North-West University
(NWU)
🇿🇦 South Africa
/
North West
/
Potchefstroom
Est. 2004
About
The North-West University (NWU) is a public research university located on three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark in South Africa.
Ranked Top 588 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 40 subject rankings
Ranking Overview
QS
951-1000
403
2026
THE
801–1000
—
35.5
2026
ARWU
701-800
100
2025
US News
=588
48
49.8
2026
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Key Facts
41,784
Students
24.1 : 1
Student-Staff Ratio
2%
Int'l Students
63 : 37
Female : Male
Historical Trend
QS
THE
ARWU
US News
:
Score:
Top Subjects
76-100
Mining & Mineral Engineering
76-100
Hospitality & Tourism Management
151-200
Business Administration
201-300
Mathematics
201-300
Veterinary Sciences
201-300
Law
289
Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
301–400
Psychology
301–400
Law
301-400
Atmospheric Science
301-400
Public Health
301-400
Education
301-350
Agriculture & Forestry
=304
Social Sciences and Public Health
=376
Psychiatry/Psychology
Subject Rankings
ARWU
15 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Mining & Mineral Engineering | 76-100 | - | 2018 |
| Hospitality & Tourism Management | 76-100 | - | 2024 |
| Business Administration | 151-200 | - | 2025 |
| Mathematics | 201-300 | - | 2025 |
| Veterinary Sciences | 201-300 | - | 2022 |
| Law | 201-300 | - | 2021 |
| Atmospheric Science | 301-400 | - | 2023 |
| Public Health | 301-400 | - | 2023 |
| Education | 301-400 | - | 2022 |
| Ecology | 401-500 | - | 2021 |
| Chemical Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2019 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering | 401-500 | - | 2019 |
| Clinical Medicine | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Psychology | 401-500 | - | 2025 |
| Management | 401-500 | - | 2024 |
US News
10 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Public, Environmental and Occupational Health | 289 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =304 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Psychiatry/Psychology | =376 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Agricultural Sciences | =390 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Clinical Medicine | =494 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | =560 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =567 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =676 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Physics | =689 | 49.8 | 2026 |
| Chemistry | =905 | 49.8 | 2026 |
THE
11 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 301–400 | 38.3 | 2026 |
| Law | 301–400 | 24.7 | 2026 |
| Clinical & Health | 501–600 | 33.9 | 2026 |
| Education | 501–600 | 29.0 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 501–600 | 24.6 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 601–800 | 30.0 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 601–800 | 31.6 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 601–800 | 29.3 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 601–800 | 32.8 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 601–800 | 26.6 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 601–800 | 28.8 | 2026 |
QS
4 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & Forestry | 301-350 | - | 2026 |
| Environmental Sciences | 501-550 | - | 2025 |
| Physics & Astronomy | 551-600 | - | 2025 |
| Medicine | 701-850 | - | 2026 |