Durban University of Technology (DUT)

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a leading university of technology in South Africa, with more than 34 000 students. DUT traces its roots back to 1907 and operates five campuses in Durban and two in Pietermaritzburg, offering career-focused programmes across six faculties.

Registered name

Durban University of Technology (DUT)

Type

Public university of technology

Website

dut.ac.za

A top-ranked university of technology

DUT climbed to 11th place in the 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, up from 13th in 2023, making it the top-ranked university of technology and fifth among South African universities in that ranking. The National Research Foundation gave DUT its Focused Research Advancement Award for exceptional growth in research productivity, and DUT’s postgraduate enrolments have grown sharply over five years.

Water research and entrepreneurship

DUT hosts the award-winning Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), which trains postgraduate students and produces high-impact research, a vital field in a province facing drought, floods and ageing water infrastructure.

DUT has run entrepreneurial incubation programmes since 2018, and students have started their own small and medium businesses. The innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, DUT Enactus and entrepreneurship programmes across faculties support that work. DUT’s Cooperative Education Directorate helps students find the work-integrated learning placements many programmes require, and graduate placements afterwards.

ENVISION2030

DUT’s strategy, ENVISION2030, sets out values and behaviours for its future, and its vice-chancellor has spoken about building a sustainable DUT for future generations. DUT’s news regularly celebrates staff and students who study while working, such as employees graduating cum laude with postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees at the 2026 spring graduation.

Financial aid

DUT’s Financial Aid Unit administers bursaries pledged by donors to financially needy and academically deserving students, including NSFAS bursaries. Funds are paid directly to students’ fee accounts, and donors receive full accounts of how their money is used.

DUT through CAO

First-time undergraduate applicants apply to DUT through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applications for 2027 opened on 1 April 2026, and most programmes close on 30 September 2026, with some competitive programmes closing earlier. Health sciences applicants should read the NBT guide below, because several DUT health programmes require it.

Planning for work-integrated learning

Choose between Durban and Pietermaritzburg campuses based on your programme, and ask about work-integrated learning requirements before enrolling.

See our late applications for universities page if you miss CAO’s deadline.