Rankings for Institutions

Institutional Subject Ranking

World South Africa Institutional Subject Rankings 2025

AD Scientific Index's subject-based institutional rankings, covering 24.366 institutions across 13 main fields, serve as a crucial reference for evaluating cross-border transfer or graduation equivalency applications. Universities may excel or fall behind in specific subjects, apart from their overall ranking. AD Scientific Index provides a comparative global performance assessment of universities in each subject, making it a valuable indicator for equivalency or transfer applications. This ranking, based on the Total H Index, is in Beta. Two new additions, 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 version. The global, regional, national, and institutional subject rankings are still evolving as the 'Others' category (1.010.204 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 19.144 scientist, 1 country, 74 All type institutions
* All Subjects
World Rank
226
Country Rank
1
Ranking Based On Selection :1
University of Cape Town
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 1874
Staff ( 1,677 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
244
631
970
1,290
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
384
Country Rank
2
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Stellenbosch University
Stellenbosch , South Africa - Public 1918
Staff ( 1,760 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
151
472
820
1,138
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
436
Country Rank
3
Ranking Based On Selection :3
University of the Witwatersrand
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 1922
Staff ( 1,810 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
128
408
752
1,121
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
504
Country Rank
4
Ranking Based On Selection :4
University of Pretoria
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1908
Staff ( 1,463 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
112
421
732
1,003
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
581
Country Rank
5
Ranking Based On Selection :5
University of Kwazulu Natal
Durban , South Africa - Public 2004
Staff ( 1,469 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
94
321
588
912
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
643
Country Rank
6
Ranking Based On Selection :6
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg , South Africa - Public 2005
Staff ( 1,747 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
82
273
623
1,011
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
844
Country Rank
7
Ranking Based On Selection :7
North West University
Potchefstroom , South Africa - Public 2004
Staff ( 1,294 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
56
224
464
774
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,117
Country Rank
8
Ranking Based On Selection :8
University of the Western Cape
Bellville , South Africa - Public 1959
Staff ( 535 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
36
136
258
370
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,318
Country Rank
9
Ranking Based On Selection :9
University of South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Public 1873
Staff ( 1,850 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
29
160
456
869
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,349
Country Rank
10
Ranking Based On Selection :10
Rhodes University
Grahamstown , South Africa - Public 1904
Staff ( 402 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
28
114
180
254
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,604
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%
21
114
245
377
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,012
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
64
134
221
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,033
Country Rank
13
Ranking Based On Selection :13
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%
15
40
57
66
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,090
Country Rank
14
Ranking Based On Selection :14
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
Pretoria , South Africa - Institution 1945
Staff ( 367 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
76
170
250
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,133
Country Rank
15
Ranking Based On Selection :15
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Johannesburg , South Africa - Institution 2002
Staff ( 59 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
37
46
50
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,194
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
120
200
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,524
Country Rank
17
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Town , South Africa - Public 2005
Staff ( 409 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
10
64
124
219
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,705
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
48
110
187
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,294
Country Rank
19
Ranking Based On Selection :19
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
46
98
173
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,315
Country Rank
20
Ranking Based On Selection :20
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%
6
40
80
123
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,341
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
34
54
74
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,482
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
15
27
40
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
3,826
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
20
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
4,062
Country Rank
25
Ranking Based On Selection :25
University of Zululand
Kwadlangezwa , South Africa - Public 1960
Staff ( 214 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
4
18
48
101
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
226
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%
244
631
970
1,290
Staff ( 1,677 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
384
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%
151
472
820
1,138
Staff ( 1,760 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
436
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%
128
408
752
1,121
Staff ( 1,810 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
504
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%
112
421
732
1,003
Staff ( 1,463 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
581
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%
94
321
588
912
Staff ( 1,469 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
643
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%
82
273
623
1,011
Staff ( 1,747 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
844
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%
56
224
464
774
Staff ( 1,294 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,117
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%
36
136
258
370
Staff ( 535 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,318
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
160
456
869
Staff ( 1,850 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,349
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%
28
114
180
254
Staff ( 402 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,604
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%
21
114
245
377
Staff ( 588 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,012
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
64
134
221
Staff ( 379 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,033
South Africa
13
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
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%
15
40
57
66
Staff ( 71 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,090
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
76
170
250
Staff ( 367 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,133
South Africa
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Johannesburg , South Africa - Institution 2002
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
14
37
46
50
Staff ( 59 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,194
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
120
200
Staff ( 382 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,524
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%
10
64
124
219
Staff ( 409 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,705
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
48
110
187
Staff ( 351 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,294
South Africa
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Nelson Mandela University
Port Elizabeth , South Africa - Public 2005
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
46
98
173
Staff ( 315 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,315
South Africa
20
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
University of Venda
Thohoyandou , South Africa - Public 1982
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
6
40
80
123
Staff ( 222 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,341
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
34
54
74
Staff ( 92 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,482
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
15
27
40
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
3,826
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
20
Staff ( 23 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
4,062
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
48
101
Staff ( 214 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis