Lifestyle

The best universities in South Africa – that rank among the top 200 in the world

Staff Writer

 ·5 Nov 2023

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)

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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

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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+

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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

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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+

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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

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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+

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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+

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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+

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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+

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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

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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+

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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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