Field · Medicine · South Africa
Medicine research in South Africa
University of Cape Town ranks first in South Africa for Medicine research in 2022–2025 (#360 worldwide), followed by University of the Witwatersrand and University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- South Africa's world rank
- #40 of 155 countries, 2022–2025
- Works, 2022–2025
- 15k
- Top-10% rate
- 16.8%
- Ranked institutions
- 38
This ranks research output and citation impact, not the quality of diagnosis, treatment or care.
What is the best university for Medicine in South Africa?
| # | Institution | World rank | Score | Top-10% rate | Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cape TownRondebosch | #360 | 36.4 | 19.1% | 1,388 |
| 2 | University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg | #437 | 34.3 | 15.6% | 1,745 |
| 3 | University of KwaZulu-NatalDurban | #486 | 33.2 | 18.2% | 1,374 |
| 4 | Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch | #765 | 28.2 | 17.8% | 1,194 |
| 5 | University of PretoriaPretoria | #950 | 25.9 | 15.4% | 1,023 |
| 6 | University of JohannesburgJohannesburg | #1,197 | 23.4 | 21.1% | 671 |
| 7 | South African Medical Research CouncilCape Town | #1,348 | 22.1 | 24.9% | 460 |
| 8 | North-West UniversityPotchefstroom | #1,360 | 22.0 | 19.3% | 433 |
| 9 | University of the Western CapeCape Town | #2,168 | 17.0 | 19.7% | 350 |
| 10 | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityPretoria | #2,311 | 16.3 | 12.1% | 341 |
| 11 | National Health Laboratory ServiceJohannesburg | #2,468 | 15.6 | 15.6% | 329 |
| 12 | Groote Schuur HospitalCape Town | #2,769 | 14.4 | 13.8% | 239 |
| 13 | University of VendaThohoyandou | #2,845 | 14.1 | 13.4% | 126 |
| 14 | University of the Free StateBloemfontein | #3,178 | 12.9 | 14.4% | 434 |
| 15 | University of South AfricaPretoria | #3,527 | 11.7 | 19.5% | 376 |
| 16 | Tygerberg HospitalCape Town | #3,801 | 10.9 | 12.1% | 162 |
| 17 | Cape Town HVTN Immunology Laboratory / Hutchinson Centre Research Institute of South AfricaCape Town | #3,920 | 10.6 | 21.9% | 133 |
| 18 | University of LimpopoPolokwane | #4,321 | 9.5 | 11.9% | 248 |
| 19 | Western Cape Department of HealthCape Town | #4,470 | 9.2 | 20.0% | 198 |
| 20 | Department of HealthPretoria | #4,598 | 8.9 | 23.9% | 117 |
| 21 | Durban University of TechnologyDurban | #5,256 | 7.4 | 15.6% | 222 |
| 22 | Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in AfricaCape Town | #5,413 | 7.1 | 31.9% | 60 |
| 23 | Walter Sisulu UniversityMthatha | #5,708 | 6.5 | 12.2% | 210 |
| 24 | Africa Health Research InstituteDurban | #5,911 | 6.2 | 25.9% | 90 |
| 25 | Red Cross War Memorial Children's HospitalCape Town | #6,227 | 5.6 | 18.2% | 91 |
| 26 | University of Fort HareAlice | #6,238 | 5.6 | 20.8% | 85 |
| 27 | Desmond Tutu HIV FoundationCape Town | #6,347 | 5.4 | 25.7% | 67 |
| 28 | Tshwane University of TechnologyPretoria | #6,529 | 5.1 | 17.8% | 122 |
| 29 | Nelson Mandela UniversityPort Elizabeth | #6,654 | 4.9 | 10.8% | 120 |
| 30 | Johannesburg HospitalJohannesburg | #6,801 | 4.6 | 10.5% | 113 |
| 31 | Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South AfricaDurban | #7,048 | 4.2 | 24.8% | 68 |
| 32 | Chris Hani Baragwanath HospitalJohannesburg | #7,208 | 4.0 | 9.4% | 120 |
| 33 | Rhodes UniversityGrahamstown | #7,685 | 3.3 | 17.5% | 100 |
| 34 | Steve Biko HospitalPretoria | #8,277 | 2.5 | 14.7% | 75 |
| 35 | University of ZululandEmpangeni | #8,311 | 2.5 | 20.4% | 74 |
| 36 | Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCape Town | #8,376 | 2.4 | 12.4% | 121 |
| 37 | Central University of TechnologyBloemfontein | #9,418 | 112.0 | 8.1% | 65 |
| 38 | Eskom (South Africa)Johannesburg | #9,768 | 72.0 | 2.0% | 177 |
Institutions in South Africa above the floor of 40 fractional works in Medicine, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.
Who are the top Medicine researchers in South Africa?
Dan J. Stein, Shabir A. Madhi and Heather J. Zar rank highest among researchers based in South Africa.
- 1Dan J. Stein#1,863 worldwide overall7.7k citations · 232 works
- 2Shabir A. Madhi#3,410 worldwide overall1.5k citations · 139 works
- 3Heather J. Zar#12,192 worldwide overall1.1k citations · 124 works
- 4Anne von Gottberg#51,634 worldwide overall627 citations · 129 works
- 5Du Toit Loots#950,909 worldwide overall95 citations · 254 works