Morocco’s universities struggle to rise in global rankings amid regional competition

Morocco has achieved a modest presence in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, with two universities making it to the list published by the British firm Quacquarelli Symonds. The rankings highlight the country’s challenges in competing on both regional and global levels.

Out of 1,501 institutions ranked across 106 countries, Morocco is represented by Mohammed V University in Rabat, which falls within the 1,201–1,400 band, and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, ranked in the 1,401+ category. Despite their historical significance as leading academic institutions in Morocco, neither university managed to secure a position in the higher tiers of the global rankings.

Regional competition intensifies

In Africa, other countries have outperformed Morocco in the QS rankings. Egypt boasts 20 universities on the 2026 list, while South Africa has 11, including the University of Cape Town, which ranks 150th globally, and the University of the Witwatersrand, which holds the 29th position regionally.

However, the rankings reflect broader inequalities in African higher education, with only ten countries on the continent represented. Nigeria, for instance, failed to place any of its 297 universities among the top 1,000 for the third consecutive year. While no African university made it into the global top 100, South Africa’s University of Cape Town stands out as a continental leader.

Global leaders dominate rankings

At the international level, American and British institutions dominate the rankings. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retained its position as the world’s top university, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University, and the University of Oxford.

Call for reforms in Morocco’s higher education system

The QS rankings are based on eight key metrics, including academic and employer reputation, research impact, faculty-to-student ratio, and international diversity. Morocco’s limited visibility in global rankings underscores the need for deeper reforms in higher education. Experts have called for stronger research policies, enhanced academic-industry collaboration, and more effective strategies for internationalization.

A recent study published in the African Scientific Journal highlighted critical areas for improvement in Morocco’s education system. These include raising teaching standards, modernizing curricula, fostering global partnerships, and integrating the English language more comprehensively into academic programs to better prepare graduates for the international stage.

With growing regional competition and increasing demands for global engagement, Morocco must prioritize innovation and investment in its universities to remain relevant in the evolving landscape of higher education.