The International Hotel School has been ranked among the world’s top hospitality institutions after securing a place in the top 50 of the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.
The South African-based institution ranked 44th globally for Hospitality & Leisure Management, marking its first entry into the top 50 since 2020. In the previous rankings, the school was placed in the 101 to 150 category.
The QS World University Rankings by Subject benchmark more than 21,000 academic programmes across 1,900 universities in over 100 countries. The rankings cover 55 disciplines and five broad faculty areas, including Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
South Africa Records Strong Performance in Global Rankings
Institutions from Sub-Saharan Africa featured almost 200 times in the 2026 rankings, with South Africa accounting for around 120 entries and 16 appearances in the global top 100.
“From new entries in subjects from Economics & Econometrics to Hospitality to Sports, the region’s higher education landscape continues to strengthen. However, as global higher education continues to evolve, universities must ensure their curricula and their programme portfolios create the best possible outcomes for both students and society.”
Ben Sowter
The University of Cape Town achieved the country’s best result, ranking 11th globally for Development Studies.
University of the Witwatersrand ranked 25th worldwide for both Development Studies and Engineering related to Mineral & Mining.
Other South African Universities Recognised Globally
The University of Cape Town also featured strongly in Anthropology, Archaeology, Sports-related Subjects, Medicine, Life Sciences, and Engineering related to Mineral & Mining.
The University of the Witwatersrand earned recognition for Anthropology, while the University of Johannesburg secured a place in the global top 100 for Development Studies.
The University of Pretoria was recognised for Development Studies, Theology and Veterinary Science, while Stellenbosch University ranked among the world’s best for Theology, Divinity & Religious Studies.
International Hotel School’s Growth and Industry Reputation
The International Hotel School was founded in the Carlton Hotel in 1994 to address a shortage of trained professionals in the hospitality sector.
Today, the institution offers nationally and internationally recognised degrees, diplomas and certificates across multiple areas of hospitality education.
The school operates campuses in Johannesburg, Benoni, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Gqeberha, alongside an online campus launched in 2014.
More than 1,300 students graduate from the institution each year, with many joining global hospitality brands including Disney, Seabourn Cruise Line and Ritz-Carlton Hotels.
The International Hotel School forms part of the Invictus Education Group. In 2021, Swiss-based Sommet Education acquired a majority stake in the group.
Although private higher education institutions in South Africa are not currently classified as universities, changes to regulations could allow the International Hotel School to receive official university designation in future.
