Login
Pricing & Plans
Citation Rankings
Smart Institutional Excellence Plan
Top 100 Institutions
South Africa Top 100 All Universities Rankings 2026 (Sort by: Last 5 Years Citations)
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.
Explore the Top 100 institutions → See the leaders
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
209
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
233
Top 30
642
Top 50
1,006
Top 70
1,335
Compare & Unlock Premium Access
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
292
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
145
Top 30
491
Top 50
873
Top 70
1,250
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
324
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
114
Top 30
415
Top 50
816
Top 70
1,224
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
371
World Rank
4
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
4
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
107
Top 30
338
Top 50
681
Top 70
1,020
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
477
World Rank
5
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
5
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
104
Top 30
404
Top 50
738
Top 70
1,003
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
515
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
88
Top 30
342
Top 50
729
Top 70
1,144
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
753
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
59
Top 30
251
Top 50
514
Top 70
836
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
800
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
40
Top 30
136
Top 50
272
Top 70
396
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
812
World Rank
9
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
9
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
26
Top 30
125
Top 50
271
Top 70
424
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
841
World Rank
10
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
10
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
185
Top 50
514
Top 70
989
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
927
World Rank
11
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
11
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
13
Top 30
68
Top 50
146
Top 70
223
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,191
World Rank
12
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
12
Rhodes University
Rhodes Universiteit
Grahamstown ,
South Africa
- Public 1904
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
26
Top 30
96
Top 50
178
Top 70
267
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,241
World Rank
13
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
13
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
17
Top 30
75
Top 50
158
Top 70
246
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,249
World Rank
14
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
14
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
68
Top 50
154
Top 70
240
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,255
World Rank
15
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
15
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
16
Top 30
60
Top 50
123
Top 70
210
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,641
World Rank
16
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
16
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
14
Top 30
66
Top 50
146
Top 70
249
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
1,786
World Rank
17
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
17
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
7
Top 30
44
Top 50
123
Top 70
238
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
2,042
World Rank
18
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
18
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
44
Top 50
89
Top 70
139
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
2,224
World Rank
19
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
19
Walter Sisulu University
Walter Sisulu Universiteit
Mthatha ,
South Africa
- Public 2005
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
5
Top 30
33
Top 50
81
Top 70
135
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
2,227
World Rank
20
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
20
Central University of Technology
Sentrale Universiteit van Tegnologie
Bloemfontein ,
South Africa
- Public 1981
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
5
Top 30
24
Top 50
60
Top 70
84
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
2,267
World Rank
1
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
21
Belgium Campus Itversity
België Kampus Itversity
Akasia ,
South Africa
- Private 1999
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
1
Top 30
1
Top 50
1
Top 70
3
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
2,979
World Rank
21
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
22
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Sefako Makgatho Gesondheidswetenskappe Universiteit
Pretoria ,
South Africa
- Public 2014
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
5
Top 30
27
Top 50
57
Top 70
97
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
3,062
World Rank
22
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
23
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
4
Top 30
25
Top 50
69
Top 70
118
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
3,098
World Rank
23
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
24
Vaal University of Technology
Vaal University of Technology
Vanderbijlpark ,
South Africa
- Public 1966
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
4
Top 30
21
Top 50
47
Top 70
77
* Last 5 Years Citation Rankings
Rankings
3,456
World Rank
24
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
25
University of Mpumalanga
Universiteit van Mpumalanga
Mbombela ,
South Africa
- Public 2014
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
2
Top 30
12
Top 50
39
Top 70
67
Unify strategy, analytics, and growth in one powerful platform. Turn academic data into actionable strategy for sustainable excellence.
Track your performance in real time — benchmark, compare, and improve. Stay ahead with instant insights and global peer comparisons.
Attract world-class talent across 211 disciplines. Find, connect, and recruit the brightest minds worldwide.
Unlock researcher and institutional impact with transparent contribution scores. Recognize, measure, and reward academic excellence at every level.
Ensuring quality standards and accreditation compliance in higher education.
Advancing global partnerships, mobility, and international visibility.
🌍 Be Our Partner: Representation & Collaboration
Represent AD Scientific Index in your country or region — and grow with us.
- ✅ Official recognition as a regional partner
- ✅ Visibility partnership with full brand support
- ✅ Help institutions in your region enhance their academic visibility
- ✅ Contribute to value-driven projects with measurable academic impact
Limited Opportunities Available
