Graphic: Times Higher Education

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has reaffirmed its position as one of the leading universities in the African higher education landscape.

The recently released 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has ranked UWC in 7th position in Sub-Saharan Africa, thus maintaining its place among the top 10 institutions. In a year that saw intensified global competition - with 2,191 universities ranked worldwide, nearly 100 more than the previous year - UWC strengthened its international standing and reputation, and secured a position in the top third of universities globally.

“We are deeply honoured to be ranked 7th among universities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This recognition is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our academic community, whose pursuit of excellence continues to inspire. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to our international partners, whose collaboration enriches our research and global engagement,” said UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we remain focused on our forward-looking strategy to position our university as a leading research institution dedicated to serving the public good. Together, we will continue to advance knowledge, foster innovation and make a meaningful impact on society."

UWC continues to perform strongly in the Research and Citations pillars, with its publications attracting citations well above the world average.

More than half of UWC’s research outputs are internationally co-authored, and these collaborations receive four times as many citations as single-institution publications - evidence of the strength and reach of the institution’s global partnerships.

Dr Umesh Bawa, UWC International Relations Director, said UWC is an institution grounded in producing scholarship in service of humanity.

“This achievement affirms our focus on principled internationalisation — bringing strong African voices into global scholarly discourse. We are committed to meaningful partnerships and collaborations that strengthen our visibility and contribution to finding solutions to global challenges of our time,” said Dr Bawa.

At a subject level, the university continues to demonstrate particular excellence in the Physical Sciences, Computer Science, Clinical and Health Sciences and Social Sciences.