The best universities in Africa in 2027 are led by institutions in South Africa, according to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The University of Cape Town ranks highest on the continent. It reached joint 147th place globally in the 2027 ranking, up from joint 164th in the previous edition. Yapıştırılan metin
Business Insider Africa reported that South African universities dominate the African top 10. Universities from Morocco and Egypt also feature prominently.
Times Higher Education assessed 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories. The ranking considers teaching, research, research quality, industry engagement and international outlook. Yapıştırılan metin
1. University of Cape Town — South Africa
The University of Cape Town is Africa’s highest-ranked institution. It sits at joint 147th globally with an overall score of 62.4.
Founded in 1829, UCT has six faculties. It has more than 20,000 students, including 13 percent from outside South Africa. Yapıştırılan metin
2. University of the Witwatersrand — South Africa
The University of the Witwatersrand, commonly known as Wits, ranks between 301st and 325th globally.
The university has more than 26,000 students. Its history dates back to the South African School of Mines, established in 1896. Yapıştırılan metin
3. Stellenbosch University — South Africa
Stellenbosch University ranks between 326th and 350th globally.
The institution was established in 1918. Today, it has 10 faculties across five campuses and more than 27,000 students. Yapıştırılan metin
4. University of Johannesburg — South Africa
The University of Johannesburg ranks between 351st and 375th globally.
The university was formed in 2005 through the merger of several institutions. It now has more than 33,000 students. Yapıştırılan metin
5. Mohammed VI Polytechnic University — Morocco
Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University ranks between 376th and 400th globally.
Established in 2016, the university has 2,650 students. International students account for seven percent of its student population. Yapıştırılan metin
6. University of Pretoria — South Africa
The University of Pretoria ranks between 451st and 500th globally.
It has nine faculties and a business school. The university has more than 31,000 students and focuses strongly on research. Yapıştırılan metin
7. University of KwaZulu-Natal — South Africa
The University of KwaZulu-Natal ranks between 501st and 550th globally.
It operates across five campuses and has links with more than 250 institutions worldwide. Its student population stands at nearly 35,000. Yapıştırılan metin
8. American University in Cairo — Egypt
The American University in Cairo ranks between 701st and 800th globally.
Founded in 1919, the university has nearly 6,000 students. Eight percent of its students are international. Yapıştırılan metin
9. University of the Western Cape — South Africa
The University of the Western Cape also ranks between 701st and 800th globally.
Established in 1959, the institution has seven faculties and more than 25,000 students. Yapıştırılan metin
10. Al-Azhar University — Egypt
Al-Azhar University ranks between 801st and 1,000th globally.
The Cairo institution traces its history to 970 AD, making it one of the world’s oldest centres of learning. It has almost 297,000 students. Yapıştırılan metin
South Africa dominates Africa university ranking
Seven of the 10 institutions on the list are in South Africa.
Morocco has one university in the top 10, while Egypt has two.
Africa’s representation in the wider ranking is also growing. The number of universities from sub-Saharan Africa included in the rankings increased from 55 to 69.