The best universities in South Africa – that rank among the top 200 in the world
Times Higher Education has published its global university ranking by subject, showing which South African universities come out on top when looking at key subjects like computer science, engineering and physical sciences.
In the 2024 subject rankings, 12 South African universities made the cut across all 11 subject categories – including four instances where local institutes ranked within the top 100, globally.
The University of Cape Town tool top spot in South Africa in six different categories, placing within the top 100 in three: Education, Clinical and Health Studies and in Social Sciences.
The University of Pretoria was the only other South African institution to crack the top 100, placing 65th globally for Law.
The University of Johannesburg managed to pip UCT in three subjects – Business and Economics, Computer Science and Engineering – while landing in the same ranking range as UCT in Physical Sciences.
The tables below outline each subject covered by the THE rankings, and where South Africa’s universities placed. (Universities that rank in the same range are listed alphabetically)
Arts and Humanities
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 176-200 |
| Wits University | 201-250 |
| University of Pretoria | 251-300 |
| Stellenbosch University | 251-300 |
| University of Johannesburg | 301-400 |
| University of the Free State | 401-500 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 401-500 |
| North West University | 401-500 |
| UNISA | 401-500 |
| University of the Western Cape | 401-500 |
Business and Economics
| University | Rank |
| University of Johannesburg | 201-250 |
| University of Cape Town | 251-300 |
| University of Pretoria | 301-400 |
| Wits University | 301-400 |
| North-West University | 501-600 |
| Stellenbosch University | 501-600 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 601-800 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 801+ |
| University of the Free State | 801+ |
Clinical and Health
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 81 |
| Stellenbosch University | 151-175 |
| Wits University | 151-175 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 301-400 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 401-500 |
| University of Johannesburg | 501-600 |
| North-West University | 501-600 |
| University of Pretoria | 501-600 |
| University of the Western Cape | 501-600 |
| University of the Free State | 601-800 |
Computer Science
| University | Rank |
| University of Johannesburg | 401-500 |
| Stellenbosch University | 401-500 |
| University of Cape Town | 501-600 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 501-600 |
| Wits University | 501-600 |
| University of Pretoria | 601-800 |
| North-West University | 801+ |
| UNISA | 801+ |
Education
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 92 |
| University of Johannesburg | 176-200 |
| Stellenbosch University | 176-200 |
| Wits University | 201-250 |
| University of Pretoria | 301-400 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 401-500 |
| North-West University | 401-500 |
| UNISA | 401-500 |
| University of the Western Cape | 401-500 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 501-600 |
| University of the Free State | 501-600 |
Engineering
| University | Rank |
| University of Johannesburg | 301-400 |
| Stellenbosch University | 401-500 |
| University of Cape Town | 501-600 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 501-600 |
| UNISA | 501-600 |
| Wits University | 501-600 |
| North-West University | 601-800 |
| University of Pretoria | 601-800 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 801+ |
Law
| University | Rank |
| University of Pretoria | 65 |
| University of Cape Town | 126-150 |
| Stellenbosch University | 126-150 |
| Wits University | 176-200 |
| University of Johannesburg | 201-250 |
| North-West University | 251-300 |
| University of the Western Cape | 251-300 |
| University of the Free State | 301+ |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 301+ |
| UNISA | 301+ |
Life Sciences
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 101-125 |
| Stellenbosch University | 251-300 |
| University of Johannesburg | 301-400 |
| University of Pretoria | 301-400 |
| Wits University | 301-400 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 401-500 |
| University of the Free State | 601-800 |
| North-West University | 601-800 |
| UNISA | 601-800 |
| University of the Western Cape | 601-800 |
| University of Venda | 801+ |
Physical Sciences
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 301-400 |
| University of Johannesburg | 301-400 |
| Stellenbosch University | 401-500 |
| Wits University | 401-500 |
| UNISA | 501-600 |
| University of the Western Cape | 501-600 |
| University of the Free State | 601-800 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 601-800 |
| North-West University | 601-800 |
| University of Pretoria | 601-800 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 801+ |
| University of Venda | 801+ |
Psychology
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 201-250 |
| University of Johannesburg | 301-400 |
| North-West University | 301-400 |
| Stellenbosch University | 301-400 |
| Wits University | 301-400 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 401-500 |
| University of Pretoria | 401-500 |
| University of the Free State | 501-600 |
| UNISA | 501-600 |
| University of the Western Cape | 501-600 |
Social Sciences
| University | Rank |
| University of Cape Town | 100 |
| Wits University | 151-175 |
| University of Johannesburg | 201-250 |
| Stellenbosch University | 251-300 |
| University of Pretoria | 301-400 |
| University of KwaZulu Natal | 501-600 |
| North-West University | 501-600 |
| University of the Free State | 601-800 |
| UNISA | 601-800 |
| University of Venda | 601-800 |
| University of the Western Cape | 601-800 |
| Durban Univesity of Technology | 801+ |
Methodology
The THE subject rankings look at the same range of 18 performance indicators used in the overall World University Rankings 2024, brought together with scores provided under five categories.
However, the overall methodology is carefully recalibrated for each subject, with the weightings changed to suit the individual fields.
The performance indicators are grouped into five areas:
- Teaching (the learning environment);
- Research (volume, income and reputation);
- Citations (research influence);
- International outlook (staff, students and research); and
- Industry income (knowledge transfer).
For the subject rankings, the same indicators are used but are recalibrated per subject, with the weightings changed to suit the individual fields.
The group’s subject rankings look at 11 broad fields of study, including arts and humanities, law, education, health, science and technology, among others.
To qualify for the ranking, universities are required to meet a publication threshold by discipline and an academic staff threshold by discipline.
No institution can be included in the overall World University Rankings unless it has published a minimum number of research papers over the five years that the group examines (2018-2022 for the 2024 rankings).
The publication threshold is different for each subject.
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