All twenty-three South African universities have thriving psychology departments, usually divided into general, industrial, and educational psychology. The first psychology department was founded in 1918 at the University of Stellenbosch, where H. F Verwoerd, an architect of Apartheid, was a student and professor. But, until the middle of the century psychology was subsumed under departments of philosophy.

The Human Sciences Research Council is the primary funder of psychological research mainly at universities. The research is problem focused and disseminated through conference presentations and publications.

Courses in psychology are offered at all the universities. A three-year bachelor's degree is followed by a one-year honors degree and a two-year master's degree, including a one-year internship and a dissertation. A doctorate by dissertation and a masters by dissertation are available at most universities.

Registration as a psychologist in the categories of clinical, counseling, educational, industrial, or research psychology with the Professional Board for Psychology is compulsory in terms of the Health Professions Act, which defines what constitutes psychological acts. A new framework for psychology in South Africa has been accepted which mandates that registration as a psychologist will require doctoral level training and that national examinations will be required by all candidates.

South African psychologists do have a code of ethics. 

Publications:

South African Journal of Psychology, 1970- , 4/year

Updated August 2008 2007