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Domain · Life Sciences · South Africa

Life Sciences research in South Africa

University of KwaZulu-Natal ranks first in South Africa for Life Sciences research in 2022–2025 (#556 worldwide), followed by University of Johannesburg and University of Cape Town.

South Africa's world rank
#30
of 149 countries, 2022–2025
Works, 2022–2025
13k
Top-10% rate
21.8%
Ranked institutions
34

Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.

What is the best university for Life Sciences in South Africa?

#InstitutionWorld rankScoreTop-10% rateWorks
1University of KwaZulu-NatalDurban #55629.523.8%1,091
2University of JohannesburgJohannesburg #56029.430.0%787
3University of Cape TownRondebosch #56229.419.5%687
4Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch #59928.620.4%998
5University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg #62128.220.5%715
6University of PretoriaPretoria #65827.621.7%1,169
7North-West UniversityPotchefstroom #68427.226.4%742
8South African Medical Research CouncilCape Town #1,27520.224.6%156
9University of the Free StateBloemfontein #1,43818.924.7%569
10University of South AfricaPretoria #1,49318.525.4%533
11Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory / Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of South AfricaCape Town #1,82616.229.2%93
12University of the Western CapeCape Town #1,89815.822.4%248
13University of Fort HareAlice #1,96315.427.4%270
14National Health Laboratory ServiceJohannesburg #2,02115.117.1%130
15Durban University of TechnologyDurban #2,57112.421.6%206
16Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityPretoria #2,64412.119.7%132
17Rhodes UniversityGrahamstown #2,74011.717.9%256
18University of MpumalangaMbombela #3,4459.134.2%113
19University of VendaThohoyandou #3,6678.416.9%207
20Walter Sisulu UniversityMthatha #3,7008.323.2%113
21Tshwane University of TechnologyPretoria #3,7108.320.8%228
22University of ZululandEmpangeni #4,1197.128.2%97
23University of LimpopoPolokwane #4,1447.114.5%430
24Agricultural Research Council of South AfricaPretoria #4,2586.822.3%215
25Sustainability InstituteStellenbosch #4,5895.920.1%124
26Nelson Mandela UniversityPort Elizabeth #4,8055.410.0%257
27Central University of TechnologyBloemfontein #5,1404.722.8%79
28Council for Scientific and Industrial ResearchPretoria #5,2404.424.7%73
29Mangosuthu University of TechnologyDurban #5,7713.426.9%65
30South African National Biodiversity InstitutePretoria #6,0142.913.9%108
31Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCape Town #6,1292.720.3%179
32Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic HospitalPretoria #6,5022.023.3%67
33Eskom (South Africa)Johannesburg #7,13599.02.8%67
34Animal Production InstitutePretoria #7,70314.02.8%79

Institutions in South Africa above the floor of 40 fractional works in Life Sciences, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.

Who are the top Life Sciences researchers in South Africa?

Dan J. Stein, David M. Richardson and Olubukola Oluranti Babalola rank highest among researchers based in South Africa.

  1. 1Dan J. Stein#1,863 worldwide overall7.7k citations · 105 works
  2. 2David M. Richardson#3,615 worldwide overall2.3k citations · 69 works
  3. 3Olubukola Oluranti Babalola#53,726 worldwide overall775 citations · 95 works
  4. 4Ladislav Mucina#55,625 worldwide overall528 citations · 78 works
  5. 5Bernard Slippers#74,776 worldwide overall483 citations · 81 works
  6. 6Anthony Jide Afolayan#91,588 worldwide overall500 citations · 92 works
  7. 7Steven D. Johnson#109,463 worldwide overall478 citations · 77 works
  8. 8Michael J. Wingfield#116,268 worldwide overall1.1k citations · 230 works
  9. 9Alvaro Viljoen#226,104 worldwide overall364 citations · 95 works
  10. 10Peter Beighton#282,698 worldwide overall319 citations · 75 works
  11. 11Teresa A. Coutinho#331,335 worldwide overall208 citations · 75 works
  12. 12B.-E. Van Wyk#349,112 worldwide overall300 citations · 124 works
  13. 13Mark Laing#351,576 worldwide overall226 citations · 76 works
  14. 14Hussein Shimelis#381,432 worldwide overall279 citations · 126 works
  15. 15Brenda D. Wingfield#407,261 worldwide overall352 citations · 129 works

How South Africa compares with other countries in Life Sciences