23 Best universities for Nanotechnology in South Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Nanotechnology. A graph of 576K citations received by 24.4K 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 Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Nanotechnology

#3 in Africa

#585 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Nanotechnology

#4 in Africa

#687 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Nanotechnology

#6 in Africa

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Nanotechnology

#7 in Africa

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Nanotechnology

#10 in Africa

#835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Nanotechnology

#14 in Africa

#1001 in the World

Founded: 1918

7. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Nanotechnology

#15 in Africa

#1005 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

8. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Nanotechnology

#19 in Africa

#1130 in the World

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

9. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Nanotechnology

#21 in Africa

#1165 in the World

Founded: 1874

10. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Nanotechnology

#27 in Africa

#1206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

11. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Nanotechnology

#28 in Africa

#1212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Nanotechnology

#33 in Africa

#1430 in the World

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

13. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Nanotechnology

#43 in Africa

#1792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

14. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Nanotechnology

#46 in Africa

#1833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

15. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Nanotechnology

#62 in Africa

#2120 in the World

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

16. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Nanotechnology

#73 in Africa

#2210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

17. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Nanotechnology

#78 in Africa

#2287 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

18. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Nanotechnology

#89 in Africa

#2454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

19. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Nanotechnology

#101 in Africa

#2736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

20. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Nanotechnology

#126 in Africa

#3173 in the World

Founded: 1981

21. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Nanotechnology

#140 in Africa

#3296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

22. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Nanotechnology

#142 in Africa

#3326 in the World

Founded: 2005

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Nanotechnology

#155 in Africa

#3478 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

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