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UCT achieves highest QS ranking in a decade The University of Cape Town (UCT) has been ranked 150th globally, up from 171st in 2025 in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings. This upswing places the university firmly within the top 3% of 8 467 institutions evaluated, reinforcing its status as Africa’s highest-ranked university for another year. 19 Jun 2025 Media release
Academic calls for emotional leadership in healthcare amid budget cuts and burnout crisis A commentary piece published in the South African Journal of Science has sparked urgent national conversation around the emotional toll of South Africa’s public healthcare crisis and the leadership response it demands. 19 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT academic honoured for lifesaving research on African adolescents Professor Lucie Cluver, honorary professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and professor of Child and Family Social Work at the University of Oxford, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List. The award recognises her exceptional contributions to children’s wellbeing and global public health. 14 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT astronomers to celebrate first light images of global astronomy and astrophysics facility University of Cape Town (UCT) astronomers will be part of global celebrations to mark the first light images of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) – a project of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory , a brand-new astronomy and astrophysics facility under construction on Cerro Pachón in Chile – on the afternoon of Monday, 16 June 2025. 13 Jun 2025 Media release
Using technology ethically can support equitable land reform and spatial justice – UCT lecture University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Jenniffer Whittal’s recent inaugural lecture was not just an academic exercise but a deeply personal reflection on how land boundaries – both literal and conceptual – shape identity, power and opportunity. 10 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT launches African Bioinformatics Institute to transform health and research across Africa In a significant step for African scientific collaboration and capacity building, the African Bioinformatics Institute (ABI) has officially launched, with interim hosting support from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) . This transformative new organisation is set to drive a data-powered future for the continent, advancing bioinformatics research and infrastructure to unlock Africa’s full potential in health, development and innovation. 09 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT’s Makhaza sprints from Ikey Tigers to the Boks The spectacular rise of University of Cape Town (UCT) rugby star Ntokozo Makhaza reached a thrilling new high this week with his first official call-up to the Springbok squad – remarkably, before even making his senior Currie Cup debut. 06 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT-led study finds dehorning rhinos drastically reduces poaching in key African stronghold A landmark international study published on Thursday, 5 June 2025 in the Science Journal reveals that dehorning rhinos significantly reduces the risk of poaching – one of these iconic species' most immediate threats. 05 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT lecture explores the rich interplay between physical, social and intellectual boundaries The University of Cape Town’s Professor Jennifer Whittal from the Department of Civil Engineering will explore how geospatial technologies illuminate the history of local boundaries and their enduring role in spatial injustice during her lecture, titled “Beyond Boundaries”. The lecture will take place on Tuesday, 3 June 2025 at 17:15 SAST in the Chemical Engineering Seminar Room on upper campus. 02 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT at the forefront of landmark discovery on early human genetics In a scientific first, a team led by researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Copenhagen has used ancient proteins to uncover biological sex and hidden genetic variation in Paranthropus robustus – a close, extinct cousin of modern humans. 02 Jun 2025 Media release
UCT professor to deliver visionary lecture on advancing African health education Professor Jacky van Wyk, head of the Department of Health Sciences Education at the University of Cape Town (UCT), will deliver her inaugural lecture titled “Grounded in context, growing for impact: Advancing African scholarship in health professions education” on Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 18:00 SAST in the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, Health Sciences Campus. 29 May 2025 Media release
UCT lecture unpacks how South African classrooms reinforce inequality In a compelling inaugural lecture that combined decades of research with personal insight, University of Cape Town (UCT) Professor Ursula Hoadley exposed the entrenched inequalities in South African classrooms, highlighting how education continues to mirror – and perpetuate – social and economic divides. 28 May 2025 Media release
Double win for UCT GSB: Leading the way in transformative education and sustainability The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has earned two significant accolades: recognition that highlights its commitment to transformative and impactful education, and sustainability recognition that reinforces its commitment to responsible operations and environmental stewardship. 28 May 2025 Media release
UCT leads groundbreaking effort to combat drug-resistant malaria in East Africa A research consortium led by the University of Cape Town (UCT) has played a pivotal role in developing the first regional action plan to combat drug-resistant malaria in East Africa. Endorsed by health ministers from across the region, the plan represents a major step forward in preserving the efficacy of life-saving antimalarial treatments. 26 May 2025 Media release
UCT medical graduate awarded prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship University of Cape Town (UCT) medical graduate Gilad Shorer has been selected as one of 95 outstanding individuals worldwide to join the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholars. This recognition highlights his exceptional potential and commitment to making a significant impact in the field of medicine and beyond. 22 May 2025 Media release
UCT lecture delves into the role of teachers in disrupting entrenched social inequities Professor Ursula Hoadley from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town (UCT) will deliver her inaugural lecture on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. Drawing on nearly three decades of research, her lecture will explore what takes place in classrooms, particularly in environments marked by poverty and inequality. 19 May 2025 Media release
UCT rugby sensation inspired by historic Springbok call-up University of Cape Town (UCT) student and rugby sensation Ntokozo Makhaza has been selected for the Springboks’ latest alignment camp, marking a landmark achievement for both the 23-year-old and university rugby in South Africa. 19 May 2025 Media release
Alarming levels of loneliness found among South African adolescents – UCT study A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) revealed that loneliness is highly prevalent among South African adolescents. The study found that more than 90% of participants experienced either moderate or severe levels of loneliness, regardless of their HIV status. 14 May 2025 Media release
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