The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been recognised as the best institution of higher education in South Africa for studying engineering and computer science. This is according to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject released on Wednesday, 24 January 2025. These rankings by subject reflect excellence in research and education worldwide. The latest edition of the independent comparative rankings also shows that UJ remains number #1 in South Africa for Business and Economics and Physical Sciences.
These rankings highlight the University’s commitment to research and teaching in key areas, solidifying its position as a leading institution of higher education in South Africa and internationally. UJ has over the years firmly established itself as the leading university that offers cutting-edge curricula tailored for the jobs of the future. The subject rankings use the same trusted and rigorous performance indicators as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, but the methodology has been recalibrated to suit the disciplines.
In Engineering, for instance, the rankings evaluate universities across five core disciplines:
- General Engineering,
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering,
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
- Civil and Chemical Engineering.
This year’s Engineering rankings include 1,488 institutions from 97 countries and territories, which have been assessed based on 18 rigorous performance indicators.
The Computer Science Rankings, on the other hand, evaluates excellence across areas such:
- Software Development and Engineering
- Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning
- Data Science and Analytics
- Information Systems
- Cybersecurity and Networks
- Theoretical Computing
This comprehensive Computer Science assessment ranks 1,122 institutions from 83 countries and territories. The table is based on 18 rigorous performance indicators, which have been calibrated to assess university performance in computing and digital technologies.
Says Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal: “These outstanding outcomes in the global subject rankings are the result of hard work, sustained focus on the university’s strategic goals, and a commitment to the continuous improvement of education and research, not only for the benefit of our students, but also for society beyond the university. The assessment areas align seamlessly with UJ’s new Strategic Plan 2035, which is underpinned by the core areas of education, research and innovation, and purposeful collaborative.”
The latest results demonstrate how UJ strategically prioritises infusing its education programmes with relevant research that leads to societal impact. This approach translates to students being exposed to and engaging with cutting-edge advancements in their specific fields throughout their entire education journey. We offer a range of programmes that are designed to embed this goal into the university’s academic offerings and support both staff and students in their pursuit.
UJ’s full results are shown in the table below.
| THE Subject Rankings | 2024 | 2025 |
| Arts and Humanities | #5 | #4 |
| Business and Economics | #1 | #1 |
| Computer Science | #1 | #1 |
| Education Studies | #2 | #2 |
| Engineering | #1 | #1 |
| Law | #5 | #4 |
| Life Sciences | #3 | #2 |
| Medical and Health | #6 | #6 |
| Physical Sciences | #1 | #1 |
| Psychology | #2 | #2 |
| Social Sciences | #3 | #3 |
Links to Full THE Subject Rankings
