African universities gain ground in global university ranking

Sixty-nine universities from 16 sub-Saharan African countries have been featured in the 2027 global ranking of the world’s best universities.

TV BRICS, reports that the number represents an increase from the 55 universities from 14 countries featured in the previous edition.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) recorded a notable improvement, moving from 164th to 147th position globally.

The institution’s new position is its highest in seven years and marks its return to the global top 150 for the first time since 2020.

South Africa retained the largest representation among countries in the region, with 17 universities listed.

Five of the country’s institutions ranked among the global top 500, while eight were placed in the top 1,000.

Nigeria had the highest number of universities represented in the ranking, with 29 institutions featured.

Three Nigerian universities were placed within the global top 1,000, in the 801–1,000 range.

Ghana had two universities in the 801–1,000 range.

The ranking also recorded new and returning entries from other African countries.

Malawi made its debut, with Kamuzu University of Health Sciences placed in the 1,201–1,400 range, while Ethiopia returned with Mekelle University in the same range.

“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,” Phil Baty, the ranking’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said.

Globally, more than 2,000 universities from 118 countries and territories were included in the 2027 ranking, 106 more than in the previous edition.

The ranking was based on an analysis of nearly 20 million research papers, about one million votes from an academic reputation survey and data from more than 3,000 universities worldwide.