Tertiary Institutions in KwaZulu Natal

South Africa is home to countless towns and cities, each with their own unique flavour and personality. Over the next few weeks, we will be profiling the big, bustling cities of Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg and giving you the lowdown on what makes these cities tick and what they have to offer in terms of academic institutions.

Whether you’re planning a visit or relocating to start your university career in a new city, this series of posts will give you a little taster of what to expect in three of Mzansi’s favourite places. This week, we turn our attention to Durban.

Durban
The coastal city of Durban is known for its tropical climate and endless beaches. South Africa’s third largest city is a cultural melting pot with a richness of mixed beliefs and traditions. It is also home to South Africa’s biggest port and was officially recognised as one of the New 7 Wonders Cities in 2015.

As one of Mzansi’s largest metropolitan areas, Durban has a number of tertiary institutions to choose from.

University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has a total of 5 campuses located in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The majority of the university’s degree and post-grad programmes are offered at the Westville, Howard College and Pietermaritzburg campuses, with Agriculture, Theology and Fine Art being unique to Pietermaritzburg. There is also the Medical School located in Umbilo and the Edgewood campus in Pinetown, which is home to UKZN’s School of Education.  Ranked as the 4^th best university in South Africa in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, UKZN has a rich history of academic excellence and a vibrant student body. The university’s motto is ‘Every Student Matters’ and the institution prides itself on delivering world-class education through a distinctly South African lens.

Durban University of Technology
Following the merger of Technikon Natal and ML Sultan Technikon in 2002, Durban University of Technology (DUT) is KwaZulu-Natal’s largest technical university, which serves some 23,000 students across 6 faculties and various other educational centres and academic units. With 7 campuses across Durban and Pietermaritzburg, DUT offers a wide range of programmes and aspires to be a “preferred university for developing leadership in technology and productive citizenship”. DUT is also home to the Confucius Institute, which aims to promote Chinese culture and language and offers Mandarin language courses, among other things.

University of Zululand
Although not situated in Durban, the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) is worth a mention as it is home to over 17,000 students and offers a wide range of degree programmes across various faculties including Arts, Education, Science & Agriculture, and Commerce, Administration and Law. UNIZULU has 2 campuses within the Umhlathuze Municipality, the fastest growing industrial hub in northern KwaZulu-Natal, which is a scenic drive roughly 150kms from Durban. Despite being one of South Africa’s lesser known tertiary institutions, UNIZULU lists 3 of the 9 current constitutional judges as alumni and has a highly regarded LLB programme.

Mangosuthu University of Technology

The Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) is KwaZulu-Natal’s second primary university of technology after DUT and is located in Umlazi on the outskirts of Durban. Named after Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who helped to establish the university, MUT currently has more than 10,000 registered students studying technical disciplines across the faculties of Engineering, Management Sciences, and Natural Sciences. The university has a big focus on campus life and offers students valuable academic programming, academic support services, leadership and entrepreneurial development programmes, an active sports culture and a sense of community service.

Lifestyle and fun stuff

The warm, balmy climate in Durban feels like summer never ends and it’s the ideal place for beach junkies and surfers alike. But there’s more than just good waves and warm water. The city has a wonderful mix of cultures and offers an amazing array of cuisine – it is the home of the bunny chow, after all! There is no shortage of outdoor activities on offer and plenty for those seeking extreme adventure – the city is home to the world’s largest ultra-marathon, the Comrades, and also boasts the world’s tallest bungy swing, located at the spectacular Moses Mabhida stadium. Take a drive in any direction and you won’t be disappointed – Durban is flanked by amazing beaches and the breath taking mountains of the Drakensberg.

Durban offers a unique mixture of culture, diversity and natural beauty, not to mention a number of high-quality educational institutions. Be sure to put this awesome city on your bucket list!