The University of the Free State (UFS) continues to strengthen its global academic standing, with sustained and improving representation across nine subject areas in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject. The latest results reflect steady progress in research quality, teaching, and societal relevance, aligned with the university’s vision to create responsible societal futures.

The UFS’ strongest performance in the 2026 rankings is in Law, which is placed in the 301–400 band, signalling continued consolidation in a discipline central to justice, governance, and social impact. This result builds on the university’s consistent strength in global rankings related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

The university is also ranked in the 401–500 band for both Arts and Humanities and Education Studies, reflecting strengthening performance in fields that shape critical thinking, learning, and social transformation.

The Psychology discipline is ranked in the 501–600 band, pointing to growing recognition of the UFS’ work in understanding human behaviour, mental health, and community well-being. Together, these results illustrate areas where the university has built depth and momentum through focused investment in scholarship and teaching.

The UFS is further represented in the 801–1 000 band across a range of strategically important disciplines, including Business and Economics, Medical and Health, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. This broad subject presence reflects expanding research capacity in fields that address complex economic, scientific, health, and societal challenges, particularly within South Africa and the Global South.

By 2034, the UFS intends to be recognised and acknowledged by peers and society as a top-tier university in South Africa. The university’s goal is to be ranked among the top five universities in South Africa and among the top 600 globally by appropriately chosen global ranking systems. These results build on recent gains and reflect the impact of deliberate institutional efforts to enhance research capacity, grow postgraduate scholarship, and deepen socially responsive research and teaching. While the rankings serve as an external benchmark, the UFS measures success equally through relevance, care, and meaningful contribution to society.  

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject assess universities using discipline-specific performance indicators across teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook. The UFS’ continued inclusion across multiple subject areas points to a strengthening and increasingly balanced academic profile.