Academic Index Last updated: May 09, 2026

24 Best Universities in South Africa for Medicine

If you are looking to study Medicine in South Africa, our index highlights the top 24 domain-leading institutions. Our methodology evaluated 299.4K subject-specific papers and 7.43M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Pretoria

University of South Africa

For Medicine

#37 in Africa #1140 in the World

61% Acceptance

420,000 Enrollment

1873 Founded

2

Alice

University of Fort Hare

For Medicine

#60 in Africa #1603 in the World

64% Acceptance

11,074 Enrollment

1916 Founded

3

Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

For Medicine

#26 in Africa #1005 in the World

58% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2005 Founded

4

Mankweng

University of Limpopo

For Medicine

#44 in Africa #1286 in the World

45% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1959 Founded

5

Durban

University of KwaZulu-Natal

For Medicine

#5 in Africa #392 in the World

63% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

2004 Founded

6

Cape Town

Cape Peninsula University of Technology

For Medicine

#108 in Africa #2320 in the World

91% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

2005 Founded

7

Stellenbosch

University of Stellenbosch

For Medicine

#4 in Africa #368 in the World

56% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1918 Founded

8

Durban

Durban University of Technology

For Medicine

#88 in Africa #2099 in the World

75% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2002 Founded

9

Pretoria

University of Pretoria

For Medicine

#7 in Africa #426 in the World

52% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1908 Founded

10

Durban

Mangosuthu University of Technology

For Medicine

#245 in Africa #4701 in the World

73% Acceptance

35,047 Enrollment

1979 Founded

11

Pretoria

Tshwane University of Technology

For Medicine

#78 in Africa #1852 in the World

89% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

2003 Founded

12

Johannesburg

University of the Witwatersrand

For Medicine

#3 in Africa #290 in the World

34% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1922 Founded

13

Pretoria

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

For Medicine

#83 in Africa #1982 in the World

74% Acceptance

5,000 Enrollment

2014 Founded

14

Port Elizabeth

Nelson Mandela University

For Medicine

#79 in Africa #1866 in the World

57% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

2005 Founded

15

Cape Town

University of Cape Town

For Medicine

#1 in Africa #210 in the World

51% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1874 Founded

16

Vanderbijlpark

Vaal University of Technology

For Medicine

#176 in Africa #3505 in the World

90% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1966 Founded

17

Makhanda

Rhodes University

For Medicine

#55 in Africa #1495 in the World

61% Acceptance

8,200 Enrollment

1904 Founded

18

Kwadlangezwa

University of Zululand

For Medicine

#125 in Africa #2568 in the World

45% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1960 Founded

19

Bellville

University of the Western Cape

For Medicine

#31 in Africa #1056 in the World

60% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

1959 Founded

20

Bloemfontein

Central University of Technology

For Medicine

#154 in Africa #3220 in the World

64% Acceptance

49,910 Enrollment

1981 Founded

21

Bloemfontein

University of the Free State

For Medicine

#24 in Africa #981 in the World

25% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1904 Founded

22

Mthatha

Walter Sisulu University

For Medicine

#126 in Africa #2581 in the World

67% Acceptance

24,754 Enrollment

2005 Founded

23

Potchefstroom

North-West University

For Medicine

#21 in Africa #911 in the World

83% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

2004 Founded

24

Thohoyandou

University of Venda

For Medicine

#113 in Africa #2369 in the World

72% Acceptance

48,174 Enrollment

1982 Founded