"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 categories
Please see the definitions of each category
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This applies to researchers who have never applied for rating before, or researchers whose application was withdrawn before it was processed.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When a researcher chooses not to respond to the re-evaluation by invitation and their ratings are no longer valid, or their application for rating was unsuccessful for three or more years.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 Heide Goedhals.
Our NRF rated researchers
The 2022 list of NRF rated researchers will be available shortly
NWU A – Leading international researchers
Prof Donald Kurtz - Centre for Space research
NWU B – Internationally acclaimed researchers
Prof Markus Boettcher - Centre for Space research
Prof Stefan Ferreira - Centre for Space research
Prof Richard Haynes - 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 Andreas Ran - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Edward Ueckermann - Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Johnnie Van den Berg - School of Biological Sciences
Dr Alexander Avdeenkov - HySA DST Center
Prof Paul Beukes - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Chemistry
Prof Adri Burger - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Susan Coetzee-Van Rooy - Understanding and processing language in complex settings (UPSET)
Prof Louis du Preez - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Brian Harvey - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Stuart Piketh - School of Geo- and Spacial Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Francois Retief - Research Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Alta Schutte - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Prof David Scott-Macnab - Department of English
Prof Jan Swanepoel - Department of Statistics
Prof Francois Van der Westhuizen - Division of Biochemistry, 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 Christo Venter - Centre for Space Research
Prof Francois Venter - Faculty of Law
Prof AIan Channing - Environmental Sciences and Development
Dr Connal Eardley - Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Petra Engelbrecht - Education Research Administration
Prof Jaco Gericke - Ancient Texts, Contexts, Reception
Prof Ilanni Loubser - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Christa Rautenbach - Faculty of Law
Prof Nico Smit - Environmental Sciences and Development
Prof Marius Smuts - Centre of Excellence for Nutrition
Prof Johan Van der Walt - School for Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Dewald Van Niekerk - Social Transformation, African Centre for Disaster Studies
Prof Herrie Van Rooy - School For Biblical Studies And Ancient Languages
Prof Daan Wissing - CTexT
NWU C – Established researchers
Prof Nicholas Allen - School of Ancient Languages and Text Studies
Dr Dmitri Bessarabov - Natural Science, CRB, HySA Infrastructure
Prof Henk Bouwman - Department of Biological Sciences
Prof John Bunt - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Sarel Cilliers - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Hermie Coetzee - Justice and Sustainability
Prof Susan Coetzee-Van Rooy - Research Entity UPSET
Prof Hans De Ridder - School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science
Prof Dirk De Waele - Unit for Environmental Science and Management
Prof Anel Du Plessis - Law, Undergraduate Programmes
Prof Jeanetta Du Plessis - CoE Pahmaceutical Sciences
Prof Jat Du Toit - School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Prof Driekie Fourie - Unit of Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Aubrey Golightly - Geography Education
Prof Jaco Hoffman - OPTENTIA Research Focus Area
Prof Salome Kruger - School of Physiology and Nutrition Centre of Excellence Nutrition
Prof Wilna Liebenberg - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Du Toit Loots - Centre for Human Metabonomics
Prof Welma Lubbe - School of Nursing Science
Prof Elsa Mentz - School of Natural Sciences and Technology for Education, Research Entity: Self directed learning
Prof Olivier Olela-Otafudu - Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Prof Jacques Petzer - Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy
Prof Marlien Pieters - Centre of Excellence - Nutrition
Prof Vera Roos - School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, Africa Unit for Transdiciplinery Health Research Optentia
Prof Ian Rothmann - Optentia Research Programme
Prof Andrea Saayman - School of Economics
Prof Abiodun Salawu - Indigenous Language Media in Africa
Prof Stefan Siebert - Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Sanne Ter Horst - Unit for Business Mathematics and Informatics
Prof Etienne Terblanche - School of Languages, English
Prof Hein Viljoen - School of Languages (Afrikaans and Dutch)
Prof Ché Weldon - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Frank Winde - School of Basic Sciences
Prof Marie Wissing - Africa Unit for Transdiciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR)
Prof Lesley Wood - School of Education Studies
Prof Rasheed Adegbola Adeleke - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Avitus Agbor - School of Undergraduate Studies
Prof James Allison - Statistics
Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola - Food Security and Safety
Dr Michael Backes - Centre for Space Research
Prof Robert Balfour - Faculty of Education Sciences
Prof Sandra Barnard - Botany, School for Biological Sciences
Prof Ian Bekker - English
Prof Tiaan Brink - Division of Pharmacology
Prof Alfred Brunsdon - School for Christian ministry and leadership
Prof James Chibueze - Centre for Space Research
Prof Juanee Cilliers - Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Geo- and Spacial Sciences, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Sarina Claassens - Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences
Prof Siedine Knobloch Coetzee - School of Nursing Sciences
Prof Marelie Davel - School for IT, Research Entuty Director: MuST
Prof Riaan De Jongh - Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics
Prof Ernst Drewes - Department Urban and Regional Planning
Prof Yvonne du Plessis - NWU Business School
Prof Hannalene du Plessis - Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Johan Du Plessis - Occupational Hygiene and Health
Prof Lissinda Du Plessis - Department of Pharmaceutics
Prof Emmerentia Du Plessis - School of Nursing Science / NuMIQ Research focus area
Prof Petro Du Preez - School of Educational Sciences
Prof Charlene du Toit-Brits - School of Professional Studies in Education
Prof Ray Everson - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Minja Gerber - Drug Delivery
Prof Roelien Goede - Computer Sciences and Information Systems
Prof Rupert Gouws - School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering
Prof Franci Greyling - School of Languages
Prof Sias Hamman - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Marietjie Havenga - Computer Sciences Education
Prof Jan Heystek - School for Education
Prof Erhabor Idemudia - Department of Psychology, Population and Health
Prof Leon Jackson - NorthWest University Business School
Prof Johann Jerling - Centre of Excellence for Nutrition
Prof Cara Jonker - School for Human Resource Sciences
Prof Lene Jorgensen - Industrial Psychology
Dr Micky Josipovic - Environmental Sciences
Prof Masood Khalique - Department of Mathematical Sciences
Dr Manitza Kotze - Unit for Reformational Theology
Prof Awie Kotze - Faculty of Health Science
Prof Henning Krieg - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Cobus Kriek - Chemistry
Prof Hennie Kruger - School of Computer Sciences
Prof Jaco Kruger - School of Music
Prof Ferdi Kruger - Theology
Prof Stefan Kruger - TREES (Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society)
Prof Marco le Roux - Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Lesetja Legoabe - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Martie Lubbe - School of Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice
Dr Serena Lucrezi - Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society
Prof Mark Maboeta - School of Environmental Sciences (Zoology)
Prof Vhumani Magezi - School of Christian Ministry
Dr Linda Malan - Centere of Excellence for Nutrition
Prof Simeon Materechera - Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centyre (IKS)
Prof Ashmore Mawire - School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Prof Carina Mels - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Prof Susanna Meyer - School of Language Education
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 Carisma Nel - School of Language Education
Prof Marius Nel - Unit for Reformed Theology and Dev of the SA Society
Prof Hein Neomagus - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Prof Cornelie Nienaber-Rousseau - Nutrition
Prof Patrice Ntumba - Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Prof Victor Ojakorotu - Politics & International Relations
Dr Carel Olivier - Department of Mathematical Science
Prof Clovis Oukouomi Noutchie - Department of Mathematical Sciences
Prof Martin Palamuleni - Department of Social Sciences, Population and Health Unit
Prof Anél Petzer - Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Prof Ferdinand Potgieter - School of Education Studies
Prof Tinda Rabie - School of Nursing Science
Prof Helgard Raubenheimer - Centre of Business Mathematics
Dr Ragupathi Rengasamy - Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centre (IKS)
Prof Riaan Rheeder - School of Christian Ministry and Leadership
Prof Luke Sandham - Geo and Spatial Sciences
Prof Leonard Santana - School for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Prof Ilse Schoeman - Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
Prof Dawid Serfontein - School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Prof Francis Siebert - Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Marius Smit - Education Law
Prof Marius Stander - Behavioural Sciences
Prof Christien Strydom - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Dr Iurii Sushch - Centre for Space Research
Dr Jonathan Taylor - Department of Environmental Sciences and Management
Prof Fanie Terblanche - Industrial Engineering
Prof Gisella Terre'blanche - Department of Pharmacy
Prof Oriel Thekisoe - Department of Biological Sciences, Zoology
Prof Kenny Uren - School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Sciences
Prof Petrus van der Merwe - Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES)
Prof Daleen Van der Merwe - School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Prof Liesl Van der Merwe - School of Music
Prof Gerrit Van der Waldt - Focus Area: Social Transformation
Prof Hans Van Deventer - Research Focus Area Ancient Texts
Prof Liezl Van Dyk - Unit for Engineering research
Prof Chantelle Van Heerden - Philosophy Department
Prof Gerhard Van Huyssteen - Unit for Language and Litterature in the SA Context, Centre for Text Technology (CTexT)
Prof Phil Van Schalkwyk - School of Languages (Afrikaans and Dutch)
Prof George Van Schoor - Unit for Energy and Technology Systems
Prof Cornie Van Sittert - School for Physical and Chemical Sciences
Prof Estelle van Tonder - School of Management Sciences
Prof Anton van Vollenhoven - School of Social Sciences
Prof George van Zijl - School of Geo and Spatial Sciences
Prof Pieter Van Zyl - Physical and Chemical sciences
Prof Anne Verhoef - School of Philosophy
Prof Tanja Verster - Centre of Business Mathematics
Prof Francois Viljoen - Unit for Reformed Theology
Dr Jaco Visagie - Statistics Department
Prof Wilma Viviers - Economics, Trade and Development
Prof Koos Vorster - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Nico Vorster - Unit for Reformed Theology
Prof Frans Waanders - School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering
Dr Jennifer Wehrmeyer - School of languages
Prof Victor Wepener - School of Biological Sciences
Prof Mitzi Wiese - School for Undergraduate Studies
Prof Rosemary Wildsmith-Cromarty - (FERA)Faculty Education Research Administration
Prof Collins Ateba - Biological Sciences
Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout - PC School of Biological Sciences (Environmental Sciences and Management)
Prof Christo Bisschoff - Business School
Prof Phillip Blaauw - School of Economics
Prof Karel Botha - School of Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences
Prof Johanita Burger - School of Pharmacy
Prof Quentin Campbell - School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Prof Kobus Du Pisani - School for Social and Government Studies
Prof Lindie Du Plessis - School of Tourism Management
Dr Ilse du Preez - Centre for Human Metabolomics
Prof Tiny Du Toit - Computer Sciences and Information Systems
Dr Philip Du Toit - Theology
Prof Jacobus Fouché - School of Accounting Sciences
Prof Alida Herbst - School of Psychosocial Health
Prof Costa Hofisi - Public Administration and Management
Dr Liberty Muchatiurwa Hove - School of Language Education
Prof Petronella Jonck - GIFT research enitity
Prof Pierre Jordaan - Department of Ancient Languages and Text Study
Prof Klaus Kellner - Department of Biological Science
Prof Ewert Kleynhans - School of Economics
Prof Martinette Kruger - TREES (Tourism Research in Economics Environs and Society)
Prof Roan Louw - School of Physical and Chemical Sciences Biochemistry
Prof Sanette Marx - School of chemical & minerals
Prof Manny Mathuthu - MC Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology
Dr Sydney Mavengahama - School of Agricultural Sciences
Prof Emmanuel Mgqwashu - School of Natural Sciences and Technology for Education
Prof Andries Monyeki - School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science
Prof Elias Munapo - Department of Statistics and Operations Research
Dr Godwin Mushayabasa - Ancient Languages and Text Studies
Prof Bernard Nchindila - School of Languages, Department of English
Prof Seteno Ntwampe - School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Dr Daniel Otto - Reseach focus Area
Prof Wim Roestenburg - Subject Group Social Work
Prof Haripersad Sewlall - Research Unit of Languages and Literature
Prof Elmarie Slabbert - Tourism Management
Prof Jan Steenekamp - School of Pharmacy
Prof Makondelele Tshivhase - School of Applied Radiation
Prof Liezl van Dyk - School of MEchanical and Nuclear Engineering
Prof Elize van Eeden - School of Basic Sciences
Prof Charl Wolhuter - School of Education Studies
NWU P – Prestigious Awards
Dr Du Toit Strauss - Physics
NWU Y – Promising Young Researchers
Dr Courtney Cook - Environmental Sciences
Prof Leon De Beer - Workwell Research Unit
Dr Eugene Engelbrecht - Physics
Prof Wian Erlank - School_of_Law_Undergraduate Studies
Dr Kerry Hadfield Malherbe - PC Environmental Sciences
Prof Lusilda Schutte - Africa Unit for Trans-disciplinary Health Research
Prof Shan Simmonds - Curriculum Studies
Dr Reece Alberts - Research Unit for Enivornmental Management and Science
Dr Oladapo Aremu - Indigenous Knowledge Systems Centyre (IKS)
Prof Indra Bahadur - Chemistry
Dr Roxanne Bailey - SMSTE
Dr Richard Mbi Beteck - School of Pharmacy
Prof Karin Botha - School of Tourism Management
Dr Dawie Branken - School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering
Prof Adri Breed - Afrikaans and Dutch
Dr Yolandi Breet - School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences
Prof Howard Chitimira - Law School of Undergraduate Studies
Dr Joshua Chukwuere - Information systems
Dr Dirk Cilliers - School for Geo- and Spatial Sciences
Prof Dané Coetzee - Biokenitics, Recreation and Sport science
Dr Christo Coetzee - Unit for Environmental Science and Management
Dr Oladipo David- Economic Sciences
Dr Zelda de Lange - Centere of Excellence for Nutrition
Dr Andrew Eloka-Eboka - Schoolof Chmical and Mineral
Dr Crizelle Els - WorkWell: Research Unit for Economic and Management Sciences
Prof Anja Franken - Physiology
Prof Oliver Fuo - Law
Dr Lebo Gafane-Matemane - Physiology
Dr Amare Abebe Gidelew - Physics
Dr Chrisna Gouws - Drug delivery
Dr Esté Hefer-Jordaan - School of Languages
Prof Risimati Hobyane - School of Ancient Language and Text Study
Dr Christopher Holdridge
Dr Johanita Kirsten - School of Languages
Dr Vicki Koen - Psychology
Prof Gideon Kotze - School of Ancient Language and Text Studies
Prof Ruan Kruger - Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Dr Shani Le Roux - Department of Physiology, School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART)
Dr Zander Lindeque - Centre for Human Metabolomics
Dr Tani Lombard - Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Scienecs
Dr Laneke Luis - Centre for Human Metabolomics
Dr Wynand Malherbe - Unit of Environmental Sciences
Dr Shayne Mason - Centre of human metabolism
Prof Sithandiwe Mazibuko-Mbeje - Biochemistry
Dr Elham Mehdinezhad - Mathematics
Dr Annchen Mielmann - School of Physiology
Prof Caven Mnisi - Animal Science
Prof Emmanuel Mukwevho - Biochemistry
Dr Albi Odendaal - Musical Arts In South Africa Resources and Application
Prof Jako Olivier - School of Professional Studies in Education
Dr Damian Onwudiwe - Chemistry
Dr Jacquas Rothmann - School of Sociology
Dr Wayne Smith - Hypertension in Africa Research Team HART
Dr Martinique Sparks - School of Physical Activity
Dr Madeleen Struwig - School of Biological Sciences
Dr Rilette Swanepoel - School of Languages
Dr Elmien Truter - Social Work
Dr Rencia van der Sluis - Focus Area for Human Metabolomics
Dr Dalene van der Walt - Centre for Human Metabolomics
Dr Chris van Rhyn - School of Music
Dr Mignon van Vreden - School of Music
Dr Petrus Wolmarans - Department of Pharmacology
Dr Lizelle Zandberg - Centre of Excellence Nuturition (CEN)