If you want to pursue higher education in an African university, South Africa and Egypt are well-known destinations for international students seeking broad learning opportunities. However, some of the best universities in Africa span a dozen countries, from Nigeria to Kenya and Morocco.
We’ve compiled a list of the best schools in Africa from the best Africa schools ranked one through ten. The data comes from credible sources like the Times Higher Education and US News and World Report.
What Attracts Students to Universities in Africa?
Students are attracted to tertiary institutions in Africa because of the low cost of living, diversity, and welcoming culture. According to Business Insider, the number of African countries attracting international students is gradually rising.
Countries like Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya are seeing more and more international students pursue higher education and advanced degrees in their academic institutions. Besides the diversity and cost of living, the African university scene provides high-quality education.
Africa Schools Ranked: An Overview
| Africa Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 183 | 109 | University of Cape Town |
| 2 | 251-300 | 212 | University of the Witwatersrand |
| 3 | 251-300 | 317 | Stellenbosch University |
| 4 | 301-350 | N/A | University of Cape Coast |
| 5 | 351-400 | 371 | University of KwaZulu Natal |
| 6 | 401-500 | 517 | Addis Ababa University |
| 7 | 501-600 | 477 | Mansoura University |
| 8 | 501-600 | 510 | North West University – South Africa |
| 9 | 601-800 | 392 | Cairo University |
| 10 | 601-800 | 417 | University of Johannesburg |
The Best Universities in Africa, Explained
A couple of South African universities feature in Africa’s best-ranked universities. According to multiple sources, one of the best universities in Africa is the University of Cape Town. There are plenty of opportunities to study advanced degrees on the African continent. Below is a list of the best schools in Africa that consistently rank highly in global world reports.
1. University of Cape Town
- Campus Location(s): Rondebosch, Observatory, Hiddingh, V&A Waterfront
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 109
The University of Cape Town is a prestigious university and one of Africa’s most prominent public research universities. It is in South Africa’s biggest city, Cape Town, on the Western Cape of South Africa. According to this school’s official webpage, The University of Cape Town is home to about 28,600 students with approximately 1,000 international students.
Students can experience Capetonian life while studying at this institution known for offering excellent commerce, medicine, and law programs in this top ranking university.
2. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- Campus Location(s): Braamfontein, Parktown
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 212
This public research university located in Johannesburg, the South African Province of Gauteng, is home to about 40,699 students. This large campus spreads over 400 acres. Wits University has five faculties made of 33 schools that offer 3416 courses. It is internationally distinguished for its high academic standards and its research department.
3. Stellenbosch University
- Campus Location(s): Stellenbosch, Saldanha, Worcester, Tygerberg (Bellville), Bellville Park
- Acceptance Rate: 51%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 317
Formed in 1918, Stellenbosch University is one of the oldest universities on this list. It was one of the previous Afrikaner institutions in South Africa’s infamous racial inequality past. They only held lectures in the Afrikaans language at one time, but this has since changed, and classes are now in English.
This South African university houses approximately 10,456 postgraduate degree students and 31,540 students in total. This varsity consistently ranks highly in the world’s top academic institutions for offering excellent law, political science, and geography undergraduate programs.
4. University of Cape Coast
- Campus Location(s): Elmina, Cape Coast Castle
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: N/A
The University of Cape Coast is one of the largest universities in Ghana, with a student population of approximately 74,720. It is located in the historic town of Cape Coast, which is a popular tourist destination. It is located within 500 meters of the Atlantic Ocean, making it one of the few seafront universities in the world with fantastic views of the ocean. It offers a wide range of bachelor’s degrees and doctoral programs.
5. University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Campus Location(s): KwaZulu-Natal
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 371
The University of KwaZulu-Natal in the southern KwaZulu-Natal province is known for its beaches and diverse cultures. This African institution is famed for its innovative curricula, state of the art laboratories, research productivity and accredited professional degrees. The Times Higher Education Rankings estimates that this large, English-language based university is home to about 37,005 students.
6. Addis Ababa University
- Campus Location(s): Addis Ababa, Bishoftu
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 517
Addis Ababa University, one of the oldest universities in the country, opened in 1950. Ranked in the 401-500 range, this university’s 46,864 students study within a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs delivered by different faculties.
These faculties include biological engineering, humanities, social sciences, journalism and communication, business and economics, language studies, law and governance, education degrees and behavioral studies, natural and computational services, health science, and veterinary medicine. There are 13 separate campuses, most of which are in the capital and the other in Bishoftu, about 28 miles away.
7. Mansoura University
- Campus Location(s): Mansoura City
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 477
Mansoura University is in the middle of the Nile delta in Mansoura, Egypt. Among other things, this university is best known for its medical facilities. It has over nine major hospitals and medical centers, including a Mansoura University Children’s Hospital, a Urology and Nephrology Center, and a Medical Experimental Research Center.
8. North West University
- Campus Location(s): Vanderbijlpark, Potchefstroom, Mahikeng
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 23.5%
- US News Country Rank: 510
North West University is a South African university that was formally opened in 2004 as part of the existing administration’s efforts to transform higher education. This university has three campuses with eight faculties that provide a healthy number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
9. Cairo University
- Campus Location(s): Giza in Cairo
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: N/A
- US News Country Rank: 392
Cairo University is also known as the Egyptian University and should not to be confused with the American University in Cairo. Ranked in the 601-800 range, it is one of Africa’s oldest and largest universities. This school is home to over 230,000 students, a small percentage of whom are from overseas.
Cairo University is in this country’s capital city, Cairo, which is a popular tourist destination, Cairo. Some of the most popular undergraduate programs include math, chemistry, microbiology, engineering, pharmacology, and toxicology.
10. University of Johannesburg
- Campus Location(s): Four campuses all in the City of Johannesburg
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 83.4%
- US News Country Rank: 417
The last on the list of universities is The University of Johannesburg. As one of the largest African institutions, it has approximately 50,000 students. This public university is an exemplary institution of research and innovation.
Undergraduate and doctoral degrees offered by the school’s seven faculties and single college include education, law, arts and social sciences, humanities, health sciences, architecture, engineering, and business and economics.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in Africa
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. This ranking was created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in Africa Right for You?
A top university such as the University of Cape Town might be ideal for you if you are living in Africa or abroad. Many of these universities offer academic opportunities for future leaders. The relatively low cost of living, beautiful landscape, and conducive learning environment are all factors that make it easier to pursue higher education in one of the best universities in Africa.
Best Universities in Africa FAQ
The University of Cape Town is the number one university in Africa, according to data from both Times Higher Education and The US News and World Rankings. This institution ranks 109th globally and is known for offering excellent programs in infectious diseases, immunology, and public, environmental, and occupational health.
South Africa has a couple of highly ranked universities globally, including the University of Cape Town, the University of KwaZulu Natal, the University of Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University.
Cairo University is one of the best universities in Egypt. Home to over 230,000 students, Times Higher Education and US News and World Report Rankings rank this large university highly.
Harvard University is one of the best universities in the world with a perfect global score of 100, according to reports from the US News and World Report Rankings.
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