By Bulelwa Hoala
- Wits University has been ranked the top university in Africa in the 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), placing 200th globally out of 21 291 institutions and among the world’s top 1%.
- Vice-Chancellor Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi said the ranking reflects Wits’ excellence in education, research, faculty performance and graduate employability, with the university achieving a global employability ranking of 97.
- The University of Cape Town (UCT) ranked second in Africa and 276th globally, while congratulating Wits on securing the continent’s top spot in the latest CWUR rankings.
The University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg has been ranked the number one university in Africa in the 2026 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).
The tertiary institution also ranked 200th globally out of 21 291 universities, placing it among the top 1% of universities worldwide.
In a statement on Monday, 1 June 2026, the university said the milestone reflects its commitment to “research excellence, innovation and the advancement of the public good”.
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi said the achievement confirms the university’s position as a leading African institution with global reach and relevance.
“We are proud that Wits has earned its place in this ranking. Notwithstanding some of the misgivings around ranking systems, this ranking is important because it uses objective data to rank universities on education, research, faculty and the employability of graduates. Being ranked number one in Africa and among the top 1% globally is a testament to the collective excellence, resilience and ambition of our students, staff, alumni and partners,” he said.
“Wits performed exceptionally in areas that speak directly to real-world influence and graduate success. It is important that our graduates are employable. Wits achieved a remarkable employability rank of 97 globally, highlighting the calibre and competitiveness of Wits graduates in the international marketplace,” Vilakazi added.
Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town (UCT) announced that it secured second place nationally and in Africa, ranking 276th globally in the 2026 CWUR Global 2000 list.
UCT also congratulated Wits on its achievement.
“Out of 21,291 universities assessed worldwide, UCT ranked in the top 1.3% globally, while also securing second place nationally and in Africa. UCT congratulates the University of the Witwatersrand on being ranked first in Africa by the CWUR.”
According to Wits University, the CWUR is regarded as one of the most objective and transparent global university ranking systems because it evaluates universities using measurable, outcome-based indicators across four key pillars: education, employability, faculty excellence and research performance.
Unlike many international rankings that rely heavily on surveys and institutional submissions, the CWUR bases its rankings on objective performance indicators.
Click here to view the full Global 2000 List by the Center for World University Rankings: https://cwur.org/2026.php
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