Rankings for Institutions

Institutional Subject Ranking

South Africa Institutional Subject Rankings 2025

AD Scientific Index's subject-based institutional rankings cover 24.330 institutions across 13 main fields. Universities may excel or fall behind in specific subjects, independent of their overall ranking. AD Scientific Index provides a comparative global performance assessment of universities in each field, making it a valuable indicator for equivalency or transfer applications. This ranking, currently in its Beta phase, is based on the Total H Index. Two new categories, Art and Humanities University Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities University Rankings, offer a unique focus exclusively on arts, humanities, and social sciences, excluding medicine, engineering, and natural sciences. Please note that both rankings are in their Beta phase. The global, regional, national, and institutional subject rankings are still evolving as the 'Others' category (873.864 profiles) contains scientists whose fields are unidentified or yet to be edited, so rankings may change accordingly. Rankings reflect the presence of scientists in a branch, not whether the institution has a dedicated faculty. See also: Individual Subject Rankings.

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Total 19.110 scientist, 1 country, 74 All type institutions
* All Subjects
World Rank
228
Country Rank
1
Ranking Based On Selection :1
University of Cape Town
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 1874
Staff ( 1,675 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
241
629
956
1,278
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
387
Country Rank
2
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch , South Africa - Public 1918
Staff ( 1,758 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
149
469
809
1,124
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
441
Country Rank
3
Ranking Based On Selection :3
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 1922
Staff ( 1,809 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
127
404
741
1,110
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
511
Country Rank
4
Ranking Based On Selection :4
University of Pretoria
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1908
Staff ( 1,450 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
111
410
722
985
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
584
Country Rank
5
Ranking Based On Selection :5
University of Kwazulu Natal
Durban , South Africa - Public 2004
Staff ( 1,468 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
93
317
582
896
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
655
Country Rank
6
Ranking Based On Selection :6
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 2005
Staff ( 1,742 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
79
269
616
999
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
861
Country Rank
7
Ranking Based On Selection :7
North West University
Potchefstroom , South Africa - Public 2004
Staff ( 1,291 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
54
220
460
763
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,195
Country Rank
8
Ranking Based On Selection :8
University of the Western Cape
Bellville , South Africa - Public 1959
Staff ( 534 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
33
131
256
365
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,316
Country Rank
9
Ranking Based On Selection :9
University of South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1873
Staff ( 1,847 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
29
156
454
848
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,369
Country Rank
10
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Rhodes University
Grahamstown , South Africa - Public 1904
Staff ( 400 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
27
109
177
250
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,650
Country Rank
11
Ranking Based On Selection :11
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein , South Africa - Public 1904
Staff ( 588 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
20
112
240
375
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,008
Country Rank
12
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 2003
Staff ( 379 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
15
63
134
222
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,049
Country Rank
13
Ranking Based On Selection :13
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Johannesburg , South Africa - Institution 2002
Staff ( 58 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
15
37
45
48
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,088
Country Rank
14
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 1945
Staff ( 366 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
77
169
247
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,109
Country Rank
15
Ranking Based On Selection :15
South African Medical Research Council
Cape Town , South Africa - Institution 1969
Staff ( 71 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
41
57
65
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,202
Country Rank
16
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Durban University of Technology
Durban , South Africa - Public 2002
Staff ( 382 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
13
52
118
197
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,711
Country Rank
17
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 2005
Staff ( 408 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
9
62
121
216
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,716
Country Rank
18
Ranking Based On Selection :18
University of Fort Hare
Alice , South Africa - Public 1916
Staff ( 351 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
9
47
107
186
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,925
Country Rank
19
Ranking Based On Selection :19
University of Venda
Thohoyandou , South Africa - Public 1982
Staff ( 222 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
8
41
79
121
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,289
Country Rank
20
Ranking Based On Selection :20
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth , South Africa - Public 2005
Staff ( 315 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
45
95
172
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,343
Country Rank
21
Ranking Based On Selection :21
Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 1968
Staff ( 92 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
36
53
73
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,484
Country Rank
22
Ranking Based On Selection :22
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 2004
Staff ( 56 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
14
27
39
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,516
Country Rank
23
Ranking Based On Selection :23
South African Astronomical Observatory
, South Africa - Institution 1972
Staff ( 14 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
7
8
10
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,848
Country Rank
24
Ranking Based On Selection :24
Africa Health Research Institute
Somkhele , South Africa - Institution 2016
Staff ( 23 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
5
8
12
19
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,998
Country Rank
25
Ranking Based On Selection :25
University of Zululand
Kwadlangezwa , South Africa - Public 1960
Staff ( 215 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
4
18
49
103
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
228
South Africa
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
University of Cape Town
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 1874
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
241
629
956
1,278
Staff ( 1,675 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
387
South Africa
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch , South Africa - Public 1918
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
149
469
809
1,124
Staff ( 1,758 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
441
South Africa
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 1922
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
127
404
741
1,110
Staff ( 1,809 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
511
South Africa
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
University of Pretoria
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1908
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
111
410
722
985
Staff ( 1,450 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
584
South Africa
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
University of Kwazulu Natal
Durban , South Africa - Public 2004
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
93
317
582
896
Staff ( 1,468 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
655
South Africa
6
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 2005
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
79
269
616
999
Staff ( 1,742 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
861
South Africa
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
North West University
Potchefstroom , South Africa - Public 2004
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
54
220
460
763
Staff ( 1,291 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,195
South Africa
8
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
University of the Western Cape
Bellville , South Africa - Public 1959
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
33
131
256
365
Staff ( 534 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,316
South Africa
9
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
University of South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1873
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
29
156
454
848
Staff ( 1,847 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,369
South Africa
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Rhodes University
Grahamstown , South Africa - Public 1904
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
27
109
177
250
Staff ( 400 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,650
South Africa
11
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein , South Africa - Public 1904
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
20
112
240
375
Staff ( 588 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,008
South Africa
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 2003
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
15
63
134
222
Staff ( 379 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,049
South Africa
13
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Johannesburg , South Africa - Institution 2002
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
15
37
45
48
Staff ( 58 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,088
South Africa
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 1945
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
77
169
247
Staff ( 366 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,109
South Africa
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
South African Medical Research Council
Cape Town , South Africa - Institution 1969
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
41
57
65
Staff ( 71 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,202
South Africa
16
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Durban University of Technology
Durban , South Africa - Public 2002
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
13
52
118
197
Staff ( 382 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,711
South Africa
17
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 2005
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
9
62
121
216
Staff ( 408 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,716
South Africa
18
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
University of Fort Hare
Alice , South Africa - Public 1916
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
9
47
107
186
Staff ( 351 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,925
South Africa
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
University of Venda
Thohoyandou , South Africa - Public 1982
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
8
41
79
121
Staff ( 222 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,289
South Africa
20
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth , South Africa - Public 2005
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
45
95
172
Staff ( 315 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,343
South Africa
21
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 1968
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
36
53
73
Staff ( 92 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,484
South Africa
22
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 2004
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
14
27
39
Staff ( 56 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,516
South Africa
23
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
South African Astronomical Observatory
, South Africa - Institution 1972
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
7
8
10
Staff ( 14 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,848
South Africa
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Africa Health Research Institute
Somkhele , South Africa - Institution 2016
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
5
8
12
19
Staff ( 23 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,998
South Africa
25
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
University of Zululand
Kwadlangezwa , South Africa - Public 1960
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
4
18
49
103
Staff ( 215 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis