The University of Cape Town (UCT) has retained its position as Africa’s top-ranked university in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, continuing South Africa’s strong presence among the continent’s leading institutions.
UCT is ranked joint 147th globally, improving on its joint 164th position in the previous World University Rankings. The latest Times Higher Education assessment covers universities across 118 countries and territories and evaluates institutions using indicators covering teaching, research, research quality, industry engagement and international outlook.
South Africa dominates the African top 10, with seven institutions appearing on the list. Morocco and Egypt also feature among the continent’s highest-ranked universities.
Here are the 10 highest-ranked universities in Africa in the 2027 Times Higher Education rankings.
1. University of Cape Town — South Africa
UCT leads the African rankings with a joint 147th position globally and an overall score of 62.4.
The Cape Town institution recorded particularly strong results across research quality, industry and international outlook. THE lists six faculties at UCT, covering Commerce, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Science.
UCT has 20,318 students, with women accounting for 57% of the student population and international students making up 13%.
2. University of the Witwatersrand — South Africa
The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) ranks second in Africa and falls within the 301–325 global band.
The Johannesburg university records an overall score between 53.4 and 54.8, with a particularly strong performance in industry engagement and research quality.
Wits has its origins in the South African School of Mines and has grown into one of South Africa’s major research-intensive universities.
3. Stellenbosch University — South Africa
Stellenbosch University takes third place in Africa, sitting within the 326–350 global range.
The institution records an overall score between 52.3 and 53.3, with research quality and industry engagement among its stronger areas in the THE assessment.
The university has expanded considerably since its early 20th-century beginnings and now operates across multiple campuses and academic faculties.
4. University of Johannesburg — South Africa
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) ranks fourth in Africa and occupies the 351–375 global band.
UJ receives an overall score between 51.6 and 52.2, with its international outlook and industry performance contributing to its position.
Established in its current form in 2005 following a series of institutional mergers, UJ has developed a significant profile in research, innovation and international engagement.
5. Mohammed VI Polytechnic University — Morocco
Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is the highest-ranked Moroccan institution in this African top 10, placing fifth.
The university sits within the 376–400 global range, with an overall score between 50.5 and 51.5.
The relatively young institution has developed a profile centred on research, innovation, education and sustainable development.
6. University of Pretoria — South Africa
The University of Pretoria (UP) ranks sixth in Africa and falls within the 451–500 global band.
It records an overall score between 47.4 and 48.7, with research, industry engagement and international outlook contributing to its ranking.
The university has nine faculties as well as a business school and is one of South Africa’s major research and teaching institutions.
7. University of KwaZulu-Natal — South Africa
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) takes seventh place, ranking within the 501–550 global range.
UKZN records an overall score between 46.0 and 47.3 in the 2027 assessment.
The university operates across five campuses and maintains an extensive network of international academic partnerships.
8. American University in Cairo — Egypt
The American University in Cairo (AUC) shares eighth place in Africa, sitting within the 701–800 global band.
AUC records an overall score between 40.2 and 42.3, with international outlook among its notable performance areas.
Founded in 1919, the Cairo-based institution has developed into one of Egypt’s prominent internationally oriented universities.
8. University of the Western Cape — South Africa
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) also occupies the eighth position in Africa, sharing the 701–800 global band with AUC.
UWC records an overall score between 40.2 and 42.3 in the 2027 rankings.
Founded in 1959, the university has seven faculties and has established a strong profile in research and higher education.
10. What The Rankings Say About African Higher Education
The 2027 results underline the continued prominence of South African universities at the top end of the African table.
According to Times Higher Education, the 2027 Africa ranking covers 191 universities across 20 countries, while the broader World University Rankings assess institutions using indicators grouped around teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook.
For students, researchers and prospective international applicants, the rankings offer one way to compare institutions — although university choice can also depend on factors such as course availability, tuition costs, location, campus environment and individual academic goals.
For 2027, UCT remains Africa’s highest-ranked university, while South Africa continues to account for the largest share of institutions appearing in the continent’s top 10.
