safety Management, Advance Diploma in Mediation, Advance Diploma in Policing and the Advance Diploma in Safety Management.
Apart from its own qualifications, the department also presents all discipline-specific law and safety subjects to students registered for qualifications presented by other departments and faculties.
To learn more about studying Law at VUT, visit the VUT website here.
Durban University of Technology
One of the many Universities in South Africa that offer Law is Durban University of Technology (DUT).
DUT has their Department of Applied Law which offers many different law subjects for other Durban University of Technology departments. As such, the department gives a legal background to students who may require it for their particular courses.
The department only offers a Diploma in Management Sciences: Business Law.
To know more about studying Law at DUT, visit the DUT website here.
Nelson Mandela University
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) offers a Law qualification with their Faculty of Law. Their law faculty covers Public Law, Mercantile Law, Private Law as well as Criminal & Procedural Law.
Law qualifications at NMU range from Certificates and Diplomas right up to Doctoral Degrees.
If you're interested in studying Law at NMU and want to learn more, visit the NMU website here.
University of the Free State
The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) offers an LLB degree.
The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State annually produces a number of sought-after graduates. An active placement programme for graduates in suitable positions, managed within the faculty, ensures a good future for the successful student who takes advantage of this opportunity.
Should you want to find out more about studying Law at UFS, visit the UFS website here.
University of Limpopo
The University of Limpopo's (UL) School of Law consists of four departments: Department of Jurisprudence, Legal Pluralism, Criminal Law and Procedure, Department of Mercantile and Labour Law, Department of Private Law and the Department of Public and Environmental Law.
At undergraduate level, the School offers two LLB Programmes. At postgraduate level, the School offers a Master of Laws degree.
To learn more about studying Law at UL, visit the UL website here.
North West University
The Faculty of Law at North West University (NWU) provides quality legal education while offering offer curricula that incorporates public law, legal philosophy, private- and mercantile law as well as criminal and procedural law.
NWU offers the following Law courses: BCom Law, LLB, Extended LLB and BA Law.
If you want to know more about studying Law at NWU, visit the NWU website here.
Rhodes University
Another University which offers Law in South Africa is Rhodes University. The Law Faculty offers three degrees, namely the LLB, LLM and PhD degrees.
In pursuit of its vision the Faculty’s mission is to produce high-quality graduates who are capable of becoming leaders in legal practice, commerce, industry, politics or academia.
Visit the Rhodes website to find out more about studying Law at Rhodes.
University of Kwazulu-Natal
The University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) does offer Law. The School of Law falls within the College of Law and Management Studies.
UKZN offers an LLB degree and this can be done through either full-time and part-time studies. They also offer a Postgraduate Law degree.
Should you want to know more about studying Law at UKZN, visit the UKZN website here.
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch University (SU) offers the following Law qualifications: BCom Law, LLB, BA (Law), BAccLLB, LLM, LLD.
The Faculty comprises the following three departments: the Department of Mercantile Law, the Department of Private Law and the Department of Public Law, as well as the Law Clinic.
To find out more about studying Law at Stellenbosch, visit the SU website here.
University of Fort Hare
The University of Fort Hare (UFH) offers Law through their Nelson R. Mandela School of Law. The following qualifications are offers: LLB, BCom Law as well Postgrad Law qualifications.
The study of law provides a range of knowledge and skills that are highly valued not only in the legal profession but in business, government as well as non-governmental organisations.
Head to the UFH website here to know more about studying Law at UFH.
University of Venda
You can study Law at the University of Venda (Univen) by joining their School of Law.
Univen has the following departments for Law: Department of Criminal and Procedural Law, Department of Criminal Justice, Department of Jurisprudence, Department of Mercantile Law, Department of Private law, Department of Public Law and the Department of Legal Aid Clinic.
To find out more about studying Law at Univen, visit the Univen website here.
Walter Sisulu University
With Walter Sisulu University's (WSU) Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences & Law, you can get your qualification in Law. WSU offers an LLB qualification as well as Postgrad qualifications. You can make an online application to WSU.
If you're interested in studying Law at WSU, visit the WSU website here.
University of Zululand
The University of Zululand, which is also known as Unizulu, is an option to study Law at. Unizulu offers and LLB degree.
Go to the Unizulu website here to find out more about studying Law at Unizulu.
Tshwane University of Technology
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) offers a qualification in Legal Assistance. They also offer the following qualifications: Diploma in Law, Diploma in Legal Support, National Diploma in Legal Assistance.
You can visit the TUT website here for more information on studying Law at TUT.
TVET Colleges
TVET Colleges offer a qualification to become a Legal Secretary. This qualification has been developed to enable learners who are particularly interested and talented in an occupational/ vocational area to develop competencies as a legal secretary, which will enable them either to study further or to be employed and be productive in the sector at entry level and/or second tier level.
Boston City Campus
Boston City Campus, which is a private higher education institution offers a BCom Law qualification which is equal to a University qualification. Boston offers a Paralegal course as well.
Visit the Boston website here for more information on studying Law at Boston.
IIE Varsity College
Varsity College is another option for you as they offer BCom LAw, BA Law and an LLB qualification through their School of Law. These are equal to a University qualification.
They also have other Law-related qualifications for you to choose from.
To learn more about studying Law at Varsity College, visit the Varsity College website here.
For a full list of places to study law, head to our Where To Study section.
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