Top African university rises in global rankings
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has once again been named Africa’s highest-ranked university, improving its position in the latest US News Best Global Universities Rankings.
The 2026-2027 rankings, released on June 17, place UCT 122nd in the world, up from 124th in the previous edition. The result places the institution among the top 5% of the 2,250 universities assessed globally.
The latest ranking further cements UCT’s status as one of Africa’s foremost research institutions and underscores South Africa’s contribution to international scientific and academic research.
The US News rankings differ from university league tables that place greater emphasis on factors such as student experience, employability and sustainability. Instead, they focus primarily on research output, academic reputation, publications, citations and international collaboration.
UCT said the results reflect its growing impact in research areas with direct societal relevance, including infectious diseases, public health, mental health and environmental studies.
“UCT’s influence goes beyond ranking positions. Our mission is to deliver outstanding teaching and learning, while advancing both curiosity-driven research and work that addresses the evolving challenges of our time,” said Professor Thokozani Majozi, UCT’s deputy vice-chancellor for research and internationalisation.
“Together, these efforts contribute towards shaping a sustainable future, and this result reflects the breadth of that impact.”
[ICYMI] The University of Cape Town remains the highest-ranked university in Africa in the 2027 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings released on 18 June 2026.
— UCT (@UCT_news) June 19, 2026
The university is placed within the top 2% of more than 8 808 institutions evaluated worldwide.… pic.twitter.com/YiODTJo1DL
One of UCT’s strongest performances came in the field of infectious diseases, where the university ranked 14th globally. The ranking is particularly significant given South Africa’s continued fight against diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.
Professor Digby Warner, director of UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, said the recognition reflected years of research undertaken in communities most affected by these health challenges. “This recognition is especially meaningful because much of this work is conducted in settings where infectious diseases remain among the most urgent health challenges,” Warner said.
The university said the results demonstrate the depth of its research capabilities, particularly in the health sciences, public health and environmental research, where it continues to contribute to addressing complex challenges locally and internationally.
The rankings are based on research data collected between 2020 and 2024, as well as academic reputation surveys conducted from 2021 to 2025. Strong performances in international rankings can enhance the global recognition of South African qualifications, while also helping universities attract research funding, international partnerships and academic talent.
