The North-West University (NWU) has always prided itself on its performance in international and national rankings. These rankings are good benchmarks for comparing the impact and relevance of the NWU with that of other universities, locally and abroad.
2024
Ranking agencies sing NWU’s praises
Three rankings confirm that the North-West University (NWU) is an institution that shines not only locally but also internationally, and can stand tall among some of the world’s greatest universities.
Students can be assured that when they decide on the NWU as their preferred choice for higher education, they also choose a university that is not only known for excellence but is making an impact in addressing pressing issues in Africa. Read more
ShanghaiRanking Consultancy: NWU shines again in the top seven
The NWU is still among the cream of the crop locally and internationally. The latest rankings of the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy again placed the NWU among the top seven South African universities in its 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Read more
QS ranks NWU among the top seven universities in South Africa
The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings place the North-West University (NWU) among the top seven universities in South Africa. QS published their rankings for top global universities for 2025 on 4 June. Read more
NWU continues its impressive climb among top global universities
The North-West University (NWU) has continued to improve its ranking and shines among the top global universities. This is evident in recent rankings by both the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) and the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings.
The latest Global 2000 list, which is published by the CWUR, places the NWU among the top 4,2% of the world’s best universities. This outstanding achievement was published on 13 May on the cwur.org website. The NWU was ranked according to academic performance among 20 966 universities worldwide. Read more
QS rankings place three NWU subject groups in the top 700
The North-West University (NWU) continues its impressive showing in international rankings. The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject rank three of the NWU’s subject groups in the top 700 globally, with one of these in the top 400. These include agriculture and forestry, physics and astronomy, and medicine. Read more
2023
NWU among top 8 universities in Africa for environmental sustainability
The most important aspect in addressing environmental, social and governance issues is taking action to find sustainable solutions. The North-West University (NWU) is among the leading higher education institutions in Africa in responding to crucial environmental, social and governance issues.
This is according to the latest Sustainability ranking by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) agency that places the NWU among the top eight out of 43 institutions on the continent. The university is ranked among the top six out of 12 South African universities and overall 458th out of the 1 403 institutions that qualified for the ranking internationally. Read more
NWU improves its teaching in rankings
Times Higher Education (THE) has ranked the North-West University (NWU) among the top seven local universities in their latest World University Rankings.
The ranking agency released the rankings for their 2023 cycle on 27 September. It places the NWU in the 601 to 800 category ― the same as in last year’s ranking.
Compared to last year, the NWU improved its placing overall in the teaching, industry income and international outlook areas. Read more
NWU adds another top placement to its impressive performance in rankings (ShanghaiRanking Consultancy)
The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy ranks the NWU in the category for the top 5 to 7 South African universities in its 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
The placing in the 5 to 7 category is an improvement from being ranked seventh in the country last year.
ARWU places the NWU in the 501 to 600 ranking category internationally – a considerable achievement, as it was ranked in the 601 to 700 category in 2022.
The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy published their list on 15 August. Read more
NWU excels again in QS World University Rankings – now tenth in Africa
The North-West University (NWU) has shown great improvement in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings ― moving up in ranking position locally, in Africa and globally.
The NWU’s performance in these rankings has been consistent for the past five years and the latest results affirm the university’s position among the cream of the crop of local and international universities.
According to QS, the NWU is now among the top seven South African universities in their rankings for top global universities in 2024, which were published on 27 June. The university was in eighth position in the previous edition which was published last year. Read more
NWU ascends to top 4,4% of global universities
The continued climb of the North-West University (NWU) in global rankings has taken it to the top 4,4% of global universities. This is according to the 2023 edition of the Global 2000 list of rankings published by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). It is an improvement from being in the top 4,5% for 2022/2023 and in the top 4,7% in the 2021/2022 edition of the rankings. Read more
QS World University Rankings include NWU in two subject areas
The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject includes the NWU in two subject areas: agriculture and forestry, and medicine. Read more
2022
NWU’s engineering is number one in South Africa
October 2022
The North-West University (NWU) is the best choice among local universities for studies in the field of engineering. The latest subjects ranking by Times Higher Education (THE) places the NWU at the top of the ladder in this field, and highlights the NWU’s other quality subject offerings. Read more
NWU among the most committed towards environmental and social change
October 2022
Universities have a pivotal role to play in finding solutions to pressing environmental and social questions. The latest ranking by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) agency places the North-West University (NWU) among the top global and local universities when it comes to environmental and social sustainability. Read more
NWU ranked among top local universities in South Africa
October 2022
The North-West University (NWU) remains among the top local universities as is evident in the latest World University Rankings by Times Higher Education (THE). According to the THE, the NWU is among the top six universities in South-Africa. The ranking agency released the rankings for their 2023 cycle on 12 October. It places the NWU in the 601 to 800 category. Read more
The North-West University is home to high-quality subject offerings
July 2022
Ever wanted to pursue a career in the medical sciences, public health or hospitality and tourism? These are the highest-ranked subject offerings of the North-West University (NWU) according to the latest rankings from the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.
ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) report for 2022 reaffirms the NWU as a regular contender when it comes to high-quality subject offerings. It identifies the NWU’s best-ranked subject offerings in the fields of clinical medicine, public health and hospitality and tourism management. All three fields were ranked in the 101 to 150 global ranking category. This is followed by veterinary sciences (201 to 300 global ranking) and atmospheric science and education (both in the 301 to 400 global ranking). Read more
QS World University Rankings reconfirm NWU to be among the best
July 2022
The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking has placed the North-West University (NWU) among the top eight South African universities in the QS World University Rankings, which were released on 8 June. Read more
NWU now ranks in top 4,5% of global universities
April 2022
The North-West University (NWU) continues to shine in global rankings. In the latest rankings, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed the NWU in the top 4,5% of universities in their 2022/2023 edition of the Global 2000 list. This is an improvement from being in the top 4,7% in last year’s ranking. Read more
NWU continues impressive performance in rankings
February 2022
The North-West University (NWU) has cemented its place among the cream of the crop of local and international universities in various global rankings in 2021 and is continuing its impressive ranking performance this year. Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings has placed the NWU third overall in South Africa and 124th internationally on its ranking of the world’s best universities that are 50 years old or younger. The NWU was placed third overall in South Africa in this ranking in 2021 too. Read more
2021
NWU in top 100 of Emerging Economies University Ranking for 2022
October 2021
The North-West University (NWU) has once again received a top 100 placing in international rankings. It is ranked overall in 96th place ― and in fifth place in South Africa ― in the Emerging Economies University Ranking of Times Higher Education (THE). Read more
Latest rankings highlight NWU’s quality subjects
October 2021
The North-West University (NWU) is one of the best tertiary education institutions for education towards a professional career. This has been reconfirmed by the latest rankings by the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings, which place the NWU among the top local universities. Read more
NWU among the best in engineering studies
October 2021
The North-West University (NWU) is one of the top institutions in South Africa in engineering studies. This is according to the latest rankings by subject by Times Higher Education (THE) that list the NWU in the third position (the same as last year) among nine local higher-education institutions in the field of engineering. Read more
Latest rankings reaffirm NWU’s quality subjects
September 2021
Are you a health professional or psychologist, or would you like to study these subjects? It has been confirmed. The North-West University (NWU) is just the right place to be for a quality education in these fields. Read more
Students rank NWU among the best of the best
September 2021
Students rank the North-West University (NWU) among the cream of the crop of South African universities when it comes to student experience and remote learning. This is according to the newly released StuDocu World University Ranking 2021. Read more
Ranking places NWU among top six local universities for second consecutive year
September 2021
The THE World University Rankings have again, like in last year’s ranking, placed the North-West University (NWU) among the top six universities in South Africa. Globally, the NWU is ranked between 501 and 600 out of more than 1 600 universities across 99 countries and regions that were evaluated for the 2022 rankings. Read more
NWU excels among the top-ranked universities
August 2021
The North-West University (NWU) has once more been placed among the cream of the crop of local and international universities, reaffirming its place as a regular contender when it comes to high-quality subject offerings and excellence in world rankings.
According to the latest rankings from the Shangai Ranking Consultancy’s 2021 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), which were announced on 15 August, on the basis of transparent methodology and objective third-party data the NWU is recognised as one of the world’s top 1 000 research universities. Read more
NWU receives favourable rankings from international agencies
June 2021
The North-West University (NWU) continues its impressive performance in various global rankings with a 120th-place ranking in the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings. Read more
NWU ranks in top 4,7% of global universities
The North-West University (NWU) continues its excellent performance in global rankings. In the latest rankings, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed the NWU in the top 4,7% of universities in their 2021/2022 edition of the Global 2000 list. Read more
Emerging Economies University Ranking
The North-West University (NWU) has once again made its mark in the international rankings with a top 100 placing ― and overall sixth place in South Africa ― in the Emerging Economies University Ranking of Times Higher Education (THE). Read more
2020
Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings
October 2020
The latest rankings by Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings and the 2021 Best Global University Rankings again, like various previous rankings, recognised the good standing of the North-West University (NWU) among the best tertiary-education institutions. This is not only locally but also internationally, as measured in international rankings. One of these rankings, THE World Rankings, highlights the quality of its subject offerings, while the other one, the 2021 Best Global University Rankings, has placed the NWU among the cream of the crop of local universities. Read more
Times Higher Education ranks NWU among top 6 universities in SA
September 2020
The latest rankings of world universities by Times Higher Education (THE) are another feather in the cap for the North-West University (NWU). The NWU has had consistent good showings in rankings by various international ranking agencies this year. This ranking places the university among the top six (6) universities in South Africa. Read more
On a global scale
August 2020
The consistent good achievements of the North-West University (NWU) in world rankings is further celebrated with the announcement that it has been ranked in the top 4,7% of 20 000 universities globally. Read more
Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s Global Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
July 2020
The quality subject offerings in the fields of atmospheric science, clinical medicine, education, hospitality and tourism management, and public health at the North-West University (NWU) have elevated the university in global rankings. It is also a great achievement for the NWU to be ranked first in the region for mathematics.
According to the latest findings of the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s Global Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), the NWU features among the top universities in the above areas of expertise. This reaffirms the NWU as an academic institution where excellence continuous to triumph and quality of the highest standards is celebrated. Read more
Times Higher Education (THE) - Young University Rankings
June 2020
The North-West University (NWU) continues its good run in international rankings. The university has now also been ranked among the best 101 to 150 universities out of more than 350 universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings.
Times Higher Education (THE) - Emerging Economies University Ranking
February 2020
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) continued good performance in rankings has been further cemented with a top 5 spot among local universities ranked in the latest Emerging Economies University Ranking of Times Higher Education (THE). Read more
2019
Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)
The ranking by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) indicated that the North-West University (NWU) is indeed climbing the ladder of world-ranked universities.
The NWU improved its ranking by close to 100 positions, moving from position 964 to 869, which sees it among the top 4,8% of the more than 18 000 universities evaluated worldwide. Even though the NWU stays at number seven in terms of CWUR’s ranking of South African universities, it is the local university that has increased its position the most by far.
The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) publishes the only global university ranking that measures the quality of education and training of students as well as the prestige of the faculty members and the quality of their research. Unlike other organisations, CWUR does not base its rankings on data submitted by universities or gathered through surveys.
For more information visit the Center for World University Rankings
Global Academic Ranking of World Universities
The NWU also boasts several academic programmes in the top 500, top 400 and top 100 in the world, according to the global Academic Ranking of World Universities. This particular ranking system is made up of 1 600 universities across 83 countries. The NWU’s top programmes are geography, psychology, environmental sciences, mathematics, political science, education, engineering, tourism and accounting.
For more information visit the global Academic Ranking of World Universities
Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
The NWU has done consistently well in the rankings. Overall, the university is in the fifth position in South Africa. Globally, the NWU is ranked between number 501 and 600 out of the 1 396 participating universities.
The ranking company placed the NWU in the 401+ group out of 536 international universities for the arts and humanities subject rankings.
For more information visit the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
US News and World Reports’ 2020 Best Global Universities rankings
The US News and World Reports’ 2020 Best Global Universities rankings placed the NWU among the top seven universities in South Africa. The NWU rose from the 708th global placing last year to 645th.
For more information visit the US News and World Reports’ 2020 Best Global Universities rankings