Rankings for Institutions

Institutional Subject Ranking

World South Africa Institutional Subject Rankings 2025

AD Scientific Index's subject-based institutional rankings, covering 24.364 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 (1.014.167 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
230
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%
242
624
956
1,280
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
388
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%
149
468
812
1,131
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
442
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%
127
402
738
1,115
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
515
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%
110
418
725
992
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
594
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%
91
312
576
906
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
666
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%
78
269
612
996
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
853
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%
55
221
459
770
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,164
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%
34
130
254
367
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,349
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%
28
156
447
855
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,376
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%
27
113
177
252
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
1,653
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
110
242
373
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,013
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
60
130
216
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,116
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%
14
40
57
66
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,134
Country Rank
14
Ranking Based On Selection :14
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
15
Ranking Based On Selection :15
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%
13
76
170
249
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,198
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
114
199
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,710
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%
9
64
122
216
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
2,880
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%
8
48
108
185
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,295
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
96
173
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,323
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
39
76
121
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,339
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
35
52
72
See All Rankings and Analysis
* All Subjects
World Rank
3,481
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
3,517
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
3,827
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
4,123
Country Rank
25
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Central University of Technology
Bloemfontein , South Africa - Public 1981
Staff ( 152 ) Compare
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
4
17
46
71
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
230
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%
242
624
956
1,280
Staff ( 1,677 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
388
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
468
812
1,131
Staff ( 1,760 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
442
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
402
738
1,115
Staff ( 1,810 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
515
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%
110
418
725
992
Staff ( 1,463 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
594
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%
91
312
576
906
Staff ( 1,469 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
666
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%
78
269
612
996
Staff ( 1,747 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
853
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%
55
221
459
770
Staff ( 1,294 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,164
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%
34
130
254
367
Staff ( 535 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,349
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%
28
156
447
855
Staff ( 1,850 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,376
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
113
177
252
Staff ( 402 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
1,653
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
110
242
373
Staff ( 588 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,013
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
60
130
216
Staff ( 379 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,116
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%
14
40
57
66
Staff ( 71 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,134
South Africa
14
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
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
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
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%
13
76
170
249
Staff ( 367 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,198
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
114
199
Staff ( 382 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,710
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
64
122
216
Staff ( 409 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
2,880
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%
8
48
108
185
Staff ( 351 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,295
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
96
173
Staff ( 315 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,323
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
39
76
121
Staff ( 222 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,339
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
35
52
72
Staff ( 92 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis
* Total H Index
Rankings
3,481
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
3,517
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
3,827
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
4,123
South Africa
25
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Central University of Technology
Bloemfontein , South Africa - Public 1981
Total Number of Scientist in Institution
Top 10%
Top 30%
Top 50%
Top 70%
4
17
46
71
Staff ( 152 ) Compare
See All Rankings and Analysis