"The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRF’s aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of our researchers against the best in the world. NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals/outlets. Rated researchers as supervisors will impart cutting-edge skills to the next generation of researchers.
“The rating of individuals is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers. It identifies researchers who count among the leaders in their fields of expertise and gives recognition to those who constantly produce high quality research outputs. Several South African universities use the outcomes of the NRF evaluation and rating process to position themselves as research-intensive institutions, while others provide incentives for their staff members to acquire and maintain a rating and give special recognition to top-rated researchers." National Research Foundation
NRF rating application
There are four types of applications:
New
This applies to researchers who have never applied for rating before, or researchers whose application was withdrawn before it was processed.
Re-evaluation by invitation
Researchers who are currently rated will be invited by the NRF to submit the relevant documents for re-evaluation in the fifth year of their cycle. If the rating is successful, the new rating will be valid on 1 January of the next year.
Re-evaluation
When a researcher chooses not to respond to the re-evaluation by invitation and their ratings are no longer valid, or their application for rating was unsuccessful for three or more years.
Special re-evaluation
In some cases, an applicant may apply for a special re-evaluation sooner than the five-year cycle if an applicant has shown such progress that the existing rating is inconsistent with the applicant’s present situation. A newly prepared application must be submitted to the NRF, together with a motivation from the appropriate authority.
Please note that the campus process should be completed before you can submit your application for an NRF rating. Electronic applications can be submitted here.
For any further information or assistance, please contact Ms Funanani Lavhelani.
NRF rated researchers
A – Leading international researchers
Prof Richard Haynes - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Marius Potgieter - Centre for Space Research, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
B – Internationally acclaimed researchers
Dr Alexander Avdeenkov – HySA DST Centre
Prof Etienne Barnard – School of Information Technology
Prof Markus Boettcher – Centre for Space Research
Prof Adri Burger – School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Eno Ebenso – Department of Chemistry, Research Entity MaSIM
Prof Petra Engelbrecht – PC Education Research Administration
Prof Stefan Ferreira – Centre for Space Research
Prof Brian Harvey – Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Louis Kotze – Development in the SA Constitutional State
Prof Louis Labuschagne – School of Computer, Statistical and Mathematical Sciences
Prof Jamshid Moori – School of Mathematical Sciences
Prof Kobus Pienaar – Faculty of Natural Sciences
Prof Stuart Piketh – School of Geo- and Spatial Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Alta Schutte – Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Prof Nico Smit – Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Danie Strauss - Focus Area: Social Transformation
Prof Jan Swanepoel – Department of Statistics
Prof Edward Ueckermann – Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Johnnie van den Berg – School of Biological Sciences
Prof Johan van der Walt – School for Physical and Chemical Sciences, Division of Biochemistry
Prof Francois van der Westhuizen - School for Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Albie van Dijk – School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry
Prof Bertus van Rooy – School of Languages UPSET Research Focus Area
Prof Herrie van Rooy – School for Biblical Studies and Ancient Languages
Prof Francois Venter - Faculty of Law
C – Established researchers
Prof Rasheed Adegbola Adeleke - School of Biological Sciences
Prof James Allison - School of Computer Statistical and Mathematical SC
Prof Yaw Amoateng - School of Research and postgrad studies
Prof Collins Ateba - Biological Sciences
Prof Robert Balfour - Faculty of Education Sciences
Prof Bongani Bantwini - PC_School_of_Natural_Sciences_In_Education
Prof Sandra Barnard - Botany, School for Biological Sciences
Prof Ian Bekker - English
Dr Dmitri Bessarabov - Natural Science, CRB, HySA Infrastructure
Prof Paul Beukes - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Chemistry
Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout - PC School of Biological Sciences (Environmental Sciences and Management)
Prof Karel Botha - PC School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences
Prof Henk Bouwman - Department of Biological Sciences
Prof Tiaan Brink - Division of Pharmacology
Prof John Bunt - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Quentin Campbell - PC School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Prof Wannie Carstens - School of Languages
Prof Sarel Cilliers - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Sarina Claassens - Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
Prof Susan Coetzee-Van Rooy - Research Entity UPSET
Prof Marelie Davel - School for IT, Research Entuty Director: MuST
Prof Josef De Beer - School of Natural Science and Technology for Education
Prof Riaan De Jongh - Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics
Prof Elda De Waal - Edu-Hright Research Unit
Prof Ernst Drewes - School of Geo- and Spatial Science
Prof Kobus Du Pisani - School for Social and Government Studies
Prof Jeanetta Du Plessis - CoE Pahmaceutical Sciences
Prof Lissinda Du Plessis - Department of Pharmaceutics
Prof Willemien Du Plessis - Development in the SA Constitutional State
Prof Yvonne Du Plessis - Graduate School of Bussness and Government Laedership
Prof Lindie Du Plessis - PC School of Tourism Management
Prof Louis Du Preez - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Jat Du Toit - School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Prof Tiny Du Toit - PC Computer Sciences and Information Systems
Prof Carla Fourie - PC Physiology
Prof Driekie Fourie - Unit of Environmental Sciences and Managment
Prof JD Froneman - School of Communication Studies
Prof Minja Gerber - PC_Drug_Delivery
Prof Jaco Gericke - Research Focus Area Ancient Texts
Prof Roelien Goede - PC_Computer_Sciences_and_Information_Systems
Prof Minrie Greeff - AUTHeR, Ethics Office
Prof Franci Greyling - School of Languages
Prof Sias Hamman - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Marietjie Havenga - PC_Computer_Sciences_Education
Prof Alida Herbst - PC School of Psychosocial Health
Prof Jan Heystek - School for Education
Dr Liberty Muchatiurwa Hove - School of Language Education
Prof Hugo Huisman - Department of Physiology; Hypertension in Africa Research Team
Prof Magda Huisman - School for Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics
Prof Johan Janse van Vuren - Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Johann Jerling - Centre of Excellence for Nutrition
Prof Cara Jonker - School for Human Resource Sciences
Prof Pierre Jordaan - Department of Ancient Languages and Text Study
Prof Lene Jorgensen - Industrial Psychology
Dr Micky Josipovic - PC Environmental Sciences
Prof Klaus Kellner - Department of Biological Science
Prof Masood Khalique - Department of Mathematical Sciences
Prof Ewert Kleynhans - School of Economics
Prof Awie Kotze - Faculty of Health Science
Prof Henning Krieg - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Cobus Kriek - PC_Chemistry
Prof Hennie Kruger - School of Computer Sciences
Prof Jaco Kruger - School of Music
Prof Salome Kruger - School of Physiology and Nutrition Centre of Excellence Nutrition
Prof Stefan Kruger - TREES (Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society)
Prof Wilna Liebenberg - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Du Toit Loots - Centre for Human Metabonomics
Prof Ilani Loubser - School of Physical and Chemical Sc
Prof Roan Louw - PC School of Physical and Chemical Sciences Biochemistry
Prof Martie Lubbe - School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice
Dr Serena Lucrezi - PC_Tourism_Research_in_Economic_Environs_and_Society
Prof Mark Maboeta - School of Environmental Sciences (Zoology)
Prof Leone Malan - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Prof Leonard Maré - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Phillip Mashele - PC_Centre_for_Business_Mathematics_and_Informatics
Prof Simeon Materechera - Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centyre (IKS)
Prof Manny Mathuthu - MC Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology
Prof Bernard Mbenga - School of Human Sciences, Department of History
Prof Nicholas Meihuizen - School of Languages, Department of English
Prof Elsa Mentz - School of Natural Sciences and Technology for Education, Research Entity: Self directed learning
Prof Karin Minnie - PC Quality in Nursing and Midwifery NSINQ
Prof Andries Monyeki - School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science
Prof Hanlie Moss - Physical activity, sport and recreation research focus area
Prof Karina Mostert - Workwell Research Unit for Sconomic and Management Sciences
Prof Chris Munyati - School of Environmental and Health Science
Prof David N'Da - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Adele Nel - School of Languages
Prof Marius Nel - PC Unit for Reformed Theology and Dev of the SA Society
Prof Bernard Odendaal - School of Languages, Subject Group Creative Writing
Prof Douglas Oliver - School of Pharmacy
Prof Martin Palamuleni - Department of Social Sciences, Population and Health Unit
Prof Jacques Petzer - Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya - DVC Research and Innovation
Prof Anita Pienaar - School of Biokinetics Recreation and Sport Science
Prof Marlien Pieters - Centre of Excellence - Nutrition
Prof Rialet Pieters - Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Christa Rautenbach - Law Faculty, Undergraduate programme
Prof Francois Retief - School of Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Riaan Rheeder - PC_School_of_Christian_Ministry_and_Leadership
Prof Robbie Robinson - Law Faculty, Undergraduate programme
Prof Wim Roestenburg - Subject Group Social Work
Prof Vera Roos - School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, Africa Unit for Transdiciplinery Health Research Optentia
Prof JP Rossouw - Edu-HRight Research Unit
Prof Andrea Saayman - School of Economics
Prof Melville Saayman - TREES
Prof Abiodun Salawu - School of Human Sciences, Department of Communication
Prof Luke Sandham - Geo and Spatial Sciences
Prof Ilse Schoeman - PC_Mathematics_and_Applied_Mathematics
Prof Stefan Siebert - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Elmarie Slabbert - PC_Tourism_Management
Prof Marius Smit - Education Law
Prof Marius Smuts - Centre of Excellence for Nutrition
Prof Felix Spanier - Centre for Space Research
Prof Marius Stander - Behavioural Sciences
Prof Christien Strydom - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Dr Jonathan Taylor - Department of Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Etienne Terblanche - School of Languages, English
Prof Gisella Terre'blanche - Department of Pharmacy
Prof Oriel Thekisoe - Department of Biological Sciences, Zoology
Prof Daleen Van der Merwe - School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Prof Peet Van der Merwe - School of Bissiness Management
Prof De La Rey Van der Waldt - School of Comunication Sciences
Prof Gerrit Van der Waldt - Focus Area: Social Transformation
Prof Marthie Van der Walt - PC Mathematics Education
Prof Hans Van Deventer - Research Focus Area Ancient Texts
Prof Liezl Van Dyk - Unit for Engineering research
Prof Esta Van Heerden - Centre for Water Sciences and management
Prof Gerhard Van Huyssteen - Unit for Language and Litterature in the SA Context, Centre for Text Technology (CTexT)
Prof Dewald Van Niekerk - Social Transformation, African Centre for Disaster Studies
Prof Johannes Van Rooyen - School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Prof Phil Van Schalkwyk - School of Languages (Afrikaans and Dutch)
Prof George Van Schoor - Unit for Energy and Technology Systems
Prof Pieter Van Zyl - Physical and Chemical sciences
Prof Anne Verhoef - PC_School_of_Philosophy
Prof Francois Viljoen - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Hein Viljoen - School of Languages (Afrikaans and Dutch)
Prof Wilma Viviers - Economics, Trade and Development
Prof Koos Vorster - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Nico Vorster - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Manie Vosloo - Research Focus Area for Chemical Resource Beneficiation
Prof Frans Waanders - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Che Weldon - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Victor Wepener - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Mike Weyers - School for Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences: Social Work
Prof Rosemary Wildsmith-Cromarty - (FERA)Faculty Education Research Administration
Prof Frank Winde - School of Basic Sciences
Prof Charl Wolhuter - School of education studies
Prof Lesley Wood - School of education studies
Prof Connie Zulu - School for Educational leadership development
P – Prestigious Awards
Dr Du Toit Strauss - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Prof Christo Venter - Centre of Space Research
Y – Promising young researchers
Prof Avitus Agbor – School of Undergraduate Studies
Dr Oladapo Aremu – Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre (IKS)
Dr Taha Aziz - Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Prof Indra Bahadur – Chemistry
Prof Karin Botha – PC School of Tourism Management
Dr Dawie Branken - School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Prof Adri Breed – PC Afrikaans and Dutch
Prof Howard Chitimira – Law School of Undergraduate Studies
Prof Juanee Cilliers – Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Geo- and Spatial Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Dané Coetzee – Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science
Prof Siedine Coetzee – School of Nursing Sciences
Prof Leon de Beer – Workwell Research Unit
Prof Anel du Plessis – Law, Undergraduate Programmes
Prof Johan du Plessis – Occupational Hygiene and Health
Prof Petro du Preez – School of Educational Sciences
Dr Eugene Engelbrecht - Physics
Prof Wian Erlank - School of Law Undergraduate Studies
Prof Elvis Fosso Kankeu – School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Oliver Fuo – PC Law
Dr Amare Abebe Gidelew – Physics
Prof Rupert Gouws – School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Dr Crisna Gouws – PC Drug Delivery
Dr Kerry Hatfiels Malherbe – PC Environmental Sciences
Dr Lize Havemann-Nel – Centre of Excellence for Nutrition
Dr Esté Hefer-Jordaan – School of Languages
Prof Risimati Hobyane – PC School of Language and Text Studies
Dr Vicki Koen - Psychology
Prof Tumi Khumalo – Optentia Research Programme
Prof Gideon Kotze – School of Ancient Language and Text Studies
Prof Martinette Kruger – TREES (Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society)
Prof Ruan Kruger – HART
Prof Marco le Roux – School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Prof Lesetja Legoabe – Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr Zander Lindeque – PC Centre for Human Metabolomics
Dr Tani Lombard – Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Prof Marianne Matthee – School of Economics
Prof Ashmore Mawire – School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Dr Carina Mels – Department of Physiology; Hypertension in Africa Research Team
Prof Sanlie Middelberg – School of Accounting Sciences
Dr Marisa Moller-Wolmarans - Pharmacology
Prof Lesetja Motadi – School of Environmental and Health Science
Prof Emmanuel Mukwevho – Biochemistry
Prof Cornelie Nienaber-Rousseau – School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Dr Albi Odendaal - Musical Arts in South Africa Recouces and Application
Prof Jako Olivier – School of Human and Social Sciences for Education
Dr Damian Onwudiwe – Chemistry
Prof Clovis Oukouomi Noutchie – Department of Mathematical Sciences
Prof Anél Petzer – Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Lizanne Raubenheimer – School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Prof Shan Simmonds - Curriculum Studies
Dr Wayne Smith – Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Prof Nicole Stieger – Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Dr Madeleen Struwig - School of Biological Sciences
Dr Rilette Swanepoel – School of Languages
Prof Sanne ter Horst – Unit for Business Mathematics and Informatics
Prof Kenny Uren – Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Dr Dalene van der Walt - Centre for Human Metabolomics
Dr Mignon van Vreden - School of Music