3 Best Medicine & Health Sciences Universities in South Africa

University of Pretoria tops our list of 3 Medicine & Health Sciences universities in South Africa at #362 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science (#23 in South Africa) and Central University of Technology (#24 in South Africa). The universities on this list offer 18 matching courses between them.

Subject

Level

University type

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Universities 3 Programs 18 Scholarships 0

3 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

1Best overall

QS World #362 #4 in South Africa South Africa

University of Pretoria

Public University · 5 courses in Medicine & Health Sciences

All 5 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#362 QS World University Rankings 2026

#4 in South Africa

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2Top pick

#23 in South Africa South Africa

Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science

Public University · 9 courses in Medicine & Health Sciences

All 9 courses →

—Tuition (indicative)

2005Founded

27,500Students

—International

Admissions open

#23 in South Africa · by research impact

95,775 citations · h-index 110

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3Top pick

#24 in South Africa South Africa

Central University of Technology

Public University · 4 courses in Medicine & Health Sciences

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#24 in South Africa · by research impact

80,425 citations · h-index 103

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How these universities are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — University of Pretoria at #362 — so it heads the list. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Pretoria has the largest research record in this group, with 3,266,028 citations and an h-index of 428.

Public, private and where they are

The split is 3 public to 0 private institutions. The oldest is Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science, founded in 2005. Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science is the largest, with 27,500 students.

Levels, lengths and start dates

By level: 8 bachelor's, 7 master's, 2 diploma and 1 phd / doctorate. The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 94% are full-time and 1 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (94% of courses with a stated intake). Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science offers the widest choice, with 9 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Medicine & Health Sciences in South Africa?

University of Pretoria (QS World #362), Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science (#23 in South Africa) and Central University of Technology (#24 in South Africa) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How many public universities offer Medicine & Health Sciences in South Africa?

3 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Medicine & Health Sciences course take in South Africa?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Medicine & Health Sciences courses start in South Africa?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Medicine & Health Sciences online with a university in South Africa?

1 of these courses are listed as online.

Which university has the most Medicine & Health Sciences courses in South Africa?

Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science, with 9, ahead of University of Pretoria (5).

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