Field · Arts and Humanities · South Africa
Arts and Humanities research in South Africa
University of South Africa ranks first in South Africa for Arts and Humanities research in 2022–2025 (#3 worldwide), followed by North-West University and University of Pretoria.
- South Africa's world rank
- #9 of 106 countries, 2022–2025
- Works, 2022–2025
- 4.3k
- Top-10% rate
- 26.6%
- Ranked institutions
- 15
Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.
What is the best university for Arts and Humanities in South Africa?
| # | Institution | World rank | Score | Top-10% rate | Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South AfricaPretoria | #3 | 85.5 | 29.6% | 577 |
| 2 | North-West UniversityPotchefstroom | #7 | 74.4 | 32.0% | 357 |
| 3 | University of PretoriaPretoria | #10 | 69.7 | 23.0% | 539 |
| 4 | Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch | #11 | 68.4 | 24.3% | 381 |
| 5 | University of the Free StateBloemfontein | #13 | 66.2 | 23.9% | 434 |
| 6 | University of the Western CapeCape Town | #114 | 37.7 | 29.4% | 149 |
| 7 | University of JohannesburgJohannesburg | #169 | 32.5 | 27.3% | 287 |
| 8 | University of KwaZulu-NatalDurban | #310 | 24.5 | 21.1% | 139 |
| 9 | University of Cape TownRondebosch | #334 | 23.5 | 31.9% | 199 |
| 10 | University of VendaThohoyandou | #416 | 20.6 | 26.0% | 60 |
| 11 | University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg | #430 | 20.2 | 32.0% | 257 |
| 12 | Tshwane University of TechnologyPretoria | #829 | 11.6 | 43.2% | 83 |
| 13 | Rhodes UniversityGrahamstown | #1,140 | 7.4 | 24.0% | 91 |
| 14 | Walter Sisulu UniversityMthatha | #1,427 | 4.4 | 36.3% | 60 |
| 15 | Nelson Mandela UniversityPort Elizabeth | #1,668 | 2.4 | 19.6% | 78 |
Institutions in South Africa above the floor of 40 fractional works in Arts and Humanities, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.
Who are the top Arts and Humanities researchers in South Africa?
Johannes van Oort, Jeremy Punt and Andries G. Van Aarde rank highest among researchers based in South Africa.
- 1Johannes van Oort#104,074 worldwide overall47 citations · 65 works
- 2Jeremy Punt#125,158 worldwide overall44 citations · 45 works
- 3Andries G. Van Aarde#138,431 worldwide overall37 citations · 37 works
- 4Dante Alighieri#160,077 worldwide overall20 citations · 35 works
- 5Rufus H. Gouws#168,400 worldwide overall83 citations · 50 works
- 6Ernst M. Conradie#196,815 worldwide overall49 citations · 37 works
- 7Cilliers Breytenbach#336,879 worldwide overall2 citations · 40 works
- 8Chris L. de Wet#371,008 worldwide overall23 citations · 37 works
- 9María José López Grande#533,012 worldwide overall5 citations · 50 works
- 10Sean L. Field#577,584 worldwide overall29 citations · 39 works
- 11Rudyard Kipling#622,908 worldwide overall7 citations · 47 works
- 12Hans Ausloos#815,974 worldwide overall1 citations · 48 works
- 13Rodney Stenning Edgecombe#913,094 worldwide overall11 citations · 52 works
- 14Christoph Stenschke#941,498 worldwide overall12 citations · 132 works
- 15Karen Thomas#1,246,703 worldwide overall2 citations · 76 works
How South Africa compares with other countries in Arts and Humanities