About
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ranked Top 200 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 100 subject rankings
Ranking Overview
QS
150
91
62.3
2026
THE
=164
16
60.8
2026
ARWU
201-300
—
2025
US News
=124
8
68.2
2026
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Key Facts
20,094
Students
12.6 : 1
Student-Staff Ratio
12%
Int'l Students
56 : 44
Female : Male
5,442
Staff
Historical Trend
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
:
Score:
Top Subjects
11
Development Studies
28
Infectious Diseases
47
Geography
49
Public Health
50
Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
51-75
Oceanography
51-100
Archaeology
51-100
Mineral & Mining Engineering
51-100
Anthropology
51-100
Sports-Related Subjects
67
Immunology
=75
Microbiology
=75
Clinical & Health
76-100
Mining & Mineral Engineering
85
Neuroscience and Behavior
Subject Rankings
QS
44 subjectsUS News
19 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Infectious Diseases | 28 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Public, Environmental and Occupational Health | 50 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Immunology | 67 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Microbiology | =75 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Neuroscience and Behavior | 85 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Clinical Medicine | =90 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =102 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Psychiatry/Psychology | 126 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =134 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | =184 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Molecular Biology and Genetics | 204 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Space Science | 205 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | 216 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Physics | =248 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Biology and Biochemistry | =272 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Economics and Business | 318 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 332 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =899 | 68.2 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =1,105 | 68.2 | 2026 |
ARWU
26 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | 47 | 163.9 | 2025 |
| Public Health | 49 | 159.7 | 2025 |
| Oceanography | 51-75 | - | 2025 |
| Mining & Mineral Engineering | 76-100 | - | 2025 |
| Ecology | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Atmospheric Science | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Clinical Medicine | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences | 101-150 | - | 2025 |
| Public Administration | 101-150 | - | 2020 |
| Human Biological Sciences | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Economics | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Communication | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Earth Sciences | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Biological Sciences | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Medical Technology | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Law | 201-300 | - | 2023 |
| Sociology | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Education | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Physics | 301-400 | - | 2025 |
| Political Sciences | 301-400 | - | 2023 |
| Business Administration | 301-400 | - | 2020 |
| Chemical Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2020 |
| Biotechnology | 401-500 | - | 2024 |
| Agricultural Sciences | 401-500 | - | 2023 |
| Psychology | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
THE
11 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical & Health | =75 | 62.8 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | =89 | 59.1 | 2026 |
| Education | 94 | 56.2 | 2026 |
| Law | 101–125 | 47.3 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 151–175 | 54.6 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 151–175 | 43.2 | 2026 |
| Psychology | 201–250 | 45.3 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 251–300 | 42.5 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 301–400 | 43.0 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 601–800 | 30.0 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 601–800 | 31.6 | 2026 |