QS World University Rankings 2025: Nigerian Universities Miss Top 1000

The Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2025 have just been unveiled, listing over 1,500 universities from 105 higher education systems worldwide. This prominent ranking by QS, a leading higher education analytics firm, assesses universities on their academic prowess, reputation, and global diversity.

Top Universities in the World

The United States dominates the rankings with 197 institutions, followed by the United Kingdom with 90 and China with 71. For the 13th consecutive year, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tops the list. Notably, Imperial College London has risen four spots to secure second place, while the University of Oxford and Harvard University rank third and fourth, respectively. The University of Cambridge completes the top five.

Top 10 Universities in QS World University Rankings 2025

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, United States
• Imperial College London, United Kingdom
• University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
• Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
• University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Stanford University, Stanford, United States
• ETH Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
• National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
• UCL London, United Kingdom
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, United States

African Universities in the Rankings

While Nigerian universities did not make it into the top 1000, other African institutions have marked their presence:

• University of Cape Town, South Africa (#171)
• University of Witwatersrand, South Africa (#267)
• Stellenbosch University, South Africa (#296)
• University of Johannesburg, South Africa (#312)
• Cairo University, Egypt (#350)
• University of Pretoria, South Africa (#354)
• The American University in Cairo, Egypt (#410)
• University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa (#587)
• Ain Shams University, Egypt (#592)
• Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia (#771–780)

Nigerian Universities’ Performance

In the latest rankings, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos are placed between 1100-1200. This reflects a decline in their global standings compared to previous years. In 2023, Nigerian universities like the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, University of Lagos, and Ahmadu Bello University were recognized among the top universities globally by the Centre for World University Rankings.

Nigerian Universities in Past Rankings

• University of Ibadan: 1,163rd globally, top-ranked in Nigeria
• University of Nigeria (UNN): 1,784th globally, second in Nigeria
• Ahmadu Bello University (ABU): 1,881st globally, fourth in Nigeria
• University of Lagos (UNILAG): 1,875th globally, third in Nigeria

In April 2024, Covenant University was named the best university in Nigeria for the second time by Times Higher Education, with the University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, following closely.

The Path Forward

The latest QS rankings underscore the need for Nigerian universities to intensify their efforts in improving educational standards and global competitiveness. It is crucial for these institutions to enhance their academic offerings, research output, and international collaboration to climb the global rankings.

By addressing these areas, Nigerian universities can aspire to break into the top 1000 and gain recognition for their contributions to global education. The journey towards excellence continues, and with dedicated efforts, Nigerian institutions can achieve significant milestones in the years to come.