The inaugural 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for the sub-Saharan Africa region place the North-West University (NWU) among the top seven institutions in the region.

This latest impressive performance in the rankings follows as the NWU, guided by its strategy of Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond, continues to strengthen its position as a globally engaged, research-intensive and socially responsive institution with an impactful presence in Africa. The result shows how the strategic priorities of the university are translating into measurable impact across the higher-education landscape.

The QS World University Rankings for sub-Saharan Africa underscore the standing of the university among the leading institutions in both regional and international contexts. QS published this new ranking on 12 February 2026.

According to QS, the 2026 edition of the rankings includes 69 institutions across 21 African locations. In South Africa, 14 universities were evaluated. The NWU achieved an overall score of 80, positioning it firmly among the best-performing institutions in the region.

The NWU delivered particularly strong performances in several key indicators. The university achieved a score of 97,2 for its international research network, 95 for sustainability, and 93 for citations per paper. More solid performances include an employer reputation score of 72 and an academic reputation score of 66,1.

In the QS Global World University Rankings published in June last year, QS placed the NWU among the top eight universities in South Africa and among the top 16 in Africa. The global rankings encompassed 1 501 universities across 105 locations worldwide.

Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, says the 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for the sub-Saharan Africa region clearly shows the growing reputation of the NWU and its impact in the region. He believes that this standing will further be cemented with the new initiatives by the NWU such as the establishment and proposed establishment of future-fit academic schools, including the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, the School of Mines and Mining Engineering, and the School of Veterinary Sciences. These and other cross-sectoral projects reinforce the emphasis of the university on internationalisation, partnerships and societal impact.

For more information about the continued strong performance of the NWU in global rankings, visit www.nwu.ac.za/rankings. To learn more about the QS World University Rankings for sub-Saharan Africa, visit: https://www.qs.com/insights/qs-world-university-rankings-sub-saharan-af…