South Africaremains Africa’s higher education leader, according to the recently released Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027.
Its top-ranked institution is again the University of Cape Town, which has rejoined the global top 150 for the first time since the 2020 edition in joint 147th position.
South Africa has five universities in the world top 500. Its second highest ranked university is the University of the Witwatersrand in band 301-325.
The University of Pretoria registers its highest showing yet, in the 451-500 band.
With 17 universities in the ranking, South Africa is the second most represented country in the region. It is behind only Nigeria, which boasts 29 universities in the table.
The next highest ranking countries are Nigeria, Ugandaand Ghana.
Nigeria’s joint leading university, Covenant University, has climbed back into the top 1,000 in band 801-1,000.
With 29 institutions in the rankings, Nigeriais the best represented country in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. It has three institutions in the top 1,000: the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos are also in the 801-1,000 band.
Nigeria has 29 ranked universities, five more than it had last year. It is by far the best represented country in the region. South Africa has the second most, with 17 universities.
Nigeriahas three institutions in the global top 1,000: Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, which are all in the 801-1,000 band. The country also has four universities in the 1,001-1,200 band.
Its new representatives include Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
With its handful of universities, Ghana is the third best represented country in the region. Its five institutions are led by the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, both of which sit among the 801-1,000 band.
Tanzania fields the next most universities, three, led by Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in the 1,601-1,800 band.
Botswana, Kenya and Uganda each have two representatives. The highest ranked of those is
Uganda’s Makerere University in the 801-1,000 band.
The highest ranked institution in Kenya is the University of Nairobi, which sits in the 1,601-1,800 band.
Botswana’s leading representative is the University of Botswana, which occupies the 1,201-1,400 band.
Ethiopia reappears in the rankings thanks to Mekelle University, which is in the 1,201-1,400 band.
Malawi makes its rankings debut with Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in the 1,201-1,400 band.
Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said: “Make no mistake: Africa is a growing force in the geopolitics of knowledge, and its universities are earning a growing presence on the world stage.
“The Times Higher Education World University Rankings measure what matters most to sector leaders, strategists and policymakers: research excellence and impact; the teaching environment; global academic standing; links with industry beyond the ivory towers; and international talent
attraction, reach and influence. And they have a high entry threshold. Across the rankings, Africa is dramatically increasing its representation and is also displaying genuine global strength and standing.
“Africa south of the Sahara not only has a university back in the world top 150, it has more institutions represented on the global stage in the elite university rankings than ever before (69, up from 55), from more nations (16) than ever.”
