Durban University of Technology

What Durban University of Technology does

Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a public higher education institution domiciled in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, operating across seven campuses (five in Durban and two in Pietermaritzburg) and serving approximately 33,000 to 34,400 students. The institution traces its roots to 1907 as the Durban Technical Institute and assumed its current form in 2005 through the merger with ML Sultan Technikon. It delivers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across six faculties (Accounting and Informatics, Applied Sciences, Arts and Design, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, and Management Sciences), supplemented by a Business School, a Centre for Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE), and an Online Distance Learning Office. It is positioned as the top-ranked university of technology in Sub-Saharan Africa per the 2024 Times Higher Education rankings (11th overall in the region, up from 13th in 2023).

The university's research and applied technology infrastructure is built around 18 newly established research institutes (effective 2026) addressing energy, health, smart cities, and sustainability, plus three Technology Innovation Agency-supported Technology Stations (Food Bio-Innovations, Energy Innovations, and Reinforced and Moulded Plastics), the award-winning Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, the Institute for Systems Science, the Space Science Centre, the Urban Futures Centre, and the Technology Transfer and Innovation Office. Specialized facilities include five on-campus Health Sciences Clinics (Chiropractic, Dental, Homoeopathy, Somatology, Radiography) that double as community-facing service centers and student training venues, a Mobile App Factory, the DUT Art Gallery, and academic support units such as CELT and a multi-campus Writing Centre staffed by 42 tutors. International exposure is delivered through the Confucius Institute, the International Education and Partnerships office, and partnerships including the Samsung Innovation Campus and Old Mutual's Durban Capability Hub.

DUT's revenue model is multi-stream and characteristic of a public university: tuition and academic fees (annual billing by program and qualification level), recurring government subsidies and block grants from the Department of Higher Education and Training, research grants from the National Research Foundation, Technology Innovation Agency, SARAO and Medical Research Council, NSFAS-funded tuition administration, transaction-based healthcare revenue from student-staffed clinics, and fees from continuing/professional education and conference hosting. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via an online applications portal, career leaflets, school outreach, education fairs, and a multi-channel presence across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn. Customer segments span school-leavers, postgraduate researchers, working professionals, international students, and local communities/SMEs in KwaZulu-Natal, with the institution functioning as a regional anchor for skills development, entrepreneurship (innobiz, Invotech, SEDA partnerships) and community health services.

Name

Durban University of Technology

Legal name

Durban University of Technology

Website

https://dut.ac.za

Company type

Public

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Durban University of Technology is a public, multi-campus South African university of technology serving approximately 34,400 students across six faculties in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, with applied research, healthcare clinics, and industry-linked entrepreneurship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF), Technology Transfer & Innovation-Driven Research Universities (High Commercialization) (EDAHABAH)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Applied research institutes
• Technology transfer services
• Professional continuing education
• Entrepreneurship incubation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Durban

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue from student tuition fees across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Fee booklet available for 2026 with varying costs per program and qualification level.
2. Government Funding and Grants: Public funding from Department of Higher Education and Training, including teaching and research subsidies, and grants from National Research Foundation (NRF) for research activities.
3. Healthcare Services Revenue: Revenue from health clinics serving public including Chiropractic, Dental, Homoeopathy, Somatology, and Radiography clinics offering reduced-cost services to patients.
4. Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Seed Fund, SARAO postdoctoral fellowships, NRF scholarships, and other research contracts. DUT awarded Focused Research Advancement Award from NRF.
5. Continuing and Professional Education: Revenue from short courses, executive education, and professional development programs through Centre for Continuing & Professional Education (CCPE) and DUT Business School.
6. Entrepreneurship and Incubation Services: Support for student startups through innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Invotech Business Incubator, and enterprise development programs.
7. NSFAS and Financial Aid Administration: Administration of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding for eligible students, handling the full cost of higher education for qualifying students.
8. Conference and Event Revenue: Revenue from hosting conferences, seminars, and events including National Annual Technology Event (NATE), Science Forum South Africa, and other academic gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a South African public university of technology that delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs across six faculties (Accounting and Informatics, Applied Sciences, Arts and Design, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, and Management Sciences) through seven campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The institution supplements academic delivery with applied research through 18 research institutes and technology stations, healthcare services via five health sciences clinics, business incubation (innobiz, Invotech), executive and continuing professional education, and the Confucius Institute for cultural and language education.

Product overview

Durban University of Technology is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational services and research capabilities across six faculties. The university operates as a multi-campus institution (seven campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg) serving approximately 34,400 students. Its product portfolio includes: academic programmes across undergraduate and postgraduate levels; 20 research institutes and centres including the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology, Institute for Systems Science, and Space Science Centre; three Technology Stations (Food Bio-Innovations, Energy Innovations, and Reinforced & Moulded Plastics) supported by the Technology Innovation Agency; business incubation services through innobiz and Invotech; healthcare services through five health sciences clinics; the DUT Business School for applied business education; the Confucius Institute for cultural education; and technology services like the Mobile App Factory. The university also provides academic support through CELT, the Writing Centre, Online Distance Learning, and professional education through CCPE. This is a platform-plus-services model where core academic delivery is supplemented by applied research institutes, technology transfer services, business incubation, and community engagement programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DUT Business School: Business school under the ambit of the Faculty of Management Sciences, focused on applied business education
• innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• DUT Enactus
• Confucius Institute
• Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT)
• Institute for Systems Science
• Urban Futures Centre (UFC)
• ICON - International Centre of Non-Violence

Products and services

• Health Sciences Clinics Five clinic disciplines (Chiropractic, Dental, Homoeopathy, Somatology, and Radiography) offering supervised clinical training and reduced-cost healthcare services to students, staff, and the greater eThekwini community.
• Centre for Continuing & Professional Education (CCPE) Short courses, professional development, and executive education programs for working professionals and corporate clients delivered for skill development and lifelong learning.
• DUT Business School Business school under the Faculty of Management Sciences offering applied business programmes, executive education, and short learning programmes to develop leaders who can solve real-life business problems.
• Confucius Institute Partnership with Hanban/Confucius Institute headquarters providing Chinese language and culture education, cultural exchange programmes, and a bridge for international educational exchange between South Africa and China.
• innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award-winning Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator offering programmes that support student entrepreneurs and startup development.
• Invotech Business Incubator Business incubator supporting technology startups and entrepreneurs.
• Samsung Innovation Campus

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 11th in 2024 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings (up from 13th in 2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SamsungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026DUT Business School, under the auspices of DUT, partnered with Samsung to invite applications for Samsung Innovation Campus - an exclusive 6-month in-person technology program that equips participants with technology skills. This partnership provides students with access to industry-leading technology training and certification opportunities.
• Old MutualcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2023Old Mutual's Durban Capability Hub marks third anniversary of developing technology and digital talent through partnerships with local educational institutions in KwaZulu-Natal. The hub provides practical experience to students and graduates while strengthening internal capabilities. Old Mutual plans to deepen strategic partnerships to expand talent pipeline with DUT.
• Berlin Declaration SignatoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2013DUT signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access on May 20, 2013, becoming the first university of technology to sign. This global initiative ensures free accessibility of research and scientific knowledge through sustainable, interactive, and transparent internet distribution.
• Technology Innovation Agency (TIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT has two University Technology Stations supported by TIA from their inception: The DUT Energy Technology Station (KZN Industrial Energy Efficient Training and Resource Centre - IEETR) and The Reinforced and Moulded Plastics Technology Station. Also access to TTI-TIA Seed Fund for technology transfer.
• National Research Foundation (NRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT awarded the Focused Research Advancement Award from NRF recognizing exceptional growth in research productivity. NRF provides funding for researchers, postgraduate scholarships, and research infrastructure support. DUT has NRF-rated researchers and participates in NRF programs including SARAO postdoctoral fellowships.
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, connecting it to a global network of higher education institutions for collaboration, research partnerships, and knowledge sharing.
• Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT hosts the Confucius Institute, promoting Chinese language and culture education. The institute provides cultural programs, language courses, and serves as a bridge for international educational and cultural exchange between South Africa and China.
• UNESCO UNEVOCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT is a member of the UNESCO UNEVOC network, the International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, supporting global TVET development and collaboration.
• Medical Research Council (MRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT collaborates with the Medical Research Council on health research initiatives, providing additional research pathways for health sciences faculty and students.
• KwaZulu-Natal Provincial GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT serves as an anchor institution in KwaZulu-Natal, working with provincial government on regional development priorities including skills development, entrepreneurship support, and community engagement through enterprise development units.
• Samsung (Skills Development)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSamsung Innovation Campus delivered through DUT Business School provides 6-month technology skills training program for students, creating pathways to employment in the technology sector.
• SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSEDA partnership within Enterprise Development Unit supports small business development in KwaZulu-Natal through mentorship programs, business training, and startup support services.
• KZN E-Skills CoLabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKZN E-Skills CoLab housed at DUT focuses on digital skills development and e-literacy programs for the province, addressing the digital divide and preparing students for the digital economy.
• Council on Higher EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT qualifications are vetted and strengthened through partnership with the Council on Higher Education, ensuring academic quality and alignment with national qualifications framework.
• South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT programs are registered and aligned with SAQA standards, ensuring national and international recognition of qualifications awarded by the university.
• Department of Higher Education and TrainingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDUT receives government funding and operates under the regulatory oversight of the Department of Higher Education and Training. The Department provided grant for enlargement and renovation of the Health Sciences Clinic complex.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tshwane University of Technology: Largest University of Technology in South Africa by enrolment. Shares the same legislative status, applied-research mandate and undergraduate/postgraduate mix as DUT.
• Mangosuthu University of Technology: KwaZulu-Natal-based University of Technology. Competes with DUT for the same regional student pool and government funding envelope.
• Vaal University of Technology: University of Technology in Gauteng with overlapping faculties in applied sciences, engineering and management. Closely comparable in scale, mission and funding model.
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology: South African University of Technology with comparable applied-research, cooperative-education and multi-campus model. Direct institutional peer to DUT as one of the country's six universities of technology.
• Central University of Technology: Free-State-based University of Technology with similar applied-science, engineering and technology focus. Direct comparator on Technology Innovation Agency–funded Technology Stations.

Broad incumbents

• Stellenbosch University: One of South Africa's leading research-intensive universities. Competes with DUT for top postgraduate students, NRF-rated researchers and international research grants.
• University of Pretoria: Large comprehensive research university with strong engineering and applied-sciences faculties. Competes for the same funding pools, ranked talent and corporate partnerships.
• University of Johannesburg: Large metropolitan public university formed via the merger of Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand and Vista University. Overlaps with DUT on technology and applied-research programmes but operates as a comprehensive university.

Regional players

• University of KwaZulu-Natal: Primary regional research university in KwaZulu-Natal. Competes with DUT for the same provincial talent pool, NSFAS funding and postgraduate researchers.
• Nelson Mandela University: Multi-campus Eastern Cape public university with a comparable technology and applied-sciences portfolio. Comparable in mission and student-population scale though operating in a different province.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dut_tweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DutCampusTv
• Facebookfacebook.com/DurbanUniversityofTechnology
• Instagraminstagram.com/dut_official1
• TikToktiktok.com/@dut_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durban-university-of-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Durban University of Technology