Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has once again cemented its status as Tanzania’s academic powerhouse, clinching the top spot nationally and securing a prestigious third-place finish in East Africa in the newly released 2026 QS Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings.
In a rigorous assessment conducted by the UK-based global authority Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), UDSM emerged as a continental leader, placing 21st overall out of 69 institutions evaluated across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The ranking utilises a bespoke methodology designed to measure performance against the specific socio-economic and academic priorities of the African continent.
UDSM’s rise in the rankings is attributed to a robust and balanced performance across five critical performance metrics. The University showed significant strength in Sustainability, scoring 64 points for its commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Its research prowess was equally evident, recording 19.7 papers per faculty member and 49.1 citations per paper, reflecting a high level of scholarly influence that aligns with national development goals.
It also earned an Academic Reputation score of 55.4, signalling recognition among scholars and peers. In the realm of Employability, UDSM earned a score of 53.3, a testament to the “market-ready” nature of its graduates.
This industry confidence is bolstered by a growing digital presence, as evidenced by a Web Impact score of 50.3. Under Learning Experience, UDSM achieved a Faculty–Student Ratio score of 15.3, underscoring continued efforts to maintain quality teaching and mentorship amid expanding enrolment.
The University scored 59.1 in the International Research Network indicator under Global Engagement, demonstrating expanding collaboration with global academic partners and strengthened participation in international research initiatives.
The 2026 inaugural edition of the Sub-Saharan Africa ranking highlights a diversifying landscape. While the University of Cape Town retained the overall top spot, UDSM’s 21st-place finish puts it in the elite company of regional giants like the University of Ghana (#8) and University of Ibadan (#11).
In East Africa, UDSM maintains its “Big Three” status alongside Addis Ababa University and Makerere University. Commenting on the milestone, UDSM ViceChancellor Prof William Anangisye attributed the success to ongoing institutional reforms.
“We have undertaken a comprehensive review of our curriculum and teaching methodologies to ensure alignment with evolving research priorities and labour market demands. These strategic improvements will further strengthen our competitiveness and position us for even greater distinction,” he said
