Six UP subjects ranked best in South Africa in latest QS rankings

PRETORIA - The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, released on 12 March 2025, has ranked 16 subjects offered by the University of Pretoria (UP) among the top 450 in the world. UP's total number of ranked subjects also increased from 19 in 2024 to 22 in 2025.

The annual QS Rankings by Subject cover 55 narrow subject areas, which are then grouped into five broad subject areas: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences & Management. In 2025, 1 747 institutions were ranked - a 12% increase compared to 1 559 in 2024.

In terms of broad subjects, UP improved its global rank in Arts & Humanities (ranked No. 378) and Life Sciences & Medicine (ranked No. 312). UP's overall scores improved in Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences & Management. With regard to research citations, UP's score improved in Arts & Humanities and Natural Sciences. In South Africa, UP is ranked No. 2 in Engineering & Technology, No. 3 in Social Sciences & Management, and No. 4 in Arts & Humanities, Life Sciences & Medicine, and Natural Sciences.

In terms of narrow subjects, UP improved its global rank in Mathematics and is now ranked 301-350. Its number of ranked subjects increased from 19 to 22. The three new ranked subjects are English Language & Literature, Politics & International Studies, and Materials Science.

With regard to Academic Reputation, UP's score improved in 17 of 55 narrow subjects. UP's Employer Reputation score improved in 19 out of 55 subjects. In Citations, UP's score improved in 30 out of 55, and in H-Index, UP's score improved in 25 out of 55 subjects. UP's International Research Network (IRN) score improved in 22 out of 37 subjects.

Top-ranked UP subjects

Of UP's 22 ranked subjects, UP is ranked in the top 100 in the world in Mineral & Mining Engineering (41), Veterinary Science (51-60), and Development Studies (51-100). Six UP subjects are ranked No. 1 in South Africa: Mechanical Engineering, Veterinary Science, Mathematics, Accounting & Finance, Business & Management Studies, and Economics & Econometrics.

Another of UP's standout rankings is its exceptional global performance on its IRN score. In five subjects, UP is ranked in the top 50 in the world: Agriculture & Forestry (23), Biological Sciences (31), Engineering & Technology (41), Mathematics (49), and Physics (49). In the following subjects and in IRN, UP is ranked in the top 100 in the world: Materials Science, Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Medicine. This metric evaluates the diversity and scale of an institution's research collaborations with other institutions across the globe, measuring the breadth and depth of international research partnerships and co-authorships.

"It is with immense pride that I highlight UP's remarkable achievement in the 2025 QS Ranking by Subject," said UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen. "Our institution has demonstrated exceptional scholarly impact, particularly reflected in our citation metrics and impressive H-index scores - fundamental instruments that quantify our research productivity and influence in the global knowledge ecosystem. Most notably, UP has distinguished itself through its outstanding performance in the International Research Network indicator, showcasing our commitment to cross-border intellectual collaboration and the University's strategic positioning within the global academic community. This achievement not only validates our ongoing commitment to research excellence but also reinforces our status as a nexus of innovation where geographical boundaries dissolve in service of advancing human understanding and addressing contemporary challenges through rigorous, collaborative scholarship."

UP's achievements in the global and domestic arenas are as follows:

Narrow subject areas: Ranked in top 100 globally (global rank):

• Mineral & Mining Engineering (41)
• Veterinary Science (51-60)
• Development Studies (51-100)

Narrow subject areas: Ranked in top 450 globally (global rank):

• Agriculture & Forestry (101-150)
• Economics & Econometrics (201-250)
• Law (201-250)
• Accounting & Finance (201-250)
• Mathematics (301-350)
• English Language & Literature (301-350)
• Mechanical Engineering (301-350)
• Politics & International Studies (301-400)
• Education (351-400)
• Materials Science (401-450)
• Business & Management Studies (401-450)
• Biological Sciences (351-400)
• Environmental Sciences (401-450)
• Chemical Engineering (401-450)
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering (401-450)
• Medicine (401-450)

Ranked first in South Africa (global rank):

• Mechanical Engineering (301-350)
• Veterinary Science (51-60)
• Mathematics (301-350)
• Accounting & Finance (201-250)
• Business & Management Studies (401-450)
• Economics & Econometrics (201-250)

Ranked second in South Africa (global rank):

• Mineral & Mining Engineering (41)
• Agriculture & Forestry (101-150)
• Law (201-250)
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering (401-450)

Ranked third in South Africa (global rank):

• Computer Science & Information Systems (701-750)
• Biological Sciences (351-400)
• Development Studies (51-100)
• Politics & International Studies (301-400)

Ranked fourth in South Africa (global rank):

• English Language & Literature (301-350)
• Medicine (401-450)
• Chemistry (551-600)
• Environmental Sciences (401-450)
• Materials Science (401-450)

International Research Network (global rank):

• Agriculture & Forestry (No. 23)
• Biological Sciences (No. 31)
• Engineering & Technology (No. 41)
• Mathematics (No. 49)
• Physics (No. 49)
• Materials Science (No. 52)
• Social Sciences (No. 66)
• Environmental Sciences (No. 79)
• Medicine (No. 90)
• Electrical Engineering (No. 116)
• Computer Science (No. 171)

Citations (global rank):

• Accounting & Finance (No. 46)
• English Language & Literature (No. 75)
• Development Studies (Top 100)
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Top 150)
• Agriculture & Forestry (Top 200)
• Economics & Econometrics (Top 200)

H-Index (global rank):

• Accounting & Finance (No. 7)
• Agriculture & Forestry and Development Studies (Top 100)
• Economics & Econometrics (Top 150)
• Law (Top 200)
• Business & Management Studies (Top 250)

Academic Reputation (global rank):

• Mineral & Mining Engineering (No. 35)
• English Language & Literature (Top 100)
• Accounting & Finance (Top 100)
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Top 150)

Employer Reputation (global rank):

• Mineral & Mining Engineering (No. 21)
• Accounting & Finance (Top 100)
• English Language & Literature (Top 100)
• Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Top 150)