24 Best universities for 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 Chemistry. A graph of 6.75M citations received by 251K academic papers made by 24 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 Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#2 in Africa

#433 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#3 in Africa

#454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Chemistry

#4 in Africa

#522 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#6 in Africa

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#7 in Africa

#556 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#14 in Africa

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Chemistry

#18 in Africa

#1058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Chemistry

#19 in Africa

#1110 in the World

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

9. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#29 in Africa

#1336 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

10. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Chemistry

#30 in Africa

#1351 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Chemistry

#38 in Africa

#1492 in the World

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

12. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#39 in Africa

#1520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

13. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Chemistry

#55 in Africa

#1786 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

14. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#65 in Africa

#1995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

15. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Chemistry

#70 in Africa

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#73 in Africa

#2117 in the World

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

17. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Chemistry

#94 in Africa

#2418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

18. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Chemistry

#112 in Africa

#2770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

19. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Chemistry

#114 in Africa

#2796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

20. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Chemistry

#131 in Africa

#2922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

21. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Chemistry

#157 in Africa

#3329 in the World

Founded: 1981

22. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#161 in Africa

#3418 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

23. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Chemistry

#203 in Africa

#3959 in the World

Founded: 2005

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#218 in Africa

#4345 in the World

Founded: 1979

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