Sol Plaatje University

About SPU

Sol Plaatje University opened in Kimberley to give the Northern Cape its first public university, named after author, linguist and political activist Sol Plaatje, one of the founding members of the ANC.

As one of the country's youngest institutions, it has built its identity around small class sizes and closely mentored teaching, growing its programme offering year by year rather than launching with the full range of faculties found at older universities.

Kimberley's history as a diamond-mining city and its position in the sparsely populated Northern Cape give SPU a distinct character — the university has leaned into data science and heritage studies as niche strengths that suit both the region and the digital economy.

Why students choose SPU

• The Northern Cape's first public university
• Named after ANC founding member Sol Plaatje
• Small class sizes with closely mentored teaching

Fields of study

• Economic & Management Sciences
• Education
• Humanities
• Natural & Applied Sciences

What you'll need to apply

Every South African public university sets its own admission point score and subject requirements per programme, so the details below are general guidance rather than SPU-specific rules — always confirm exact requirements on the official site before applying.

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) that meets the minimum admission point score for your chosen programme.
• Specific subject and mark requirements, which vary by faculty — competitive programmes like medicine or engineering typically set higher thresholds.
• An online application through the university's own portal, usually opening the year before you intend to start.
• Supporting documents such as certified copies of your ID and academic records, and proof of application fee payment where applicable.