Stellenbosch University (SU) has been ranked among the world’s leading universities in two global rankings released in the same month. 

SU broke into the top 300 universities – for the third time in the past four years – in the latest QS World University Rankings (QS WUR), released on Thursday 18 June 2026. 

Earlier this month, SU featured among the top 2,2% of institutions globally in the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR).

In the 2027 version of the QS WUR, SU is ranked 296 overall in the world, improving on last year’s position of 302. SU occupies third place in South Africa (and in Africa) – the same as last year – and is also the leading university in citations per faculty in South Africa, and second in academic reputation.

The institution performed well by improving on its overall score, which is the sum of the scores for each of the nine indicators or categories used to assess universities. It also improved its world rank in three of the nine indicators compared to last year: academic reputation, citations per faculty and international research network. It did, however, drop in the other six indicators. This could be due to other universities improving more than SU on the indicators, as well as an increase in the number of institutions evaluated in the 2026 edition. SU also does not actively participate in this ranking.

In the latest edition of the QS WUR, which is regarded as one of the three top university ranking systems globally, 1 501 institutions across 106 locations – 8,808 institutions, including 94 new universities – were evaluated.

These institutions were assessed across the following nine indicators: academic reputation (global academics’ perceptions of an institution’s academic excellence); employer reputation (global employers’ perception of which universities provide the most job-ready graduates); faculty student ratio (the ratio between the number of academic staff and the number of students); citations per faculty (number of academic citations produced by faculty members); international faculty ratio (the proportion of faculty members who are international); international students ratio (the proportion of international students); international research network (an institution's success in creating and sustaining research partnerships with institutions in other locations); employment outcomes; and sustainability (the social and environmental impact of universities).

“Although the University does not actively take part in the QS rankings, we are delighted to move up into the Top 300 which is a positive performance,” comments Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Internationalisation. “It is encouraging to see that our sustained investment in research, postgraduate training and international collaboration continues to be reflected in the global rankings. Importantly though, the University measures its success above all by the difference it makes in the lives of its students, its communities and society. That purpose is guided by our Vision 2040 and the new Strategy Plan 2026–2030, which places excellence, inclusivity, innovation, partnership and societal impact at the centre of everything the University does. We remain committed to advancing knowledge in service of society, meaningful engagement and research that contributes to human dignity, social justice and transformation. 

“SU also congratulates the other South African and African universities being recognised in the QS Rankings. The outcome reflects the depth of research and scholarship across our higher education sector, and SU remains committed to working alongside its partners to address the complex challenges facing the continent and the world,” Moyo adds. 

Proxies

SU is on record that it views rankings for what they are: useful but partial proxies, not measures of a university's full worth. League tables are strongest at capturing research output, citation impact, international visibility, academic reputation and research-funding success. They are far weaker at reflecting social mobility, community impact, the success of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, regional economic development, nation-building, policy influence and cultural contribution. A university ranked 50th globally may make a modest contribution to local challenges, while one ranked 500th may transform thousands of lives through teacher education, healthcare, agricultural innovation or public service. 

Over the last few years, SU has been consistently ranked among the best tertiary institutions on the QS WUR, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, the CWUR, the Academic Ranking of Word Universities, the THE World University Rankings by Subject and the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

• Visit the QS Ranking website for more information.