Latest Rankings: Top 22 Universities in South Africa for 2024

South Africa’s academic landscape has witnessed shifts in global rankings, with 22 universities making their mark in the 2024 University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) conducted by the Informatics Institute at the Middle East Technical University.

URAP’s evaluation, centered on academic quality, encompassed data from 3,000 higher education institutes (HEIs), representing approximately 12% of global HEIs. The ranking criteria relied on multiple indicators emphasizing academic performance, including scientific productivity, research impact, quality, and international recognition.

Publications served as the foundation for the ranking methodology, scrutinizing both the quality and quantity of publications alongside international research collaboration.

The University of Cape Town leads the pack, maintaining its position as the country’s premier institution. Following closely are Wits University, Stellenbosch University, and the University of KwaZulu Natal, securing prominent spots in the top tier.

Noteworthy changes include the University of Johannesburg’s ascent in the rankings, surpassing the University of Pretoria, which held fifth place in the previous year. Stellenbosch University also made strides, overtaking UKZN to claim the third spot.

Here’s how the positions have evolved among the top 10 South African universities:

1. University of Cape Town (Position Unchanged)
2. University of the Witwatersrand (Position Unchanged)
3. Stellenbosch University (Up by 1)
4. University of KwaZulu Natal (Down by 1)
5. University of Johannesburg (Up by 1)
6. University of Pretoria (Down by 1)
7. North-West University (Position Unchanged)
8. University of the Free State (Up by 1)
9. University of South Africa (UNISA) (Up by 1)
10. University of the Western Cape (Down by 2)

While nine South African universities experienced declines in global rankings, including UCT and Wits, 13 universities observed an upswing, albeit fewer institutions securing spots within the top 1,000.

Below is a snapshot of the top universities in South Africa based on URAP’s 2024 rankings:

1. University of Cape Town (Global Rank: 243 | Score: 400.85)
2. University of the Witwatersrand (Global Rank: 340 | Score: 374.29)
3. Stellenbosch University (Global Rank: 362 | Score: 369.38)
4. University of KwaZulu Natal (Global Rank: 371 | Score: 366.08)
5. University of Johannesburg (Global Rank: 467 | Score: 343.35)
6. University of Pretoria (Global Rank: 475 | Score: 342.01)
7. North-West University (Global Rank: 589 | Score: 320.36)
8. University of the Free State (Global Rank: 884 | Score: 275.62)
9. University of South Africa (UNISA) (Global Rank: 970 | Score: 267.38)
10. University of the Western Cape (Global Rank: 1048 | Score: 258.32)
11. Rhodes University, 12. Durban University of Technology, 13. Tshwane University of Technology, 14. Nelson Mandela University, 15. University of Fort Hare, 16. Sefako Makghato Health Sciences University, 17. University of Venda, 18. Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 19. University of Limpopo, 20. Walter Sisulu University, 21. University of Zululand, 22. Vaal University of Technology

These rankings offer insights into South Africa’s academic prowess, showcasing the competitive standing of its universities on the global stage.