Stellenbosch University (SU) continues to shine on the global academic stage, reaffirming its status as one of South Africa’s top tertiary institutions. The 2025 QS World University Rankings (WUR) by Subject, released on 12 March, once again place SU among the world’s leading universities in multiple disciplines.
Following a strong start to the year with its recognition in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject, SU has now been ranked among the best globally in Life Sciences & Medicine, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences & Management, Natural Sciences, and Engineering & Technology by QS. In total, SU features in 21 subject categories across these broad disciplines.
A leader in key disciplines
SU continues to set the benchmark for excellence in South Africa, securing the top position nationally in Agriculture & Forestry (ranked in the global top 100) and Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies (top 150). For the second consecutive year, SU remains the highest-ranked institution in these fields in the country.
Within broad subject areas, SU ranks in the top 230 globally for Life Sciences & Medicine, top 310 in Arts & Humanities, top 370 in Social Sciences & Management, top 450 in Natural Sciences, and top 500 in Engineering & Technology. Notably, the university has improved its position in Life Sciences & Medicine (226th in 2025, up from 238th in 2024), Arts & Humanities (303rd, up from 312th), and Social Sciences & Management (367th, up from 394th), securing second place nationally in both Life Sciences & Medicine and Social Sciences & Management.
Strong performances across multiple disciplines
In addition to its top-ranked fields, SU holds the second position in South Africa in several key subjects, including Business & Management Studies (top 450), Education (top 300), Chemical Engineering (top 350), Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering (top 400), Biological Sciences (top 300), Psychology (top 350), Environmental Sciences (top 300), and Materials Science (top 550). The latter is a newly introduced subject category, along with Politics & International Studies, where SU ranks in the global top 300.
SU is also ranked third nationally in eight other disciplines: Law (top 300), English Language & Literature (top 250), Computer Science & Information Systems (top 750), Medicine (top 300), Chemistry (top 550), Mathematics (top 500), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (top 550), and Economics & Econometrics (top 400). In Development Studies, SU secured an impressive global top 150 ranking.
Overall, SU improved its standing in six subject categories, further cementing its reputation as a research-intensive institution of international calibre.
Excellence in research and academic reputation
Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at SU, emphasised the significance of these achievements:
“We recognise that global rankings are complex and influenced by multiple factors. However, featuring in two major international rankings within a short period—THE WUR by Subject in January and now the QS WUR by Subject—highlights SU’s continued commitment to academic excellence. Being ranked as the top institution in South Africa for Agriculture & Forestry and Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies for the second consecutive year is particularly noteworthy and reflects the strength of our academic programmes.
“These rankings also serve as a guide for prospective students and researchers looking to join a leading research university in Africa. They underscore our ability to attract and retain top-tier talent, which directly impacts our research output and global standing.”
Global impact and research partnerships
The QS WUR by Subject rankings are based on several key indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper, H-index, and international research network (IRN). Academic and employer reputation are derived from global surveys assessing an institution’s influence in specific disciplines. Citations per paper and the H-index measure research impact and productivity, while the IRN reflects success in building international collaborations.
Year after year, Stellenbosch University continues to rank among the world’s best on major global platforms, including the QS World University Rankings by Subject, the Times Higher Education World University Subject Rankings, and the ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. These achievements reaffirm SU’s role as a hub for academic excellence and innovation on the African continent and beyond.