University of Pretoria Excels: 16 Subjects Ranked in Global Top 450 in 2024 QS World University Rankings
The University of Pretoria has 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.
UP’s Accounting and Finance research also claimed the number one ranking in the world (among the 1 559 universities ranked) on the QS Ranking’s H-Index metric, which measures the productivity and citation impact of an academic or university department.
The annual QS subject rankings cover 55 narrow subject areas, which are then grouped into five broad subject areas: Arts and Humanities; Engineering and Technology; Life Sciences and Medicine; Natural Sciences; and Social Sciences and Management.
UP improved its global position in Life Sciences and Medicine (ranked 314 in the world) and Natural Sciences (401-450 in the world) while showing strong performance in the other three broad subject areas.
Among South African universities, UP maintained its No. 2 ranking in Engineering and Technology and Social Sciences and Medicine 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.
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 Sciences (51-70); and Development Studies (51-100).
Seven UP subject offerings are ranked No. 1 among South African universities: Mechanical Engineering; Veterinary Science; Mathematics; Accounting & Finance; Economics & Econometrics; Electrical & Electronic Engineering; and Law.
Global engagement and domestic success
The QS subject rankings also use five broad metrics to rank universities and departments: Academic Reputation; Employer Reputation; Citations; H-Index; and International Research Network (IRN), which is a measure of global engagement and how institutions create and sustain research partnerships that result in internationally co-authored publications with other institutions across borders.
“While rankings do not offer a definitive analysis of our university, they do give an interesting perspective on the work we do,” said Interim UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Themba Mosia. “Our continued excellence and improvement across a wide array of disciplines serve as a testament to the quality of our teaching and research staff, to the benefit of our students, and of society. Whether through technology, policy, treatment, education, the arts, or as the evidence-based foundation for further discoveries, this serves as a testament to our research prowess and its potential for real-world impact. UP’s exceptional global performance in IRN, Citations, and H-Index epitomises its strategic objective to enhance its global research network, fostering international collaboration that resonates with its mission to be a leading contributor in the global academic community. This achievement reflects UP’s commitment to nurturing partnerships that transcend borders, furthering its vision of a collaborative and innovative academic environment that drives progress and shapes the future of global scholarship.”
UP’s achievements in the global and domestic arenas are as follows:
Improvement: Broad subject areas (2024 global rank):
- Life Sciences and Medicine (314, up by 11 positions)
- Natural Sciences (401-450, up from 451-500)
Improvement: Narrow subject areas global rankings:
- Development Studies (51-100, up from 101-120)
- Economics & Econometrics (201-250, up from 251-300)
- Mechanical Engineering (251-300, up from 301-350)
- Chemistry (501-550, up from 551-600)
- Physics & Astronomy (551-600, up from 601-620)
- Business & Management Studies (Ranked for the first time)
Narrow subject areas: Ranked in top 100 globally (global rank):
- Mineral & Mining Engineering (36)
- Veterinary Sciences (51-70)
- Development Studies (51-100)
Narrow subject areas: Ranked in top 450 globally (global rank):
- Agriculture & Forestry (101-150)
- Law (151-200)
- Accounting & Finance (151-200)
- Economics & Econometrics (201-250)
- Mechanical Engineering (251-300)
- Biological Sciences (301-350)
- Environmental Sciences (301-350)
- Chemical Engineering (351-400)
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering (351-400)
- Education (351-400)
- Medicine (351-400)
- Mathematics (401-450)
- Business & Management Studies (401-450)
Ranked first in South Africa (global rank):
- Veterinary Science (51-70)
- Accounting & Finance (151-200)
- Law (151-200)
- Economics & Econometrics (201-250)
- Mechanical Engineering (251-300)
- Electrical & Electronic Engineering (351-400)
- Mathematics (401-450)
Ranked second in South Africa (global rank):
- Mineral & Mining Engineering (36)
- Agriculture & Forestry (101-150)
- Biological Sciences (301-350)
- Business & Management Studies (401-450)
- Computer Science & Information Systems (601-650)
Ranked third in South Africa (global rank):
- Development Studies (51-100)
- Environmental Sciences (301-350)
- Chemical Engineering (351-400)
- Education (351-400)
- Medicine (351-400)
- Chemistry (501-550)
H-Index (productivity and citation impact of an academic or university department):
- No. 1 in the world in Accounting & Finance
- Top 100: Agriculture & Forestry and Development Studies (number 75)
- Top 150: Economics & Econometrics
- Top 200: Law
- Top 250: Business & Management Studies
International Research Network
- Top 100: Agriculture & Forestry (number 30), Environmental Sciences (number 58), Biological Sciences (number 60), and Mathematics (number 68)
- Top 150: Computer Science, Physics, and Medicine
- Top 200: Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Top 250: Chemical Engineering & Chemistry
Citations
- Top 100: Development Studies (number 96) and Accounting & Finance (number 34)
- Top 150: Electrical & Electronic Engineering
- Top 200: Agriculture & Forestry and Economics & Econometrics
- Top 250: Law
- Top 300: Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering