MUHAS tops national university rankings for 2026

DAR ES SALAAM: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) has achieved a major milestone, ranking as Tanzania’s top university in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.

This distinction reinforces its reputation as a leading institution for health sciences education and research.
At the regional level, MUHAS was placed third in East Africa, a recognition that highlights its sustained growth, rising competitiveness and expanding profile within the regional and global higher education landscape.

The ranking positions MUHAS among a select group of universities that have demonstrated consistent performance across key academic and research indicators.

Speaking on the achievement, MUHAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Appolinary Kamuhabwa said the recognition reflects the collective commitment, dedication and resilience of the entire university community.
“This remarkable recognition is a clear testament to the collective hard work and shared vision of the MUHAS community. Being ranked number one in Tanzania and among the top universities in East Africa affirms our strategic focus on excellence in teaching, impactful research, innovation and service to society,” Prof Kamuhabwa said.

He added that the university remains firmly committed to advancing transformative health training and research that responds to national, regional and global health priorities, particularly in addressing emerging and persistent public health challenges.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are among the most respected global ranking systems, assessing universities using rigorous performance indicators that include teaching quality, research excellence, citation impact, international outlook and engagement with industry.

University officials noted that MUHAS’s strong performance across these indicators reflects years of sustained investment in academic quality, research capacity and institutional development.

The latest ranking also reinforces MUHAS’s mission to provide transformative health training, conduct high-impact research and deliver quality services through the effective use of technology and innovation.

The university extended its appreciation to academic, research and administrative staff, students and alumni, as well as funders, partners and collaborators in training and research.

MUHAS further acknowledged the critical role played by its teaching hospitals, including Muhimbili National Hospital, Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute and CCBRT, alongside other national and regional referral hospitals that support training, research and clinical practice.

Currently, the university is implementing a range of initiatives aimed at sustaining and enhancing its academic standards, notably through the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project.
The 120bn/- project involves the construction of a College of Medicine at Mloganzila and a new MUHAS campus in Kigoma Region, both expected to be completed by June 2026.

According to university officials, the project will significantly expand MUHAS’s training capacity and increase student enrolment at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

At present, for every 31 qualified applicants, only one student secures admission. For example, in the 2025/2026 academic year, only 235 students were admitted out of 5,395 applicants for the Bachelor of Medicine programme.

Under the project’s nine priority areas, 83 curricula have been revised and 23 new programmes introduced, aimed at addressing the country’s health challenges and increasing the production of competent health professionals.

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