24 Best universities for Chemistry in South Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 4.45M citations received by 216K 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

#431 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#3 in Africa

#497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Chemistry

#4 in Africa

#526 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#5 in Africa

#551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#6 in Africa

#558 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#14 in Africa

#944 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Chemistry

#18 in Africa

#1110 in the World

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

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Chemistry

#19 in Africa

#1115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

9. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Chemistry

#25 in Africa

#1275 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

10. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#33 in Africa

#1447 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Chemistry

#35 in Africa

#1491 in the World

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

12. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#38 in Africa

#1575 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

13. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Chemistry

#55 in Africa

#1906 in the World

Founded: 1916

14. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Chemistry

#62 in Africa

#2063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

15. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#66 in Africa

#2104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#71 in Africa

#2189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

17. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Chemistry

#90 in Africa

#2458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

18. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Chemistry

#105 in Africa

#2770 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

19. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Chemistry

#118 in Africa

#2921 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

20. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Chemistry

#121 in Africa

#2957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

21. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Chemistry

#148 in Africa

#3387 in the World

Founded: 1981

22. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#154 in Africa

#3466 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

23. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Chemistry

#202 in Africa

#4235 in the World

Enrollment: 27,039
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 2005

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#213 in Africa

#4475 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.