South Africa dominates a snapshot of what a new ranking for African universities could look like, making up two-fifths of the institutions in the list.
Egypt is the second most-represented country, with six universities in the top 30 table, which was drawn up by Times Higher Education and measures research impact. Morocco and Tunisia both have three institutions making the running.
The top 30 snapshot was released as THE holds its inaugural Africa Universities Summit at the University of Johannesburg, and builds on the top 15 that was previewed earlier this year.
| Rank | Name | Country | All publications (2009-13) | Citation Score |
| 1 | University of Cape Town | South Africa | 5540.21 | 99.90 |
| 2 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa | 4387.17 | 99.76 |
| 3 | Makerere University | Uganda | 1112.69 | 99.72 |
| 4 | Stellenbosch University | South Africa | 4357.33 | 95.48 |
| 5 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa | 4235.09 | 89.41 |
| 6 | University of Port Harcourt | Nigeria | 573.55 | 88.92 |
| 7 | University of the Western Cape | South Africa | 1154.77 | 84.61 |
| 8 | University of Nairobi | Kenya | 671.72 | 84.60 |
| 9 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa | 2192.74 | 83.64 |
| 10 | University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad | Morocco | 910.82 | 78.61 |
| 11 | University of Pretoria | South Africa | 4544.33 | 75.89 |
| 12 | University of Ghana | Ghana | 804.53 | 73.31 |
| 13 | University of South Africa | South Africa | 981.67 | 72.51 |
| 14 | Suez Canal University | Egypt | 998.98 | 69.69 |
| 15 | University of Hassan II Casablanca | Morocco | 960.25 | 69.03 |
| 16 | Addis Ababa University | Ethiopia | 893.90 | 64.84 |
| 17 | Rhodes University | South Africa | 1296.96 | 64.54 |
| 18 | University of the Free State | South Africa | 1512.56 | 62.83 |
| 19 | North-West University | South Africa | 1707.94 | 60.75 |
| 20 | University of Tunis | Tunisia | 879.63 | 57.26 |
| 21 | Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Sfax | Tunisia | 822.31 | 57.24 |
| 22 | Université Mohammed V – Agdal | Morocco | 1503.69 | 56.85 |
| 23 | American University in Cairo | Egypt | 700.89 | 56.40 |
| 24 | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University | South Africa | 885.77 | 53.29 |
| 25 | South Valley University | Egypt | 636.85 | 52.49 |
| 26 | Alexandria University | Egypt | 2550.15 | 52.24 |
| 27 | Assiut University | Egypt | 1588.64 | 50.41 |
| 28 | University of Sfax | Tunisia | 2355.30 | 49.79 |
| 29 | University of Yaounde I | Cameroon | 876.33 | 49.72 |
| 30 | Minia University | Egypt | 694.79 | 48.36 |
The Africa Universities Summit includes a consultation on proposals for a full THE ranking for the region, building on the flagship World University Rankings. This would combine the citation scores from Elsevier’s Scopus database, used for this snapshot, with a wider range of performance metrics designed to meet the region’s specific challenges.
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.