Times Higher Education Ranks UKZN Among World’s Top 501-600 Universities

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has proudly secured a position among the top 501-600 universities globally in the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. This ranking reflects the Institution’s excellence in its core missions of teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and internationalisation.

Ms Normah Zondo, Executive Director of Corporate Relations, lauded the achievement, attributing it to the collective efforts of UKZN’s staff and students. ‘Being ranked by Times Higher Education is a significant milestone, offering an objective measure of our institutional performance. UKZN’s success is built on a foundation of robust governance, visionary leadership in managing academic talent, exceptional research output, and the consistent delivery of high-quality academic programmes. Our global standing is a testament to the dedication and calibre of our academic community.’

Zondo emphasised that the University’s upward trajectory aligns with its Strategic Plan 2023-2032. ‘This Plan serves as our guiding framework, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in all aspects of the University’s operations. As we look to the future, we are poised to enhance our physical and human infrastructure, laying the groundwork for innovation, entrepreneurship, and continued academic leadership. Our ongoing efforts in cutting-edge research will not only expand UKZN’s global intellectual influence but also address pressing societal challenges, ensuring that our work has a meaningful impact both locally and internationally.

This year, more than 2 000 institutions from 115 countries and territories were ranked. Mr Phil Baty, THE’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said: ‘I want to make a special point of congratulating every ranked university - simply being included in the ranking is something to celebrate as we focus on a couple of thousand global research universities among the tens of thousands of Higher Education Institutions worldwide. 

‘Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings is the world’s gold standard for ranking research-intensive universities. It’s unparalleled in participation, rigour and is the most trusted and respected ranking of its kind - where we have taken 21 years to carefully build up its reputation and prestige,’ said Baty.

University rankings 2025: Key insights from THE’s website

•    Oxford held on to the top spot for the ninth consecutive year, bolstered by significant improvements in industry engagement and teaching;

•    MIT rose to second place, overtaking Stanford, which dropped to sixth;

•    China edged closer to the top 10, further boosting its global research influence;

•    Australia’s top five universities all slipped down the rankings, due to declining reputation and international outlook;

•    Three new countries joined the top 200: Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - highlighting the rise of emerging markets in Higher Education.

To explore the full rankings and see how universities around the world have performed, click here.

Words: Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer

Image: Supplied