As a globally competitive university, the University of Pretoria (UP) once again ranked impressively in 2024 across several global ranking measurements, all of which highlight the University’s progress towards achieving its vision of becoming a leading research-intensive university, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact.

Year-on-year, UP continues to strengthen its rankings and global collaboration footprint, with 217 active international partners in 2024. Sustainable development and the partnerships needed to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are prioritised in these partnerships.

While rankings and accreditations do not offer a definitive analysis of everything the University is achieving, they are a valuable reflection of UP’s mission to be a leading contributor in the global academic community.

Top globally

UP’s Accounting and Finance research claimed the number one ranking in the world (among the 1 559 universities ranked) on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings H-Index metric, which measures the productivity and citation impact of an academic or university department.

Other achievements in this ranking included:

• Top 100: Agriculture & Forestry and Development Studies (number 75)
• Top 150: Economics & Econometrics
• Top 200: Law
• Top 250: Business & Management Studies

Top 100 globally

In the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, three UP disciplines were ranked within the top 100 in the world: Mineral & Mining Engineering (36); Veterinary Science (51-70); and Development Studies (51-100).

On the QS World University Rankings: Global Executive MBA 2023, UP’s business school, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) was ranked 65^th, placing the school's MBA in the top 30% globally.

In the UK's annual Financial Times Executive Education Rankings for 2024, GIBS again secured its position as one of the top business schools globally, ranked 72^nd for customised programmes, and 26^th for open enrolment programmes – an improvement of 20 places. This marks 21 years in which GIBS has consistently ranked among the best executive education providers globally.

Global accreditation

UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) is the only faculty in South Africa and Africa to attain Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for its future-focused programmes and graduates who steer positive societal impact with far-reaching impacts across the SDG framework.

Finalist in global THE Higher Education ‘Oscars Award’

In a significant recognition of global academic excellence, UP and the University of Leeds were shortlisted for the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Award for International Collaboration of the Year. The THE Awards are widely regarded as the global “Oscars of higher Education”.

UP’s and Leeds’ partnership addressed two of the world’s most pressing challenges – food security and climate-smart agriculture.

THE Impact Rankings – top 50 globally

UP entered the top 50 in the global 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for the first time, among a record 2 152 universities and institutions from 125 countries/ regions ranked in 2024. UP moved to 42^nd in the world in 2024 from 69^th in 2023.

The THE Impact Rankings measure actions taken by higher education institutions around the world toward achieving the UN SDGs.

UP ranked among the top 10 universities in the world for two SDGs, with a notable No. 8 ranking for both SDG 1, “No Poverty” (first appearance), and SDG 8, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”.

UP ranked among the top 20 – at 19 – for SDG 5, “Gender Equality”.

UP ranked among the top 100 universities globally for three SDGs: SDG 2, “Zero Hunger” (63^rd out of 803 ranked universities); SDG 10, “Reduced Inequalities” (88^th out of 1 108 ranked universities); and SDG 17, “Partnerships for the Goals” (65^th out of 2 031 ranked universities).

UP ranked among the top 200 universities for six SDGs: SDG 3, “Good Health and Wellbeing” (101-200); SDG 4, “Quality Education” (101-200); SDG 9, “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”; SDG 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production” (101-200) – first appearance; SDG 15, “Life on Land” (101-200); and SDG 16, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions” (101-200).

In South Africa, UP ranked No. 1 in two SDGs (2 and 15); and ranked No. 2 in 10 SDGs (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17). In Africa, UP is ranked No. 1 in two SDGs (2 and 15); ranked No. 2 in five SDGs (1, 5, 8, 9, and 10); ranked No. 3 in three SDGs (3, 16 and 17); and ranked No. 4 in SDG 12.

ARWU/Shanghai Rankings

In the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, UP secured a position in the 501-600 range globally, with several subjects in the 100-400 best-ranked subjects range. These include:

Veterinary Science (51-75); Finance (101-150); Ecology (151-200); Mechanical Engineering (151-200); Energy Science & Engineering (301-400); Human Biological Sciences (301-400); Economics (301-400); and Business Administration (301-400).

The ARWU assessment considers six indicators, including Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners among alumni and staff; highly cited researchers; publications in esteemed journals; papers indexed in the Science Citation Index; and overall academic performance per faculty member.

QS World University Rankings

UP is ranked 354 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It is ranked 36 in the QS World
University Rankings by Subject and 167 in the QS Sustainability Ranking.

QS Subject Rankings

UP once again performed strongly in the 2024 QS World University Rankings by Subject, with 16 of its subject offerings ranked in the top 450 offerings by universities worldwide, and 18 ranked in the top three among South African universities.

As mentioned earlier, UP’s Accounting and Finance research claimed the number one global ranking on the QS Rankings H-Index metric.

The QS Subject Rankings 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.

UP improved its global position in Life Sciences & Medicine (ranked 314 in the world) and Natural Sciences (401-450), while showing strong performance in the other three broad subject areas.

Among South African universities, UP maintained its No. 2 ranking in Engineering & Technology and Social Sciences & Management for the fifth consecutive year, and improved its domestic ranking in Natural Sciences (jointly ranked No. 3) while maintaining its No. 4 ranking in Arts & Humanities and Life Sciences & Medicine for the fifth consecutive year.

As mentioned above, of the 18 narrow subject areas in which UP is ranked this year, three are ranked within the top 100 in the world: Mineral & Mining Engineering (36); Veterinary Science (51-70); and Development Studies (51-100).