The North-West University (NWU) continues to perform strongly in international rankings. The latest ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS) places five of the subject groups of the NWU among the top groups globally. ShanghaiRanking officially released the 2026 rankings on 15 September.
The five subject groups in which the NWU is ranked include nursing, mathematics, management, psychology and business administration.
In the 2026 Shanghai GRAS rankings, nursing is the highest-ranked subject group for the NWU, featuring in the 151 to 200 category globally. Mathematics and management are both ranked in the 201 to 300 category, while psychology is placed in the 401 to 500 category. Business Administration is also ranked in the 201 to 300 category.
Mathematics and psychology maintained the same ranking categories as last year, and nursing and management are newly listed subject groups for the NWU this year.
According to the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, the GRAS evaluates universities across a broad range of subjects in the fields of natural sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences and social sciences.
The GRAS is based on nine objective indicators that are grouped into five categories. These are Word-Class Faculty, World-Class Research Output, High-Quality Research, Research Impact, and International Collaboration. The GRAS includes around 20 000 subject units from nearly 2 000 universities across 100 countries and regions.
This is not the first time the offerings by the NWU are included in the Shanghai GRAS. The university has consistently featured in the subject rankings across a range of disciplines, demonstrating its growing international reputation and research impact.
The strategy of the NWU – Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond – prioritises internationalisation, partnerships and impact. This latest ranking highlights how this approach is bearing fruit, as the university continues to strengthen its reputation locally and internationally.
Recent developments further illustrate the growth trajectory of the NWU. These include the establishment of the NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, the NWU Centre for Sustainable Mining, the NWU Veterinary School, and the Agri- and Artificial Intelligence hubs of the university. These initiatives are designed to expand the reach of the NWU, promote diversity and reinforce operational excellence.
To learn more about the performance of the NWU in the various international rankings, visit: https://www.nwu.ac.za/rankings, or to learn more about the ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects of the NWU, visit: https://www.shanghairanking.com/universities/north-west-university.
