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South Africa Top 100 Institutions Rankings 2026 (Sort by: Last 5 Years H Index)
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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* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
309
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
244
Top 30
661
Top 50
1,037
Top 70
1,330
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* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
427
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
160
Top 30
517
Top 50
871
Top 70
1,227
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
477
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
126
Top 30
445
Top 50
832
Top 70
1,244
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
481
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
108
Top 30
366
Top 50
697
Top 70
1,029
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
556
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
113
Top 30
435
Top 50
759
Top 70
1,029
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
600
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
93
Top 30
370
Top 50
762
Top 70
1,143
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,034
World Rank
7
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
7
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
35
Top 30
188
Top 50
551
Top 70
986
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,058
World Rank
8
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
8
North West University
Noordwes Universiteit
Potchefstroom ,
South Africa
- Public 2004
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
66
Top 30
274
Top 50
536
Top 70
834
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,125
World Rank
9
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
9
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
42
Top 30
150
Top 50
274
Top 70
400
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,389
World Rank
10
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
10
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
28
Top 30
139
Top 50
292
Top 70
442
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,650
World Rank
11
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
11
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
21
Top 30
49
Top 50
61
Top 70
68
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,686
World Rank
12
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
12
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
14
Top 30
73
Top 50
146
Top 70
223
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,845
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
18
Top 30
76
Top 50
160
Top 70
262
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,859
World Rank
14
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
14
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
17
Top 30
38
Top 50
46
Top 70
52
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
1,888
World Rank
15
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
15
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
14
Top 30
74
Top 50
152
Top 70
243
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,107
World Rank
16
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
16
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
63
Top 50
124
Top 70
211
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,257
World Rank
17
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
17
Africa Health Research Institute
Afrika Gesondheidsnavorsingsinstituut
Somkhele ,
South Africa
- Institution 2016
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
5
Top 30
10
Top 50
17
Top 70
21
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,279
World Rank
18
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
18
Rhodes University
Rhodes Universiteit
Grahamstown ,
South Africa
- Public 1904
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
30
Top 30
107
Top 50
193
Top 70
267
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,382
World Rank
19
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
19
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
16
Top 30
87
Top 50
161
Top 70
247
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,811
World Rank
20
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
20
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
15
Top 30
72
Top 50
151
Top 70
259
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
2,942
World Rank
21
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
21
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
10
Top 30
47
Top 50
92
Top 70
138
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
3,073
World Rank
22
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
22
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
7
Top 30
38
Top 50
58
Top 70
78
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
3,256
World Rank
23
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
23
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
5
Top 30
7
Top 50
8
Top 70
10
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
3,364
World Rank
24
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
24
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
Suid-Afrikaanse Instituut vir Akwatiese Biodiversitei
Makhanda ,
South Africa
- Institution 2000
Scientist Distribution by Success Percentiles at This Institution:
Scientists by Success Percentiles:
Top 10
3
Top 30
12
Top 50
21
Top 70
25
* Last 5 Years H-Index Rankings
Rankings
3,849
World Rank
25
Country Rank
Ranking Based On Selection:
25
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
7
Top 30
26
Top 50
58
Top 70
87
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