Three Nigerian universities enter THE global top 1,000
The University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Covenant University were placed in the 801–1000 band of the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The result increases Nigeria’s representation in the top 1,000 from two institutions in the previous edition.
Three Nigerian universities have been placed among the world’s top 1,000 institutions in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Covenant University were all ranked in the 801–1000 band, according to the latest edition released by Times Higher Education. The result gives Nigeria three universities in the top 1,000, compared with two in the 2026 ranking.
Covenant University returned to the group after being placed in the 1001–1200 band in the previous edition. The number of Nigerian universities assessed also rose to 29 from 24 a year earlier. Five institutions appeared in the ranking for the first time: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Other Nigerian universities were placed in bands ranging from 1001–1200 to 2001 and above. Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin were in the 1001–1200 band, while several others appeared in lower bands. Globally, the University of Oxford retained first place for an 11th consecutive year.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was second, while Princeton University and Stanford University shared third place. The 2027 ranking assessed 2,297 universities in 118 countries and territories. Times Higher Education said its assessment covered teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry, using 17 performance indicators.
Research quality carried the largest weighting at 30 per cent, followed by teaching at 29.5 per cent and the research environment at 29 per cent. Eligibility included undergraduate teaching and at least 1,000 relevant research publications between 2021 and 2025.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.