Full list: 29 Nigerian universities in 2027 global ranking
Nigeria has increased its representation in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings after 29 universities were included in the 2027 edition, up from 24 institutions in the previous ranking.
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) shared Nigeria’s highest position, with all three placed in the 801–1000 global band.
The 2027 ranking, released on September 30, assessed 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories. THE used 17 performance indicators covering teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
Which Nigerian universities ranked highest?
Covenant University, UI and UNILAG were the only Nigerian institutions in the 801–1000 band.
Their positions represent a change from the 2026 edition, when UI and UNILAG shared Nigeria’s highest position while Covenant University was placed third nationally.
The three universities are followed by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Bayero University (BUK), Landmark University and the University of Ilorin, all in the 1001–1200 band.
Full list of Nigerian universities in the 2027 ranking
- Covenant University — 801–1000
- University of Ibadan — 801–1000
- University of Lagos — 801–1000
- Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
- Bayero University — 1001–1200
- Landmark University — 1001–1200
- University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
- Babcock University — 1201–1400
- Osun State University — 1201–1400
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
- Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
- Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
- University of Benin — 1401–1600
- University of Jos — 1401–1600
- University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
- Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
- Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
- Lagos State University — 1801–2000
- Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
- University of Calabar — 1801–2000
- Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
- Ekiti State University — 2001+
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
- Kwara State University — 2001+
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
- University of Port Harcourt — 2001+
What did the ranking measure?
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assesses research-intensive universities using five broad areas.
These are:
- Teaching
- Research environment
- Research quality
- International outlook
- Industry
The 2027 edition introduced 17 performance indicators across those areas. THE said the new edition is its most inclusive so far, covering 2,297 institutions from 118 countries and territories.
How did Nigerian universities perform in specific areas?
Beyond their overall positions, the universities recorded different strengths across the ranking’s indicators.
UNILAG recorded Nigeria’s highest research quality score at 67.8.
Bayero University had the highest international outlook score among Nigerian institutions, while Covenant University recorded the country’s highest industry score.
This means the overall ranking does not tell the entire story of how each institution performed. Universities can have different strengths across teaching, research, international engagement and links with industry.
Nigeria records five new entries
Nigeria’s total increased from 24 ranked universities in 2026 to 29 in 2027.
Five institutions were newly ranked in the latest edition:
- Osun State University
- University of Maiduguri
- Olabisi Onabanjo University
- Kwara State University
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Nigeria now has the highest number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of ranked institutions in the region also increased from 55 to 69.
What about Nigerian universities that were not ranked?
THE also listed 33 Nigerian universities as “reporter” institutions.
These institutions submitted data but did not meet the requirements for a position in the ranking.
For a university to qualify for the World University Rankings, THE said it must teach undergraduates, conduct research across a range of subjects and have produced at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with at least 100 publications in each year.
The reporter institutions include Abia State University, Baze University, Bingham University, Bowen University, Nile University of Nigeria, Rivers State University, University of Cross River State and University of Delta, among others.
How did Nigeria compare globally?
At the global level, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for the 11th consecutive year.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology followed in second place, while Princeton and Stanford shared third position.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, moving up to joint 147th globally from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Nigeria’s 29 ranked universities therefore give the country the largest representation in the region, even though its highest-ranked institutions remain in the 801–1000 global band.
Why the 2027 ranking matters
The latest ranking provides a snapshot of how Nigerian research-intensive universities performed against institutions around the world using THE’s indicators.
It also shows the changing positions of Nigerian universities from one edition to another.
Covenant University moved back into the country’s highest-ranked group alongside UI and UNILAG, while five institutions entered the ranked list for the first time. At the same time, several other Nigerian universities remained outside the ranked table as reporter institutions.
The full Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 can be explored on THE’s official ranking platform.