Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

23 Best Universities in South Africa

Discover the top 23 universities in South Africa with our comprehensive academic index. By assessing 610.3K research papers and their 13.12M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers.

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1

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

#1 in Africa #238 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

2

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

#2 in Africa #385 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

3

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

#3 in Africa #391 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

4

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

#4 in Africa #434 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

5

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

#6 in Africa #598 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

6

Pretoria

University of South Africa

#11 in Africa #899 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

7

Potchefstroom

North-West University

#12 in Africa #921 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

8

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

#18 in Africa #1063 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

9

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

#19 in Africa #1096 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

10

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

#34 in Africa #1663 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

11

Durban

Durban University of Technology

#49 in Africa #2093 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

12

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

#52 in Africa #2299 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

13

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

#62 in Africa #2621 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

14

Alice

University of Fort Hare

#66 in Africa #2762 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

15

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

#84 in Africa #3146 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

16

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

#93 in Africa #3337 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

17

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

#116 in Africa #3754 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

18

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

#120 in Africa #3851 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

19

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

#136 in Africa #4133 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

20

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

#159 in Africa #4606 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

21

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

#203 in Africa #5452 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

22

Nelspruit

University of Mpumalanga

#350 in Africa #7419 in the World

75% Acceptance

2,500 Enrollment

2014 Founded

23

Kimberley

Sol Plaatje University

#428 in Africa #9200 in the World

80% Acceptance

3,000 Enrollment

2013 Founded