South African university makes the global top 10 in new QS rankings

As a Wits University graduate, I can vouch for its academic excellence. I received an outstanding education there, particularly in my school of Literature, Language and Media Studies. I was pushed, challenged and made to work hard – things that have kept me and will continue to keep me in good stead. In 2012, I participated in an exchange program, where I studied at a German university. There is an incredibly marked difference between how things are done there and here academically. I must say, we definitely have a good thing going on with our tertiary institutions in SA. I enjoyed my time at Wits. Amid all the tears, stress and pressure; I came out with an excellent degree, an open mind and a stronger character. It's good to see our South African universities ranking up there with the big guns. – Tracey Ruff

With six additional subjects ranked in 2015, South African universities stand out for expertise in Development Studies, one of 36 disciplines covered in QS World University Rankings by Subject, published today at www.topuniversities.com. 

South African institutions receive their highest rankings within the new subject of Development Studies, in which University of Cape Town is 7^thworldwide, and University of The Witwatersrand ties for 15^th. 

In that subject, four additional South African institutions are also placed in the global top 100, Stellenbosch University, University of Johannesburg, University of Kwazulu-Natal, and University of Pretoria.

University of Cape Town is also in the top 50 for Geography, tying for 39^th, while ranking in the top 100 for six subjects in total. Other stand out performers in the top 100 worldwide are Stellenbosch University for Agriculture & Forestry, and University of The Witwatersrand in Geography.

South African universities presence across the subjects: 

They also cumulatively appear 15 times among the Top 100 across the disciplines ranked.

"These rankings provide a unique opportunity for South African institutions to be recognized for their specialized prowess in certain disciplines, something not seen in overall institutional rankings" says QS head of research Ben Sowter. 

The rankings also feature a strong performance from Asian institutions, particularly in the STEM disciplines, with eight universities listed in the top 20 for at least one STEM subject matter, showing that regional strength in those areas of education.

In Asia, STEM institutions continue to flourish with Singapore's National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) dominate the regional representation within the rankings, placing 1st regionally in 21 out of the 36 subjects. Nine Asian universities rank within the top ten in 16 subjects ranked.

The United States and the United Kingdom continue to dominate the top of tables with traditionally strong institutions, achieving 1st place in 27 and 7 subjects respectively. However, while the tables continue to vastly be led by universities from the UK or US, Switzerland's ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) was ranked 1st globally for Earth & Marine Sciences, and 5th in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, achieving the status of highest ranking EU based institution in both subjects.

With 6 new subjects introduced in 2015, fifteen different institutions top at least one of the 36 subjects covered in QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2015.