Covenant University has been named the leading African institution in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, placing first in Nigeria and securing the 49th spot globally. The rankings, released on Thursday via THE’s website, assess how universities foster and support interdisciplinary scientific work, which combines methods and insights from multiple scientific fields or integrates STEM disciplines with selected non-STEM areas such as psychology, education, law, economics, social sciences, or health-related fields.
Now in its second edition, the assessment evaluates universities using 11 indicators, including research funding, performance outcomes, infrastructure, administrative support, promotion of interdisciplinary work, publication output, research strength, and global reputation. This year, 911 universities across 94 countries were ranked, with Covenant University standing out as the only African institution in the global top 50. Egypt’s Cairo University followed at 69th place.
Within Nigeria, 18 of the 30 institutions that submitted data made the rankings. After Covenant University, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka ranked second at 161, followed by Landmark University (201–250), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (251–300), and the University of Ilorin (251–300). Other Nigerian universities in the rankings include the University of Lagos (301–350), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (401–500), Obafemi Awolowo University (401–500), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (501–600), and Ahmadu Bello University (601–800), among others.
The rankings highlight Covenant University’s commitment to interdisciplinary research and its growing global reputation as a hub for innovative scientific collaboration, underscoring Nigeria’s emerging influence in the international academic landscape.
