Field · Social Sciences · South Africa
Social Sciences research in South Africa
University of Johannesburg ranks first in South Africa for Social Sciences research in 2022–2025 (#5 worldwide), followed by University of the Witwatersrand and University of South Africa.
- South Africa's world rank
- #13 of 151 countries, 2022–2025
- Works, 2022–2025
- 24k
- Top-10% rate
- 26.6%
- Ranked institutions
- 35
Research strength only: this says nothing about teaching, admissions or cost.
What is the best university for Social Sciences in South Africa?
| # | Institution | World rank | Score | Top-10% rate | Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of JohannesburgJohannesburg | #5 | 81.6 | 31.4% | 2,945 |
| 2 | University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg | #12 | 71.6 | 28.4% | 1,694 |
| 3 | University of South AfricaPretoria | #29 | 61.5 | 27.6% | 2,803 |
| 4 | University of Cape TownRondebosch | #64 | 52.5 | 29.1% | 1,224 |
| 5 | University of PretoriaPretoria | #88 | 48.9 | 22.6% | 1,924 |
| 6 | Stellenbosch UniversityStellenbosch | #110 | 46.3 | 23.6% | 1,399 |
| 7 | North-West UniversityPotchefstroom | #264 | 36.3 | 28.1% | 1,405 |
| 8 | Nelson Mandela UniversityPort Elizabeth | #293 | 35.2 | 25.8% | 527 |
| 9 | University of the Free StateBloemfontein | #300 | 34.9 | 26.6% | 1,500 |
| 10 | University of KwaZulu-NatalDurban | #370 | 32.5 | 25.8% | 1,261 |
| 11 | Durban University of TechnologyDurban | #381 | 32.2 | 27.9% | 515 |
| 12 | Walter Sisulu UniversityMthatha | #437 | 30.6 | 26.3% | 616 |
| 13 | University of the Western CapeCape Town | #544 | 28.1 | 25.9% | 867 |
| 14 | Tshwane University of TechnologyPretoria | #574 | 27.5 | 26.8% | 461 |
| 15 | University of LimpopoPolokwane | #606 | 26.9 | 23.3% | 511 |
| 16 | University of ZululandEmpangeni | #773 | 24.1 | 33.3% | 354 |
| 17 | University of VendaThohoyandou | #791 | 23.8 | 23.8% | 365 |
| 18 | Rhodes UniversityGrahamstown | #891 | 22.5 | 27.3% | 463 |
| 19 | University of Fort HareAlice | #911 | 22.2 | 30.6% | 366 |
| 20 | Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCape Town | #950 | 21.7 | 32.5% | 291 |
| 21 | University of MpumalangaMbombela | #1,055 | 20.5 | 32.5% | 112 |
| 22 | Vaal University of TechnologyVanderbijlpark | #1,143 | 19.6 | 37.7% | 145 |
| 23 | Sol Plaatje UniversityKimberley | #1,426 | 17.1 | 33.7% | 132 |
| 24 | Central University of TechnologyBloemfontein | #2,002 | 13.2 | 24.5% | 258 |
| 25 | Mangosuthu University of TechnologyDurban | #2,905 | 9.0 | 32.5% | 90 |
| 26 | Sustainability InstituteStellenbosch | #3,052 | 8.4 | 20.2% | 106 |
| 27 | South African Medical Research CouncilCape Town | #3,113 | 8.2 | 30.9% | 93 |
| 28 | Human Sciences Research CouncilPretoria | #3,176 | 7.9 | 25.2% | 127 |
| 29 | The Independent Institute of EducationJohannesburg | #4,255 | 4.6 | 17.4% | 64 |
| 30 | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversityPretoria | #4,426 | 4.2 | 20.9% | 90 |
| 31 | Eskom (South Africa)Johannesburg | #5,695 | 127.0 | 7.4% | 104 |
| 32 | African Leadership InstituteRoodepoort | #6,015 | 65.0 | 5.0% | 78 |
| 33 | Lyceum CollegeJohannesburg | #6,210 | 28.0 | 6.1% | 63 |
| 34 | South African Institute of International AffairsJohannesburg | #6,215 | 27.0 | 1.8% | 127 |
| 35 | Conversation AfricaJohannesburg | #6,349 | 3.0 | 0.4% | 75 |
Institutions in South Africa above the floor of 40 fractional works in Social Sciences, ordered by their worldwide rank on research quality, 2022–2025.
Who are the top Social Sciences researchers in South Africa?
Christian M. Rogerson, Henning Melber and Yusef Waghid rank highest among researchers based in South Africa.
- 1Christian M. Rogerson#113,523 worldwide overall538 citations · 121 works
- 2Henning Melber#542,272 worldwide overall75 citations · 82 works
- 3Yusef Waghid#902,997 worldwide overall69 citations · 107 works
- 4Christopher Saunders#963,113 worldwide overall56 citations · 95 works
- 5Christof Heyns#1,041,045 worldwide overall22 citations · 87 works
- 6Dirk Kohnert#1,113,887 worldwide overall30 citations · 78 works
- 7Editorial Office#1,354,442 worldwide overall2 citations · 85 works
How South Africa compares with other countries in Social Sciences