UJ triumphant as it's recognised as the leading university on the African continent

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has secured its position as a leading university on the African continent across multiple global ranking systems, with the latest 2026 ranking results affirming its sustained ascent, continental dominance, and expanding global authority. In the inaugural QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa, UJ delivered a commanding performance, securing the number two position on the continent.

Out of nearly seventy universities from 21 countries evaluated in this first edition, UJ’s placement confirms its powerful and unambiguous standing at the pinnacle of higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The latest ranking follows other international university rankings that have placed UJ as the top university in the African continent. The Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan African University Rankings places UJ as the number 1 university in the continent.

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings also ranked UJ number 1 on the African continent for the societal impact of its academic programmes. In addition, UJ has been ranked as the number 1 university in the African continent among universities established less than half a century ago.

Commenting on this latest positive news regarding the university, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, UJ’s vice-chancellor and principal, said, “These rankings, including the latest one by QS, vindicate our university’s vision as the international university of choice anchored in the African continent and the global South. We have invested considerable effort, attention, and resources to build partnerships and collaborations throughout the African continent.

''Our university attracts and is a home to several thousand students and staff from all the regions of the continent, underscoring once again to our grounding and commitment to this continent.”

Mpedi added: “Our partnerships are purposeful and impact-driven. They advance joint research, doctoral mobility and innovation platforms that are contributing meaningfully to knowledge production and socio-economic progress across the continent.’“

These results reflect deliberate and sustained investment in research excellence, student success, global partnerships and measurable societal impact. Guided by our Strategic Plan 2035, we are expanding our global footprint, accelerating technology driven innovation and deepening partnerships across Africa.

The rankings confirm that our strategy is producing tangible results, but more importantly they affirm that UJ is actively shaping Africa’s future through knowledge, innovation and impact.”Notably, the QS World University Rankings for Sub-Saharan Africa places UJ number one in Sub Saharan Africa for International Research Network in the Global Engagement lens.

This positions the University as the most connected research institution in the region, reflecting powerful cross border collaboration, global partnerships, and research influence that extends well beyond national boundaries. In line with its positioning in the African continent and in line with its Strategic Plan 2035, UJ has introduced numerous innovations in the past few years.

It is the only university in the African continent that runs what is known as the Africa-by-Bus programme. The programme takes UJ students and academics to different countries on the continent, by bus, to engage directly with universities, communities, and industry leaders, developing practical solutions to shared challenges.

These visits expose UJ students, some of whom are travelling outside South Africa for the first time, to other cultures in the continent. In doing so, UJ is educating generations of students, who understand their continent and are fully committed to its development and that of humanity. In line with its strategic positioning in the continent, UJ offers an academic module called African Insight, which introduces students to the history, politics, cultures, and economics of the African continent. This module is compulsory to all undergraduate students at UJ.

Another module that all undergraduate students must take is on artificial intelligence. UJ’s academic excellence, especially in the fields of science and technology is recognised worldwide. For instance, the recent report of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject ranks UJ number one in South Africa in subjects such as Computer Science, Engineering, Physical Sciences and Business and Economics.

These are fields that drive innovation, digital transformation, industrial growth, and economic development across Africa. UJ’s excellence in these and other disciplines puts our university in a great position to contribute to the technological and economic development of our continent.