The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been ranked among the world’s best institutions of higher education in the latest global top 400 Best Global Universities Rankings (BGUR).
UJ came out at position 378 in the 2021 rankings, which are compiled by US News & World Report, an American media company that publishes news, opinion, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis.
The University of Johannesburg is ranked fifth in South Africa amongst the top 13 South African universities that were listed, six of which were in the global top 500.
The overall Best Global Universities’ Rankings encompass the world’s top 1 500 universities spread across 86 countries, up from 81 last year. For these overall global rankings, US News & World Report measures the university’s academic research performance only, based on 13 indicators, including a university’s global and regional reputation.
In addition to the overall rankings, the seventh annual Best Global Universities Rankings also include an analysis of leaders in key academic subjects with the publication of their corresponding rankings.
UJ has been ranked seventh in subject rankings, up from six subjects last year, making its debut in the Environment/Ecology subject ranking, at position 463 worldwide.
Most notably, UJ is ranked first in the country and on the continent for Chemistry, up from the second position last year and climbed a substantial 87 places into the global top 300 at position 280 this year from 367 last year.
UJ has ranked second in South Africa for Geosciences (up from third place last year) and Engineering, ranked globally at positions 222 (up 12 places from 234 last year) and 392 (entering the global top 400 this year, up 12 places from 404 last year), respectively.
UJ’s Physics’ retains its rank in the top 300 in the world at position 289 and third in South Africa and on the African continent. UJ also maintained its global top 300 status for Social Science and Public Health subjects, climbing nine places this year to 287 worldwide from 296 last year, and is ranked fifth nationally. UJ also placed 424 globally this year for the Plant and Animal Science subject.
"News & World Report Best Global Universities rankings were produced to provide insight into how universities compare globally. Since an increasing number of students plan to enrol in universities outside of their own country, the Best Global Universities rankings – which focus specifically on academic research and reputation and not on undergraduate or graduate programmes – can help applicants compare institutions around the world," says the institution.
The Best Global Universities rankings also provide insight into how U.S universities stand globally. All universities can benchmark themselves against schools in their own country and region, become more visible on the world stage, and find top schools in other countries to consider collaborating with.
The overall Best Global Universities rankings encompass nearly 1 500 top institutions spread across 86 countries, up from 81 countries last year.
