Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
09 November 2026
|
Story Andre Damons
|
Photo Supplied
The University of the Free State has been ranked among South Africa’s top 10 universities, ranking eighth nationally and 1 060th worldwide in the fifth edition of the Research.com Best Universities in South Africa Ranking.
The University of the Free State (UFS) has secured a place among South Africa’s top 10 universities, ranking eighth nationally and 1 060th worldwide in the fifth edition of the Research.com Best Universities in South Africa Ranking.
The ranking recognises universities based on the research performance of their affiliated scholars across a range of scientific disciplines. It draws on bibliometric data, including publications and citations, to assess researchers’ scholarly impact within their respective fields. According to Research.com, the ranking is based primarily on comprehensive bibliometric data collected from sources such as OpenAlex and Crossref, supplemented by information from other research data repositories. The citation-based metrics used for the latest edition were aggregated on 12 January 2026.
This ranking follows the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, with the UFS recording its strongest global performance in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities, where the University is ranked in the band 101-200, placing it among the top institutions worldwide. This ranking positions the UFS among a select group of universities worldwide recognised for turning the promise of fairness into measurable progress, widening access, and opening pathways for participation across higher education systems.
Prof Vasu Reddy, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, says being ranked among South Africa’s top 10 universities is not merely a numerical achievement. It is in fact an affirmation of UFS’ growing influence as a research-intensive institution with national and international standing.
“This achievement belongs to the entire UFS community; our staff, researchers, students, collaborators, and partners who contribute to our culture of excellence and innovation. Such a positioning inspires us together to achieve more to attract exceptional talent and expand our local and global reach,” he says.
Top rankings across disciplines
The UFS has also achieved top ranking in seven disciplines in South Africa including the being ranked number 1 in Mathematics (World Rank: 216), and second in Materials Science (World Rank: 778). In Animal Science and Veterinary, the University is ranked 5th in South Africa (World Rank: 224), while in Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as Earth Science, it is ranked 6th with a World Ranking of 474th. When it comes to Environmental Sciences, the UFS is ranked seventh (World Rank: 727), and 8th in Plant Science and Agronomy in South Africa and 468th in the world.
Institutional rankings are calculated using the combined Discipline H-indexes, or D-indexes, of qualifying scholars affiliated with each university. The D-index measures a researcher’s publication and citation impact within a specific discipline, allowing for comparisons that take account of the field in which the researcher works. The ranking considers researchers across major scientific disciplines, reflecting the breadth of research activity represented by participating institutions. The UFS’ eighth-place national ranking and global position of 1 060 reflect its standing in this research-focused assessment of universities in South Africa.
Earlier this year, researchers from the University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences were also recognised in Research.com rankings for research excellence in Animal Science and Veterinary Science, Plant Science and Agronomy, and Ecology and Evolution, and Earth Science.
Recognised researchers include Profs Michael MacNeil, an internationally recognised expert in the field of breeding and genetics research, and Arno Hugo, who leads the Research Chair in Sustainable Livestock Production, in Animal Science and Veterinary Science, as well as Profs Maryke Labuschagne, Professor of Plant Breeding and holder of the NRF-SARChI Chair in Diseases and Quality of Field Crops, and Zakkie Pretorius, Research Fellow, whose research specialises in rust diseases of field crops, in Plant Science and Agronomy.
Profs Daryl Codron from the Department of Zoology and Entomology and Peter Taylor, the Afromontane Research Unit’s first Professor in Residence and a staff member of the Department of Zoology and Entomology, were recognised for their research in Ecology and Evolution, with Prof Emmanuel Carranza from the Department of Geology receiving in the field of Earth Science.
Highlighting growing international impact of UFS research
The rankings highlight the growing international impact of the UFS research in food security, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and climate resilience, and is also aligned with the University’s refined vision to be an innovative research-led, student-centred and regionally engaged university that contributes meaningfully to responsible societal futures. It speaks to the institution’s commitment to sustainable societal impact which requires a purpose-driven focus on relevant and cutting-edge research, as well as the preparation of globally competitive graduates who understand the local context and have the appropriate attributes, skills and knowledge to enable them to flourish, enter the economy, shape society and be responsible citizens and future leaders, as well as stewards of the environment.
“Beyond prestige, such recognition strengthens our credibility and capabilities of generating knowledge that addresses societal challenges and contributes to public value. But this recognition reinforces our commitment to strive with more dedication to meaningfully contribute to responsible societal futures,” remarked Prof Reddy.