24 Best universities for Environmental Science 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 Environmental Science. A graph of 7.22M citations received by 337K 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 Environmental Science

#1 in Africa

#171 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Science

#2 in Africa

#229 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Environmental Science

#3 in Africa

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Science

#4 in Africa

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Environmental Science

#5 in Africa

#290 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Environmental Science

#8 in Africa

#583 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Environmental Science

#10 in Africa

#656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Science

#14 in Africa

#754 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

9. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Environmental Science

#16 in Africa

#762 in the World

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

10. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Environmental Science

#17 in Africa

#763 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Environmental Science

#27 in Africa

#1029 in the World

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

12. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Environmental Science

#41 in Africa

#1280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

13. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Science

#47 in Africa

#1357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

14. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Environmental Science

#48 in Africa

#1358 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

15. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Science

#65 in Africa

#1725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

16. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Environmental Science

#69 in Africa

#1762 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

17. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Environmental Science

#71 in Africa

#1777 in the World

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

18. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Environmental Science

#100 in Africa

#2206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

19. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Environmental Science

#101 in Africa

#2215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

20. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Environmental Science

#149 in Africa

#2990 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

21. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Environmental Science

#153 in Africa

#3073 in the World

Founded: 1981

22. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Environmental Science

#174 in Africa

#3415 in the World

Founded: 2005

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Environmental Science

#209 in Africa

#3957 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Environmental Science

#228 in Africa

#4330 in the World

Founded: 1979

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