Latest global ranking unveils South Africa’s 12 best universities
The Center for World University Rankings has ranked the top universities in the world, and 12 South African institutions have made the list.
The latest Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) has revealed the best universities in the world for the year 2025.
According to BusinessTech, 12 South African universities have taken spots on the 2025 list, with the University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University all making it to the top 500.
The University of Cape Town even placed in the top 300 in the world.
The best universities in South Africa
The annual list from CWUR is an academic ranking of global universities that assesses the quality of education, employability, quality of faculty, and research without relying on surveys and university data submissions.
According to these rankings, the University of Cape Town is not only the best institution in South Africa, but in all of Africa too.
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 |
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