UJ leads Africa in eight subjects in latest ShanghaiRanking, affirming strength of research excellence

September 16, 2026

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The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is leading Africa in eight academic subjects in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS), further demonstrating the University’s growing research strength and international standing across a diverse range of disciplines.

UJ is ranked number one in South Africa in 10 subjects, with eight of these also leading the African continent. Overall, ShanghaiRanking lists UJ among the ranked universities in 15 subjects in the 2026 GRAS, spanning engineering, natural sciences, education, business, management and the social sciences.

“These results are not accidental and reflect a deliberate and sustained institutional investment in research excellence, high-quality academics and the capacity to produce research that is internationally recognised, impactful and relevant to Africa and the world,” says UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi.

“Our Strategic Plan 2035 places research, innovation, societal impact and global partnerships at the heart of UJ’s future. The decision to invest in research capacity, attract and develop high-quality academics, strengthen research environments and build international collaborations is intentional and long-term. Leading Africa in eight diverse subjects, while ranking number one in South Africa in 10, provides compelling evidence of the progress we are making in building a globally competitive research university from Africa.”

Prof Mpedi added that the breadth of the results is particularly significant as it is not excellence concentrated in a single discipline. “It spans engineering, the natural sciences, education, business, management and the social sciences. It reflects the strength of our researchers and research networks, the quality and impact of the scholarship being produced, and UJ’s growing contribution to global knowledge from an African base.”

The eight subjects in which UJ leads African universities are Hospitality and Tourism Management, Earth Sciences, Political Sciences, Education, Business Administration, Management, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Telecommunication Engineering.

The significance of the achievement is underlined by what GRAS measures. The ShanghaiRanking methodology evaluates universities at subject level using nine objective indicators grouped into five categories: World-Class Faculty, World-Class Research Output, High-Quality Research, Research Impact and International Collaboration.

The ranking therefore goes beyond a general assessment of universities or teaching performance. Its measures include highly cited researchers, internationally recognised academic award recipients, chief editors of major international journals and leadership positions in international academic organisations. It also considers publications in leading journals, Q1 journal publications, citation impact, research awards and internationally collaborative research. The ranking also uses its Academic Excellence Survey to identify top journals, international academic awards and leading academic organisations.

This research focus makes UJ’s breadth of performance particularly notable. The eight African-leading subjects stretch from highly specialised fields such as Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Telecommunication Engineering to disciplines, including Education, Political Sciences, Business Administration and Management.

UJ’s strongest global performance remains Hospitality and Tourism Management, ranked 19th in the world. Earth Sciences and Geography are both ranked in the global 101–150 band, while Sociology is ranked 151–200. Political Sciences, Education, Business Administration and Management are each ranked 201–300 globally.

The University’s performance also reflects the breadth of its research footprint. In total, 15 UJ subjects feature in the 2026 GRAS, which evaluates 57 subjects across Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences and Social Sciences.

The results align closely with the direction established through UJ’s Strategic Plan 2035, which places Technology for the Future, Societal Impact and Sustainability, and Global Footprint and Partnerships at the centre of the University’s trajectory. Research and innovation are central to this ambition, with the University seeking to generate knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop solutions to complex challenges facing society.

UJ’s longer-term investment in research capacity and Global Excellence and Stature (GES) initiatives has similarly focused on attracting distinguished academics, developing emerging researchers, strengthening research networks and enhancing the University’s international research footprint.

Prof Mpedi concludes: “Global recognition matters, but what matters most is what sits behind these results. It is the strength of our researchers, research infrastructure, the quality and influence of our scholarship, and the collaborations that enable UJ to contribute to global knowledge. As an African university with global ambitions, we are committed to producing internationally competitive research that responds to the challenges and opportunities of our continent. These results demonstrate the growing reach and impact of that work.”

The 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects was released on 15 September 2026. The ranking evaluates university performance within individual academic subjects rather than providing a single overall institutional ranking.

UJ’s number-one positions in South Africa are: