The top four universities on the continent are all based in South Africa, with six of the top ten coming from the country. Egypt also had a strong showing, with three universities making it into the top tier.
- Business Insider Africa presents the10 best universities in Africa, according to latest ranking.
- The list is courtesy of QS World University Rankings.
- The top four universities on the continent are all based in South Africa, with six of the top ten coming from the country.
The 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings highlights just how much progress the continent is making in higher education.
With over 1,500 universities ranked across more than 100 locations worldwide, several African institutions are standing out, not just regionally, but globally.
QS uses a well-rounded methodology to assess universities, focusing on factors like research output, academic reputation, graduate employability, and industry partnerships.
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These criteria are grouped into three broad categories: Research and Discovery, Employability and Outcomes, and Learning Experience. The rankings don’t just reflect academic performance, they also measure how well universities prepare students for real-world success.
For the umpteenth year in a row, MIT grabbed the global top spot, while nearly 500 other institutions saw their rankings improve. One of the biggest surprises was Sunway University in Malaysia, which jumped over 120 places.
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But an interesting trend also emerged in Africa. The top four universities on the continent are all based in South Africa, with six of the top ten coming from the country. Egypt also had a strong showing, with three universities making it into the top tier.
At the top of the list in Africa is the University of Cape Town, ranked 150th globally. It’s followed closely by the University of the Witwatersrand and Stellenbosch University which ranked 291st and 302nd respectively.
Below are the 10 best universities in Africa, according to latest ranking:
| Rank | Country | Global rank | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cape Town | 150th | Cape Town, South Africa |
| 2 | University of Witwatersrand | 291 | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 3 | Stellenbosch University | 302nd | Stellenbosch, South Africa |
| 4 | University of Johannesburg | 308th | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 5 | Cairo University | 347th | Giza, Egypt |
| 6 | University of Pretoria | 363nd | Pretoria, South Africa |
| 7 | The American University in Cairo | 381st | Cairo, Egypt |
| 8 | Ain Shams University in Cairo (ASU, Cairo) | 542nd | Cairo, Egypt |
| 9 | University of Kwazulu-Natal | 558th | Pinetown, South Africa |
| 10 | Université de Tunis El Manar | 731-740 | Tunis, Tunisia |
