Directorate of Research & Innovation

NRF Rated Researchers

Recognising researchers whose work demonstrates sustained quality, impact and international standing.

Research Excellence

Understanding the NRF rating system

NRF ratings provide an important benchmark of research quality, impact and peer recognition within South Africa’s research system.

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.

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01 A-Rated Researchers An A-rating is given to researchers who are recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field, and for the high quality and impact of their recent research. 02 P-rated ResearchersB A P-rating is given to young researchers, usually younger than 35, who have the potential to become leaders in their field. 03 C Y-rated Researchers B-rated researchers enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research. C-rated researchers are established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity in their field. Y-rated researchers are 40 years of age or younger, who have held a doctorate or equivalent qualification for 5 years at the time of application, and who are recognised as having the potential to establish themselves within a 5-year period of the evaluation.