QS World University Rankings 2025: African Universities Shine
The British consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released its annual ranking of the world's top universities on June 4, 2025: the "QS World University Rankings." This ranking evaluates universities based on criteria such as academic reputation, graduate employability, student-to-faculty ratio, scientific publications, and sustainability.
African Universities Excel
In Africa, South African universities are particularly well-represented. The University of Cape Town ranks 171st globally, the University of Witwatersrand ranks 276th, and Stellenbosch University ranks 296th.
This year, 40 African universities were evaluated. South Africa stands out with 11 institutions ranked, including five among the top 500 globally. Four of these universities are also among the top 50 globally for international research, placing South Africa 4th globally for this indicator, behind the UK, the US, and France.
Country Breakdown
In comparison, Egypt is the most represented African country with 15 universities, followed by South Africa with 11. Tunisia comes next with 4 universities. Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria each have two universities, while Ethiopia, Morocco, and Uganda each have one university in the ranking.
Top 40 African Universities
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- University of Johannesburg, South Africa
- Cairo University, Egypt
- University of Pretoria, South Africa
- American University in Cairo, Egypt
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Ain Shams University, Egypt
- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
- University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
- Alexandria University, Egypt
- North-West University, South Africa
- University of Ghana, Ghana
- University of South Africa, South Africa
- Future University, Egypt
- Makerere University, Uganda
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
- Mansoura University, Egypt
- Rhodes University, South Africa
- University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Al-Azhar University, Egypt
- Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
- Assiut University, Egypt
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- University of Khartoum, Sudan
- University of Lagos, Nigeria
- University of the Free State, South Africa
- Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco
- University of Sfax, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Tunisia
- University of Tunis, Tunisia
- British University in Egypt, Egypt
- German University in Cairo, Egypt
- Helwan University, Egypt
- Kenyatta University, Kenya
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- Suez Canal University, Egypt
- Tanta University, Egypt
- Zagazig University, Egypt