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Top 100 Institutions
South Africa Top 100 Public Universities 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.
Explore the Top 100 institutions → See the leaders
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
182
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
1,027
Top 70
1,332
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* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
297
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
513
Top 50
871
Top 70
1,214
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
356
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
449
Top 50
823
Top 70
1,201
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
402
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
1,039
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
449
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
350
Top 50
677
Top 70
988
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
481
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
665
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
526
Top 70
831
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
839
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
283
Top 70
399
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
938
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
192
Top 50
545
Top 70
982
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
946
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
191
Top 70
270
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,040
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
1,353
World Rank
12
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
12
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
1,355
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
16
Top 30
74
Top 50
155
Top 70
254
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,441
World Rank
14
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
14
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
121
Top 70
201
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,614
World Rank
15
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
15
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
246
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,681
World Rank
16
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
16
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
217
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
1,782
World Rank
17
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
17
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
131
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,084
World Rank
18
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
18
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
2,177
World Rank
19
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
19
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
133
Top 70
242
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,197
World Rank
20
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
20
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
23
Top 50
57
Top 70
96
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,376
World Rank
21
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
21
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
4
Top 30
30
Top 50
82
Top 70
135
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,595
World Rank
22
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
22
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
3
Top 30
20
Top 50
54
Top 70
84
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,700
World Rank
23
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
23
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
3
Top 30
16
Top 50
37
Top 70
61
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
2,888
World Rank
24
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
2
Top 30
18
Top 50
43
Top 70
70
* Total H Index Rankings
Rankings
3,809
World Rank
25
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
25
Sol Plaatje University
Sol Plaatje University
Kimberley ,
South Africa
- Public 2014
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
1
Top 30
8
Top 50
24
Top 70
48
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