Top Universities in South Africa
2026 University Ranking New
What are the top universities in South Africa? uniRank answers this question by publishing the 2026 South African University Ranking, which lists 25 South African higher-education institutions meeting uniRank's selection criteria:
- Official Recognition: institutions must be officialy chartered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate higher education-related organization in South Africa.
- Degree Authority: they must be authorised to grant bachelor's degrees of at least three years' duration and/or postgraduate master's or doctoral degrees.
- Delivery Mode: they must deliver courses predominantly in a traditional, face-to-face, non-distance education format.
2026 South African University Ranking
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many universities are there in South Africa?
There are 25 officially chartered, licensed or accredited South African higher-education institutions that meet uniRank's selection criteria.
What is the top-ranked university in South Africa?
University of Cape Town, located in Cape Town, is the #1 university in South Africa in the 2026 uniRank South African University Ranking.
How is the uniRank South African University Ranking calculated?
The uniRank South African University Ranking is based on valid and unbiased web metrics collected from independent web intelligence sources. It does not use data submitted directly by universities or other higher-education institutions.
Related South African University Lists
Since 2005, uniRank has provided original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about South African universities and their online presence.
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Look for South African for-profit higher education institutions. - Top South African Universities on Facebook
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