The University of Cape Town (UCT) has retained its position as Africa’s top university. It placed 184th in the world in the latest QS World University Rankings.

The rankings assess more than 1 500 institutions globally. UCT placed among the top 12% evaluated by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Vice-Chancellor Prof Mosa Moshabela said the result reflected the hard work of staff and students.

“Our research mission remains rooted in generating high-quality, relevant knowledge. It must matter to our people, for Africa and the world,” Moshabela said.

Strong global indicators

UCT’s strongest performance was in International Research Networks. It placed 31st globally in this indicator, which measures the richness and diversity of an institution’s international research partnerships.

The university also improved in two key areas. Its Employment Outcomes indicator climbed to 40th in the world. This reflects the employability of UCT graduates and their impact in their fields. Its Academic Reputation ranking improved to 179th globally.

Leading South Africa

UCT achieved the highest overall rank among all South African universities in the QS list. It also topped the country in Academic Reputation and Sustainability.

The QS rankings weigh the perceptions of academics and employers worldwide. They also factor in research impact, international engagement and graduate outcomes. This makes them a key benchmark of global institutional standing.

The 2027 rankings are based on 2024 data submitted in February this year.

Strategy and improvement

Moshabela said the results reflect a consistent effort to fulfil UCT’s Strategy 2030.

“We are embedding innovation and entrepreneurship into the fabric of the institution. We aim to build a future-oriented university. It prioritises academic excellence and combines research intensity with societal impact,” he said.

He acknowledged that UCT leads the continent. However, the university is actively identifying areas for improvement. These include addressing data gaps and expanding employer survey response pools.

“While rankings do not define who we are, they do provide useful external benchmarks of our performance,” Moshabela said.

International summit

In September, UCT will host the first Times Higher Education World Academic Summit held on African soil. It will be co-hosted with long-standing partner the University of Bristol. The summit will bring together global leaders in higher education, research, policy, business and civil society.

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