Top 10 Universities in South Africa - 2025 Rankings

In today's article, you would see the top ten (10) universities in South Africa and what makes them so unique.

The educational sector of South Africa is admired by most African countries as it happens to be one of the very best in Africa, with universities in South Africa topping almost all ranking systems of African universities.

In this article, the ranking system is based on the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities – a ranking system for the world's universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the Web content (number of web pages and files) and the visibility and impact of these web publications according to the number of external links (site citations) they received.

Note: Rankings are from the July 2025 edition of independent university ranking platforms using the Webometrics methodology, as the official webometrics.info site is no longer operational.

Also See: Top Ten Universities in Ghana

Without further ado, we present to you the list of the top ten universities in South Africa based on the July 2025 Webometrics rankings.

Top Ten Universities in South Africa (July 2025)

1. University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town is the best University in South Africa and consistently ranks as one of the top universities in Africa across multiple ranking systems including Webometrics, QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education Rankings and the Academic Ranking of World Universities. According to the July 2025 Webometrics rankings, UCT ranks #1 in South Africa and #241 globally.

This public research university was founded in 1829 and formally established as a university in 1918. It is situated in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa and happens to be the oldest higher educational institute in South Africa.

The staff members of the university are A-rated NRF researchers. The university has various faculties including Faculty of Commerce, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Sciences.

2. University of the Witwatersrand

Popularly known as Wits University or simply Wits, the University of the Witwatersrand ranks #2 in South Africa (#333 globally) in the July 2025 Webometrics rankings. This public research university is located in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It was founded in 1896 as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley, and happens to be the third oldest university in South Africa.

The university has been consistently recognized as one of Africa's leading universities across multiple ranking systems. The university has faculties in Sciences, Commerce, Law, Management, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Humanities with 33 schools offering over 3000 courses.

3. University of Pretoria

University of Pretoria ranks #3 in South Africa (#371 globally) in the July 2025 Webometrics rankings. Established in 1908 as a multi-campus public research university in Pretoria, the University of Pretoria is the fourth South African institution in continuous operation to be awarded university status. The university has nine faculties and a business school.

The University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science is the second oldest veterinary school in Africa and the only veterinary school in South Africa. The university is popularly referred to as UP, Tuks or Tukkies and has seven campuses with the largest campus in the heart of Hatfield, the picturesque diplomatic hub of South Africa's capital city.

4. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University ranks #4 in South Africa (#382 globally). This university is one of the oldest in South Africa, receiving full university status in 1918. Popularly abbreviated as SU, the university designed and manufactured Africa's first microsatellite (SUNSAT) in 1999. Students of the university are nicknamed "Maties", meaning "buddy" or "mate".

Stellenbosch University is home to approximately 29,000 students including 4,000 foreign students from 100 countries. The university has ten faculties: AgricSciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering, Military Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Education, Law and Theology.

5. University of Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg ranks #5 in South Africa (#434 globally). This public university is situated in Johannesburg and was founded on January 1, 2005 as a result of the merger between the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU), the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR), and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University.

The university has four campuses, all located in the metropolitan area of the City of Johannesburg. UJ has six faculties and a College of Business and Economics: Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Faculty of Humanity, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and the Faculty of Sciences.

6. University of Kwazulu Natal

University of Kwazulu Natal ranks #6 in South Africa (#494 globally). The university was founded on January 1st, 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The university has five distinct campuses.

The university has four colleges – College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, College of Health Sciences, College of Humanities, and College of Law and Management Studies.

7. University of South Africa

University of South Africa (UNISA) ranks #7 in South Africa (#588 globally) in the July 2025 Webometrics rankings. Popularly known as Unisa, this is the largest university system in South Africa in terms of enrollment, attracting a third of all higher education students in South Africa.

The university boasts approximately 400,000 students, including international students from 130 countries worldwide, making it one of the world's mega universities and the only such in Africa. UNISA has notable alumni including Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope, the university has eight colleges.

8. North West University

North West University ranks #8 in South Africa (#687 globally). This multi-campus public university serves students across multiple campuses in South Africa's North West Province.

9. University of the Western Cape

University of the Western Cape (UWC) ranks #9 in South Africa (#761 globally). This public university is located in the town of Bellville, close to Cape Town. The university was established in 1960 and became an integrated and multiracial institution following the end of apartheid in 1994.

The university has seven faculties – Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Natural Sciences.

10. University of the Free State

University of the Free State ranks #10 in South Africa (#826 globally). This multi-campus public university is situated in Bloemfontein, the capital of the Free State. Established as an institution of higher learning in 1904, the university has various faculties including Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Theology and Religion, Open Distance Learning and a Business School.

The university has an enrollment of over 37,000 students.