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Best universities in Africa 2024

Find the best universities in Africa using Times Higher Education’s data from the World University Rankings and the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, and learn how they shine a spotlight on higher education in this region.

  • Best universities in
February 19 2024
University of Cape Town campus

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Top 10 universities in Africa 2024

Scroll down for the full list of best universities in Africa and a breakdown of the top four

Africa Rank 2024World University Rank 2024 World University Rank 2023 Universitycountry
1167 160 University of Cape TownSouth Africa
=2301–350 251–300 Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa
=2301–350 251–300 University of the WitwatersrandSouth Africa
4401–500 601–800 University of JohannesburgSouth Africa
=5501–600 401–500 University of KwaZulu-NatalSouth Africa
=5501–600 801–1000 University of PretoriaSouth Africa
=7601–800 351–400 University of Cape CoastGhana
=7601–800 NR Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)Egypt
=7601–800 601–800 North-West UniversitySouth Africa
=7601–800 601–800 University of the Western CapeSouth Africa

The best universities in Africa span 16 countries, from Uganda in the east to Nigeria in the west, Morocco in the north to South Africa at the southernmost tip of the continent, according to the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024.

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Overall, Egypt and Algeria are the two best represented African countries in the ranking, with 28 and 15 universities each. While the top 10 is dominated by universities in South Africa, 12 South African universities are represented in the full ranking. 

Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa all have universities in the top 1,000 of the global ranking.

The ranking rates university performance using 18 indicators measuring teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. The full methodology can be found here.

Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings

It’s important to note that we also produce a separate Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, which aim to shine a spotlight on the higher education institutions in this African region and to address local higher education challenges. 

The difference between the World University Rankings and the Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings is that the World University Rankings provide an insight into highly research-intensive universities across the world. They are ideal for students who are interested in postgraduate careers in academia. 

Meanwhile, the Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings are focused more specifically on the quality of teaching and the strengths of the universities across Sub-Saharan Africa. This ranking has been designed to take aspects of both Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals into consideration. 

A key part of the data collection was a survey of more than 20,000 students from 88 institutions. Students were asked a range of questions including how challenged they felt by the teaching at the university, how much it supported critical thinking and the opportunities they had to interact with staff and peers. 

You can see the full Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings here or the top 10 universities in the table below.

SSA Rank 2023UniversityCountry
1University of the WitwatersrandSouth Africa
2University of JohannesburgSouth Africa
3Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesTanzania
4University of PretoriaSouth Africa
5Makerere UniversityUganda
6University of the Western CapeSouth Africa
7Covenant UniversityNigeria
8UGHE – University of Global Health EquityRwanda
9Ashesi UniversityGhana
10Ardhi UniversityTanzania

 

Top 4 universities in Africa 2024

4. University of Johannesburg

The University of Johannesburg (UJ), situated in South Africa, is renowned for its dedication to diversity and forward-thinking approach. It excels in various academic fields, emphasises critical thinking and collaboration, and offers a wide range of programmes across eight faculties.

As a research institution, UJ addresses various challenges, from early childhood development to cutting-edge technologies. It fosters personal and academic growth through sports, arts and culture.

UJ’s diverse community, with members from more than 50 countries, benefits from global collaborations. The university is dedicated to inclusion and seeks to be a premier African institution promoting respect and innovation.

The University of Johannesburg also takes the second place position in the Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings. 

=2. University of the Witwatersrand

The University of the Witwatersrand – or Wits University, as it is commonly known – is a public research university based in Johannesburg.

It was founded as a school of mining; the region is the most abundant with gold of any location worldwide.

The university grew significantly in the late 20th century, and the campus has been expanding with many new buildings.

That time was also a period of protest against apartheid policies, and the university campus was divided. Nonetheless, many prominent black leaders graduated from the university.

There are five campuses, with two joined by a walkway. The campuses are home to student residences (including female-only dorms), academic departments, the Origins Centre, Planetarium, theatres, museums and galleries.

Academic research and teaching are spread across five faculties: Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Science; and Humanities.

Through the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, the medical school trains more specialists than any other university in southern Africa.

The Disability Rights Unit is a flagship centre ensuring that higher education is accessible to disabled students, caregivers and others in need of special provisions.,

Wits University also takes the first place position in the Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings. 

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=2. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is located in South Africa’s Western Cape, 50km from Cape Town. The university town maintains Dutch colonial architecture, and its streets host an array of cafés, boutiques and galleries.

Teaching at the university is split over four campuses, with the main one in Stellenbosch and the others in the nearby area. 

Students can complete assignments and exams in both English and Afrikaans, even though the main language of instruction is Afrikaans. For postgraduate students, the language in classes is determined by the demographic of the class, and is usually English.

There are about 150 academic departments within 10 faculties, and many other research centres.

In addition to an extensive library system, the university has a conservatory with two concert halls, home of the Stellenbosch University Choir – the oldest South African choir.

1. University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town’s campus is located at the foot of Table Mountain, offering spectacular views of Devil’s Peak and across the city. Some 18 per cent of the student body are international.

The university was founded in 1829, making it the oldest university in the country and the second oldest in Africa, behind the University of Sierra Leone, which was established two years earlier.

The main campus contains many teaching faculties, the main library and some halls of residence. The middle and lower campuses are home to most of the student residences, sports facilities and some academic departments.

Academic departments are grouped into six faculties: Commerce, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Law.

In addition, the university’s Graduate School of Business runs independently from the commerce faculty.

The university is committed to social change through its “transformation” projects, which tackle issues such as diversity, student opportunity and behaviour.

Best universities in Africa 2024

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2024 results

Africa Rank 2024World University Rank 2024 World University Rank 2023 Universitycountry
1167 160 University of Cape TownSouth Africa
=2301–350 251–300 Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa
=2301–350 251–300 University of the WitwatersrandSouth Africa
4401–500 601–800 University of JohannesburgSouth Africa
=5501–600 401–500 University of KwaZulu-NatalSouth Africa
=5501–600 801–1000 University of PretoriaSouth Africa
=7601–800 351–400 University of Cape CoastGhana
=7601–800 NR Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)Egypt
=7601–800 601–800 North-West UniversitySouth Africa
=7601–800 601–800 University of the Western CapeSouth Africa
=11801–1000 801–1000 Al-Azhar UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 801–1000 Alexandria UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 801–1000 American University in CairoEgypt
=11801–1000 401–500 Aswan UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 801–1000 Cairo UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 601–800 Covenant UniversityNigeria
=11801–1000 501–600 Damietta UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 801–1000 University of the Free StateSouth Africa
=11801–1000 401–500 University of IbadanNigeria
=11801–1000 501–600 Kafrelsheikh UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 801–1000 Makerere UniversityUganda
=11801–1000 601–800 Mansoura UniversityEgypt
=11801–1000 1201–1500 University of Tunis El ManarTunisia
=11801–1000 801–1000 Zagazig UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 1001–1200 Ain Shams UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 601–800 Benha UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 801–1000 Beni-Suef UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 NR Université Djillali Liabès de Sidi Bel-AbbèsAlgeria
=251001–1200 501–600 Durban University of TechnologySouth Africa
=251001–1200 601–800 Fayoum UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 1001–1200 Federal University of Technology AkureNigeria
=251001–1200 1001–1200 University of GhanaGhana
=251001–1200 501–600 Jimma UniversityEthiopia
=251001–1200 1001–1200 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyGhana
=251001–1200 401–500 University of LagosNigeria
=251001–1200 601–800 Minia UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 401–500 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied SciencesTanzania
=251001–1200 NR Nile UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 1201–1500 University of SfaxTunisia
=251001–1200 1001–1200 Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah UniversityMorocco
=251001–1200 1001–1200 University of South AfricaSouth Africa
=251001–1200 NR Suez UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 801–1000 Suez Canal UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 801–1000 Tanta UniversityEgypt
=251001–1200 801–1000 Zewail City of Science and TechnologyEgypt
=461201–1500 1201–1500 Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime TransportEgypt
=461201–1500 1001–1200 Assiut UniversityEgypt
=461201–1500 1001–1200 Bayero UniversityNigeria
=461201–1500 1001–1200 University of BotswanaBotswana
=461201–1500 NR Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)Botswana
=461201–1500 1201–1500 The British University in EgyptEgypt
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of CarthageTunisia
=461201–1500 601–800 Universidade Eduardo MondlaneMozambique
=461201–1500 401–500 Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1Algeria
=461201–1500 1201–1500 Université Hassan II de CasablancaMorocco
=461201–1500 1201–1500 Helwan UniversityEgypt
=461201–1500 1001–1200 Ibn Tofaïl UniversityMorocco
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of IlorinNigeria
=461201–1500 1001–1200 University of ManoubaTunisia
=461201–1500 1001–1200 University of Marrakech Cadi AyyadMorocco
=461201–1500 1001–1200 University of MauritiusMauritius
=461201–1500 1201–1500 Mohammed V University of RabatMorocco
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of MonastirTunisia
=461201–1500 601–800 University of NairobiKenya
=461201–1500 601–800 University of NamibiaNamibia
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of Nigeria NsukkaNigeria
=461201–1500 1001–1200 Port Said UniversityEgypt
=461201–1500 NR Université de SkikdaAlgeria
=461201–1500 1001–1200 Sohag UniversityEgypt
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of SousseTunisia
=461201–1500 1001–1200 South Valley UniversityEgypt
=461201–1500 1501+ University of TunisTunisia
=461201–1500 1201–1500 University of VendaSouth Africa
=461201–1500 501–600 University of ZambiaZambia
=461201–1500 1001–1200 University of ZimbabweZimbabwe
=761501+ 1201–1500 Université 8 Mai 1945 GuelmaAlgeria
=761501+ NR University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis MostaganemAlgeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 Abdelmalek Essaâdi UniversityMorocco
=761501+ 1501+ University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd TlemcenAlgeria
=761501+ NR Afe Babalola UniversityNigeria
=761501+ 1501+ Badji Mokhtar University – AnnabaAlgeria
=761501+ NR University of Batna 2Algeria
=761501+ 1501+ University of BéjaïaAlgeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 University of BeninNigeria
=761501+ 1501+ University of BiskraAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ Blida 1 UniversityAlgeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 Université Chouaïb DoukkaliMorocco
=761501+ 1501+ University of Dar es SalaamTanzania
=761501+ NR University for Development StudiesGhana
=761501+ 1501+ Federal University of Agriculture, AbeokutaNigeria
=761501+ 1501+ Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1Algeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 Université de GabèsTunisia
=761501+ 1201–1500 German University in CairoEgypt
=761501+ 1501+ Université Hassan 1erMorocco
=761501+ NR Hassiba Benbouali University of ChlefAlgeria
=761501+ NR University of JijelAlgeria
=761501+ NR Université Kasdi Merbah OuarglaAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ Ladoke Akintola University of TechnologyNigeria
=761501+ NR University of LaghouatAlgeria
=761501+ NR Lagos State UniversityNigeria
=761501+ NR University of MascaraAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ M’Hamed Bougara University of BoumerdèsAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ University Mohamed Boudiaf of M’SilaAlgeria
=761501+ NR Université Mohammed PremierMorocco
=761501+ NR Moulay Ismail UniversityMorocco
=761501+ 1501+ Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-OuzouAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ Nnamdi Azikiwe UniversityNigeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 Obafemi Awolowo UniversityNigeria
=761501+ 1201–1500 Oran 1 UniversityAlgeria
=761501+ NR University of Port HarcourtNigeria
=761501+ NR University of Sciences and Technology Houari BoumedieneAlgeria
=761501+ 1501+ University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed-BoudiafAlgeria
=761501+ NR Université Sultan Moulay SlimaneMorocco

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