Despite recent questions about their validity, university rankings remain a valuable tool for assessing university productivity. Comparing data from two global ranking institutions, i.e., QS and The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024/2025, I provide context for what South Africa is doing differently: its universities have consistently outperformed others in featuring in the top 10 of the top universities in Africa in the last decade.
QS World University Rankings 2025
Based on various factors such as research and discovery, learning experience, employment, global engagement, sustainability, international fees, scholarship availability, English tests, academic tests, student mix, and academic reputation, QS World University Rankings 2025 demonstrates that African universities still have a lot of work to do, with the best university in Africa coming in at number 171, in a ranking that features over 1,500 universities across 105 higher education systems. The university at number 171 is the University of Cape Town with an overall score of 50, while the University of Witwatersrand ranks 267 with an overall score of 38.7. Stellenbosch University comes in at number 312 with an overall score of 35, and the University of Johannesburg ranks 354 with an overall score of 32.5. Cairo University follows at number 354 with an overall score of 32.2. The American University in Cairo has a total of 23.9 degrees per faculty, with a score of 410 out of 410. The University of Kwazulu-Natal has a total of 32.1 degrees per faculty, with a score of 587 out of 21. Addis Ababa University, in Ethiopia, has a total of 6.4 degrees per faculty, with a score of 1.7 out of 21. Northwest University in South Africa has a total of 9.4 degrees per faculty, with a score of 7.3 out of 90. The University of Ghana, Legon, has a total of 11.5 degrees per faculty, with a score of 5.3 out of 90. The University of South Africa has a total of 10.6 degrees per faculty, with a score of 7.3 out of 90. Future University in Egypt has a total of 5 QS stars, while the University of Nairobi has a total of 10 degrees per faculty, with a score of 1.8 out of 951-1000. Mansoura The university has a total of four QS stars, and the University of Rhodes has a total of 14.1 degrees per faculty. Consequently, the American University in Cairo, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Université de Tunis El Manar, University of Ghana, University of South Africa, University of Nairobi, Mansoura University, and Rhodes University are all institutions that have a strong academic reputation and commitment to sustainability.
The University of the Western Cape ranks 951-1000 in overall score. It has a faculty of 12.6 and a total of 86.6 points. Al-Azhar University has a faculty of 14.1 and a total of 4.6 points. The Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), in Alexandria, Egypt, has a faculty of 1.4 and a total of 4.7 points. Assiut University in Asyut, Egypt, has a faculty of 2.2 and a total of 11.4. points. The University of Ibadan in Nigeria has a faculty of 3.5 and a total of 9.9 points. The University of Khartoum has a faculty of 3.5 and a total of 9.9. points. The University of Lagos has a faculty of 2.6 and a total of 6.6 points. The University of the Free State has a faculty of 2.6 and a total of 8.8. points. The University of Sfax in Sfax, Tunisia, has a faculty of 4.5 and a total of 3.7 points. The University of Sfax’s overall score is n/a. The overall score of The University of Sousse is n/a, with each faculty receiving 4.5 points. Other institutions include the British University in Egypt, which ranks 1.7 in the rankings, and the German University in Cairo, which ranks 2.3 in the rankings. The University of Kenya in Nairobi scored a 7.3, while the University of Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology ranks 1.6 in the rankings. The University of Zagazig in Egypt scored a 7.7.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2024)
The Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2024 have revealed the top-ranked universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranking 129 universities from 22 countries using a methodology developed specifically to assess the impact of universities in addressing some of the toughest challenges faced in the region. The University of Johannesburg in South Africa holds the top spot in the region due to its exceptional performance in the areas of access and fairness, as well as resources and finance. South Africa occupies four of the top 10 spots, including the top three. The University of Ghana has risen to fifth place, demonstrating strong performances in areas such as Africa impact, access, and fairness. Ghana now has two universities in the top 10, up from one last year. Rwanda’s UGHE, The University of Global Health Equity, has moved up from rank eight to four and has the highest score in the region in the student engagement pillar. Nigeria’s Landmark University leads the region in the ethical leadership pillar. The methodology has 20 metrics, which are grouped into five pillars: resources and finance; access and fairness; student engagement; ethical leadership; and Africa impact. The detailed methodology draws on survey responses from more than 23,000 students across the region. In terms of global engagement, the rankings reveal that South Africa’s University of Johannesburg is the top institution in the region, with 81.6 students. The University of Pretoria is the second-largest university in the region, with 77.0 students. The University of the Witwatersrand is the third-largest university in the region, with 75.6 students. The University of Ghana is the fifth largest in the region, with 74.3 students. The University of Rwanda is the sixth largest in the region, with 73.3 students. The University of KwaZulu-Natal is the eighth largest in the region, with 68.5 students. The American University of Nigeria is the thirteenth-largest in the region, followed by the University of Namibia, the University of Zimbabwe, the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources: the University of Embu, the North-West University, the Middlelands State University, the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Jimma University, Ahmadu Bello University, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), the University of Eduardo Mondlane, the University of South Africa, and the University of Mauritius.
What is Making the Difference?
South African universities have consistently demonstrated excellence through strategic initiatives, investments, strong infrastructure, and a significant emphasis on research and innovation. Institutions such as the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University emphasize global engagement by attracting international faculty and students, thereby enhancing diversity and promoting cross-cultural collaboration. Private partnerships and grants provide them with significant third-stream income, which enables them to develop advanced facilities and support innovative research. South African universities distinguish themselves by incorporating sustainability and social change into their academic frameworks, as demonstrated by initiatives such as UCT’s “transformation” projects and Stellenbosch’s emphasis on bilingual education. Furthermore, the University of Witwatersrand's emphasis on health sciences and engineering solutions tailored to local requirements exemplifies how these universities tackle societal challenges. Participation in global rankings promotes compliance with elevated academic standards and transparency. Additionally, South Africa’s stable governance and economic conditions facilitate ongoing funding and policy support for higher education. Conversely, numerous African universities encounter resource limitations, restricted international engagement, and an absence of strategic direction. To replicate South Africa's success, universities in other African countries that are lagging behind should invest in infrastructure, cultivate international partnerships, and align their academic programs with local and global priorities.