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South Africa Top 100 Institutions Rankings 2026
Recognizing leading institutions by continent and country. Discover the top 100 institutions worldwide, ranked with near real-time academic performance data. Highlighting scientific excellence across continents, countries, and institution types.
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* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
227
World Rank
1
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
1
University of Cape Town
Universiteit van Kaapstad
Cape Town ,
South Africa
- Public 1874
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
261
Top 30
665
Top 50
1,028
Top 70
1,333
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* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
374
World Rank
2
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
2
Stellenbosch University
University of Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch ,
South Africa
- Public 1918
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
169
Top 30
514
Top 50
871
Top 70
1,216
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
445
World Rank
3
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
3
University of the Witwatersrand
Universiteit van die Witwatersrand
Johannesburg ,
South Africa
- Public 1922
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
139
Top 30
448
Top 50
824
Top 70
1,201
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
501
World Rank
4
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
4
University of Pretoria
Universiteit van Pretoria
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Public 1908
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
122
Top 30
450
Top 50
778
Top 70
1,041
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
570
World Rank
5
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
5
University of Kwazulu Natal
Universiteit van Kwazulu Natal
Durban ,
South Africa
- Public 2004
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
105
Top 30
349
Top 50
678
Top 70
990
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
611
World Rank
6
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
6
University of Johannesburg
Universiteit van Johannesburg
Johannesburg ,
South Africa
- Public 2005
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
96
Top 30
327
Top 50
719
Top 70
1,110
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
863
World Rank
7
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
7
North West University
Noordwes Universiteit
Potchefstroom ,
South Africa
- Public 2004
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
60
Top 30
267
Top 50
527
Top 70
832
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,154
World Rank
8
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
8
University of the Western Cape
Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland
Bellville ,
South Africa
- Public 1959
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
39
Top 30
146
Top 50
282
Top 70
401
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,312
World Rank
9
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
9
University of South Africa
Universiteit van Suid-Afrika
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Public 1873
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
33
Top 30
189
Top 50
545
Top 70
983
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,323
World Rank
10
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
10
Rhodes University
Rhodes Universiteit
Grahamstown ,
South Africa
- Public 1904
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
33
Top 30
113
Top 50
190
Top 70
270
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,508
World Rank
11
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
11
University of the Free State
Universiteit van die Vrystaat
Bloemfontein ,
South Africa
- Public 1904
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
27
Top 30
131
Top 50
283
Top 70
438
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,934
World Rank
12
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
12
South African Medical Research Council
Suid-Afrikaanse Mediese Navorsingsraad
Cape Town ,
South Africa
- Institution 1969
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
19
Top 30
47
Top 50
59
Top 70
67
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,115
World Rank
13
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
13
Durban University of Technology
Durban Universiteit van Tegnologie
Durban ,
South Africa
- Public 2002
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
16
Top 30
61
Top 50
145
Top 70
234
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,117
World Rank
14
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
14
Tshwane University of Technology
Tshwane Universiteit van Tegnologie
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Public 2003
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
16
Top 30
74
Top 50
155
Top 70
254
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,199
World Rank
15
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
15
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
Raad vir Wetenskaplike en Nywerheidsnavorsing, Suid-Afrika
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Institution 1945
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
15
Top 30
90
Top 50
182
Top 70
261
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,255
World Rank
16
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
16
National Institute for Communicable Diseases
Nasionale Instituut vir Oordraagbare Siektes
Johannesburg ,
South Africa
- Institution 2002
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
15
Top 30
37
Top 50
46
Top 70
51
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,303
World Rank
17
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
17
Nelson Mandela University
Nelson Mandela Universiteit
Port Elizabeth ,
South Africa
- Public 2005
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
14
Top 30
64
Top 50
122
Top 70
201
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,646
World Rank
18
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
18
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Kaapse Skiereiland Universiteit van Tegnologie
Cape Town ,
South Africa
- Public 2005
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
11
Top 30
68
Top 50
139
Top 70
248
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,800
World Rank
19
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
19
University of Fort Hare
Universiteit van Fort Hare
Alice ,
South Africa
- Public 1916
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
10
Top 30
54
Top 50
138
Top 70
218
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,998
World Rank
20
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
20
University of Venda
Universiteit van Venda
Thohoyandou ,
South Africa
- Public 1982
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
9
Top 30
46
Top 50
89
Top 70
132
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,619
World Rank
21
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
21
Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa
Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing van Suid-Afrika
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Institution 1968
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
6
Top 30
38
Top 50
58
Top 70
79
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,666
World Rank
22
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
22
University of Zululand
Universiteit van Zoeloeland
Kwadlangezwa ,
South Africa
- Public 1960
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
6
Top 30
20
Top 50
69
Top 70
111
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,805
World Rank
23
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
23
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Biodiversiteitsinstituut
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Institution 2004
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
6
Top 30
16
Top 50
28
Top 70
44
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,832
World Rank
24
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
24
South African Astronomical Observatory
Suid-Afrikaanse Astronomiese Sterrewag
Cape Town ,
South Africa
- Institution 1972
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
6
Top 30
7
Top 50
8
Top 70
10
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,885
World Rank
25
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
25
University of Limpopo
Universiteit van Limpopo
Mankweng ,
South Africa
- Public 2005
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
5
Top 30
46
Top 50
132
Top 70
242
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