- Oxford Retains Global Number-One Position
AFRICAN universities have increased their representation in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with 69 institutions from 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa featuring in the 2027 edition.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) led the region, returning to the global top 150 with a joint 147th position – its strongest showing in seven years. UCT’s latest ranking marks a rise from joint 164th in the 2026 edition.
South Africa remained the only country in sub-Saharan Africa with universities placed within the global top 200 and top 500. Five South African universities were among the world’s top 500, while eight were placed within the global top 1,000.
The University of the Witwatersrand was the country’s second-highest-ranked institution, appearing in the 301–325 band.
The rankings also showed a marked expansion in the number of African institutions represented. The 2027 edition includes 69 universities from 16 sub-Saharan African countries, compared with 55 universities from 14 countries or territories in the previous edition.
Globally, a record 2,297 institutions were ranked, 106 more than last year, with 118 countries and territories represented.
Nigeria Leads Regional Representation
Nigeria was the most represented country in sub-Saharan Africa, with 29 universities in the rankings, five more than in the previous edition.
Three Nigerian institutions – Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos –were placed in the global 801-1,000 band.
Covenant University moved up from the 1,001-1,200 band in the previous edition to join the two universities in the 801–1,000 range.
Nigeria’s additional ranked institutions include Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Nigeria also had four universities in the 1,001–1,200 band.
The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos retained their positions in the 801–1,000 band, while several other Nigerian universities appeared in lower ranking bands.
South Africa Maintains Regional Lead
South Africa had 17 universities in the 2027 rankings, making it the second most represented country in the region after Nigeria.
Besides UCT’s return to the top 150, the University of Pretoria recorded its highest showing yet, entering the 451–500 band.
The University of the Witwatersrand was placed in the 301–325 band, Stellenbosch University in the 326–350 band and the University of Johannesburg in the 351–375 band.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal was ranked in the 501–550 band, while the University of the Western Cape appeared in the 701–800 band. North-West University was in the 801–1,000 band.
Ghana, Uganda, Other Countries
Ghana had five universities in the rankings, with the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana both placed in the 801–1,000 band. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology was in the 1,201–1,400 band, while the University for Development Studies and the University of Energy and Natural Resources were placed in the 1,601–1,800 and 1,801–2,000 bands respectively.
Uganda had two ranked institutions, led by Makerere University in the 801–1,000 band. Mbarara University of Science and Technology was placed in the 1,601–1,800 band. Kenya also had two representatives, with the University of Nairobi in the 1,601–1,800 band. Botswana’s two institutions included the University of Botswana in the 1,201–1,400 band.
Tanzania had three universities in the rankings, led by Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in the 1,601–1,800 band.
The 2027 edition also recorded new representation from Malawi and the return of Ethiopia. Kamuzu University of Health Sciences entered the rankings in the 1,201–1,400 band, while Mekelle University marked Ethiopia’s return in the same band.
Other countries represented in the regional rankings included Mauritius, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia and Senegal.
Oxford Retains Global Number-One Position
At the global level, the University of Oxford retained the number-one position for 11th consecutive year. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology ranked second, while Princeton University and Stanford University shared third place. The University of Cambridge was fifth and Harvard University sixth.
The California Institute of Technology ranked seventh, followed by Imperial College London in eighth. The University of California, Berkeley and Yale University completed the global top 10, in joint ninth and 10th positions respectively.
Rankings Based on Research, Teaching, Global Engagement
According to Times Higher Education, the World University Rankings assess universities using institutional and research data covering areas including research excellence and impact, the teaching environment, academic reputation, industry links and international reach.
The 2027 rankings were based on an analysis of almost 20 million research papers, close to one million votes in an Academic Reputation Survey and detailed institutional data from more than 3,000 universities worldwide.
Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said the increasing number of African institutions in the rankings reflected a growing presence for the continent in global higher education.
“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,” Baty said.
He said the rankings measured areas considered important by university leaders, strategists and policymakers, including research, teaching, academic standing, industry links and international influence.
The rankings, which were launched at the World Academic Summit hosted by the University of Cape Town, show that sub-Saharan Africa has increased both the number of institutions represented globally and the number of countries with universities included.
