New global ranking reveals South Africa’s top 12 universities
The Center for World University Rankings has listed the world’s top universities, with 12 institutions from South Africa earning a place.
The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) has released its 2025 list of the world’s top universities, highlighting the best-performing institutions globally.
BusinessTech reported that 12 South African universities earned spots on the list, with the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University ranking among the top 500.
The University of Cape Town is even placed in the top 300 in the world.
The best universities in South Africa
CWUR compiles its annual global university rankings by evaluating education quality, employability, faculty excellence, and research output, without using surveys or relying on data submitted by universities.
According to these rankings, the University of Cape Town is not only the best institution in South Africa but also in Africa.
UCT ranks first in South Africa, with a score of 77.4 and a global ranking of 275. Wits came second, with a score of 77.1 and a global ranking of 292. Wits also ranked as the second-best institution in all of Africa.
Rounding out the top three was Stellenbosch University, scoring 74.9 and ranking 458 in the world.
Harvard University in the US took the number one spot globally, with a score of 100.
TOP 12
There were 12 South African institutions that made the list for best universities. Check them out below:
| National rank | University | Global rank | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cape Town | 275 | 77.4 |
| 2 | University of the Witwatersrand | 292 | 77.1 |
| 3 | Stellenbosch University | 458 | 74.9 |
| 4 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | 505 | 74.4 |
| 5 | University of Pretoria | 557 | 73.9 |
| 6 | University of Johannesburg | 607 | 73.4 |
| 7 | North-West University | 860 | 71.5 |
| 8 | University of the Free State | 1141 | 69.8 |
| 9 | University of Western Cape | 1189 | 69.6 |
| 10 | University of South Africa | 1224 | 69.4 |
| 11 | Rhodes University | 1336 | 68.9 |
| 12 | Nelson Mandela University | 1716 | 67.3 |