South Africa slips in global university rankings as only three make top

South Africa’s universities remain among Africa’s most respected, but on the world stage the 2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) shows a mixed picture. Out of the country’s eight universities that made the top 1,000, just three managed to secure a place in the world’s top 500 — one fewer than last year.

Cape Town and Wits lead the pack

The University of Cape Town (UCT) continues to hold its reputation as South Africa’s academic frontrunner, but this year it shares its position in the 201–300 range with Wits University. For many Joburgers, Wits’ steady climb feels like a point of pride, cementing the institution as a rival to UCT’s long-held dominance.

Stellenbosch University rounds off the trio in the 401–500 bracket, keeping its spot from last year.

Who dropped in 2025?

The University of Johannesburg, which had been punching above its weight in 2024, slipped back into the 501–600 range. That’s a blow for the institution, which has in recent years marketed itself as a rising global contender.

The University of Pretoria and the University of KwaZulu-Natal both failed to break into the upper tiers, with UKZN sliding further to 601–700. North-West University fared even worse, now in the 701–800 bracket after two consecutive drops. Unisa was the only institution to record an improvement, moving from the bottom 901–1000 band into 801–900.

Why global rankings matter

Rankings like ARWU are often criticised for their heavy focus on research output and citations, rather than teaching quality or student experience. Still, they are taken seriously by governments, funders, and prospective international students.

The ARWU leans on indicators like Nobel Prizes, Fields Medals, and research published in leading journals such as Nature and Science. With more than 2,500 universities assessed and only 1,000 published, even making the list is no small feat.

South Africa in global context

South Africa is still the only African country with universities consistently appearing in the top 500. But the global competition is heating up. China has 244 universities in the top 1,000 this year, with 113 inside the top 500, showing just how aggressively the country has invested in higher education and research. The United States, meanwhile, still dominates the top 100, with Harvard taking first place for the 23rd consecutive year, followed by Stanford and MIT.

Local reaction

On social media, South Africans have voiced mixed feelings. Some have expressed disappointment at the University of Johannesburg’s drop, while others pointed out that UCT and Wits still provide African representation in a ranking dominated by Western and Chinese institutions.

“South Africa must invest more in research and infrastructure if we want our universities to compete globally,” one user posted on X. Others argued that rankings do not capture the real student experience, with affordability, access, and graduate employability being more pressing concerns at home.

The bigger picture

South Africa’s challenge is balancing the need for world-class research with addressing domestic priorities like affordable education and social equity. While UCT, Wits, and Stellenbosch carry the country’s global reputation, the wider sector faces funding pressures, student protests, and infrastructure challenges that rankings simply don’t measure.

For now, South Africa remains on the global map for higher education — but the 2025 rankings are a reminder that the competition is fierce, and the country cannot afford to stand still.

Source: Business Tech 

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