Academic Index Last updated: June 22, 2026

24 Best Universities in South Africa for Machine Learning

Focusing specifically on Machine Learning, our data science engine identified the 24 most influential universities in South Africa. To determine these leaders, we isolated 691.7K specialized research publications which collectively generated 14.56M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Machine Learning South Africa Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

Filter

Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Machine Learning

#2 in Africa #401 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

2

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Machine Learning

#3 in Africa #490 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

3

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Machine Learning

#4 in Africa #551 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

4

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Machine Learning

#7 in Africa #595 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

5

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Machine Learning

#8 in Africa #598 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

6

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Machine Learning

#18 in Africa #947 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

7

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Machine Learning

#69 in Africa #1944 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

8

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Machine Learning

#96 in Africa #2429 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

9

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#127 in Africa #2794 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

10

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Machine Learning

#32 in Africa #1222 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

11

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Machine Learning

#151 in Africa #3128 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

12

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Machine Learning

#12 in Africa #743 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

13

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#175 in Africa #3429 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

14

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Machine Learning

#9 in Africa #610 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

15

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Machine Learning

#157 in Africa #3200 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

16

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Machine Learning

#164 in Africa #3291 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded

17

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Machine Learning

#126 in Africa #2791 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

18

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Machine Learning

#89 in Africa #2349 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

19

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#121 in Africa #2730 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

20

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#82 in Africa #2157 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

21

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#252 in Africa #4619 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

22

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Machine Learning

#58 in Africa #1728 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

23

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

For Machine Learning

#213 in Africa #4005 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

24

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Machine Learning

#87 in Africa #2286 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded