23 Best universities for Environmental Chemistry in South Africa

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Environmental Chemistry. A graph of 475K citations received by 16.9K academic papers made by 23 universities in South Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Chemistry

#4 in Africa

#502 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

2. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Chemistry

#8 in Africa

#606 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

3. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Environmental Chemistry

#9 in Africa

#624 in the World

Founded: 1874

4. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Environmental Chemistry

#10 in Africa

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

5. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Environmental Chemistry

#12 in Africa

#681 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

6. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Environmental Chemistry

#13 in Africa

#717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Environmental Chemistry

#14 in Africa

#725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Environmental Chemistry

#16 in Africa

#738 in the World

Founded: 1918

9. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Chemistry

#19 in Africa

#787 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

10. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Environmental Chemistry

#26 in Africa

#940 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

11. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Chemistry

#37 in Africa

#1152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Environmental Chemistry

#54 in Africa

#1409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

13. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Environmental Chemistry

#58 in Africa

#1433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

14. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Chemistry

#64 in Africa

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

15. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Environmental Chemistry

#66 in Africa

#1573 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

16. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Environmental Chemistry

#84 in Africa

#1891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

17. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Environmental Chemistry

#89 in Africa

#1957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

18. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Environmental Chemistry

#93 in Africa

#2059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

19. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Environmental Chemistry

#112 in Africa

#2342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

20. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Environmental Chemistry

#119 in Africa

#2417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

21. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Chemistry

#168 in Africa

#3012 in the World

Founded: 1979

22. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Chemistry

#170 in Africa

#3021 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

23. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Environmental Chemistry

#197 in Africa

#3311 in the World

Founded: 2005

The best cities to study Environmental Chemistry in South Africa based on the number of universities and their ranks are Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.