21 Best universities for Development Studies in South Africa

Ranking by academic field

Below is the list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 186K citations received by 10.3K academic papers made by 21 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 Development Studies

#1 in Africa

#16 in the World

Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Development Studies

#2 in Africa

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,500
Founded: 1922

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Development Studies

#3 in Africa

#57 in the World

Enrollment: 42,500
Founded: 2004

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Development Studies

#4 in Africa

#69 in the World

Enrollment: 27,500
Founded: 1918

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#5 in Africa

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Enrollment: 56,483
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1908

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#6 in Africa

#79 in the World

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

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Development Studies

#7 in Africa

#97 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Development Studies

#9 in Africa

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 17,500
Founded: 1959

9. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Development Studies

#10 in Africa

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 2004

10. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Development Studies

#13 in Africa

#192 in the World

Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

11. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Development Studies

#16 in Africa

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

12. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Development Studies

#24 in Africa

#358 in the World

Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1916

13. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Development Studies

#27 in Africa

#412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 17,500
Founded: 1959

14. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Development Studies

#30 in Africa

#488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 27,500
Founded: 2005

15. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Development Studies

#32 in Africa

#584 in the World

Enrollment: 32,500
Founded: 2005

16. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#38 in Africa

#647 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 2003

17. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Development Studies

#39 in Africa

#652 in the World

Enrollment: 9,500
Founded: 1982

18. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Development Studies

#46 in Africa

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 6,500
Founded: 1960

19. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Development Studies

#56 in Africa

#927 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 22,500
Founded: 2002

20. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Development Studies

#75 in Africa

#1169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Enrollment: 12,500
Founded: 1981

21. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Development Studies

#83 in Africa

#1223 in the World

Enrollment: 27,500
Founded: 2005

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

Economics subfields in South Africa

Actuarial Science8

Agricultural Economics16

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics9

Environmental Economics12

International Economics10

International Relations and Diplomacy13

International Trade9

Investment Banking and Stock trading9

Political Economy14