Students on the University of Johannesburg campus.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has climbed to its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings, rising 16 places to #292 globally and securing second place in both South Africa and Africa in the 2027 edition of the rankings released on June 18, 2026.
The result marks UJ’s first entry into the global top 300 and continues a sustained upward trajectory, strengthening the University's position among the world’s leading institutions. It also comes as South Africa doubled its representation among the world’s top 300 universities, demonstrating the growing international competitiveness of the country’s higher education sector.
Vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, welcomed the achievement as a significant milestone in UJ’s journey towards global excellence.
“Achieving our highest-ever QS ranking of #292 globally and breaking into the world’s top 300 universities for the first time is a significant milestone for the University. What is particularly encouraging is that this achievement forms part of a broader pattern of progress across multiple international ranking systems, reflecting the strength and consistency of our academic, research and internationalisation efforts.
