Best universities in Africa 2023

The best universities in Africa span 10 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 2023.

Overall, Egypt and South Africa are the two best-represented African countries in the ranking, with 20 and 10 universities each.

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa all have universities in the top 500 of the global ranking.

Top 3 best universities in Africa 2023

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.

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.

most of the students are international students

Academic departments are grouped into six faculties: the built environment, health sciences, commerce, engineering, humanities, science, and law.

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

2. University of the Witwatersrand

The University of the Witwatersrand is a public research university based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It was founded as a school of mining gold, 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 fairly 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, and academic departments.

Academic research and teaching are spread across five faculties: commerce, engineering, the built environment, health sciences, law and management, science, and humanities.

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

3. Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University is located in South Africa’s Western Cape, not far from Cape Town.

The university town maintains Dutch colonial architecture, and the streets host an array of cafes, boutiques, and galleries.

Among the university’s many achievements, it designed Africa’s first microsatellite in 1999.

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

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 centers.

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

Best universities in Africa 2023 full list and ranks

Africa Rank 2021 | World University Rank 2023 | University |Country and City

1 =136 University of Cape Town South Africa Cape Town
2 =194 University of the Witwatersrand South Africa Johannesburg
3 251–300 Stellenbosch University South Africa Stellenbosch
=4 401–500 Aswan University Egypt Aswan
=4 401–500 Covenant University Nigeria Ota
=4 401–500 University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa Durban
=4 401–500 Mansoura University Egypt Dakahlia
=8 501–600 University of Ibadan Nigeria Ibadan
=8 501–600 North-West University South Africa Potchefstroom, Mahikeng, Vanderbijlpark
=8 501–600 Suez Canal University Egypt Ismailia
=11 601–800 Beni-Suef University Egypt Beni Suef
=11 601–800 Cairo University Egypt Cairo
=11 601–800 Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1 Algeria Setif
=11 601–800 University of Johannesburg South Africa Johannesburg
=11 601–800 Kafrelsheikh University Egypt Kafr el-Sheikh
=11 601–800 Makerere University Uganda Kampala
=11 601–800 University of Pretoria South Africa Pretoria
=11 601–800 Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University Morocco Fez
=11 601–800 University of the Western Cape South Africa Cape Town
=20 801–1000 Ain Shams University Egypt Cairo
=20 801–1000 American University in Cairo Egypt Cairo
=20 801–1000 University of Béjaïa Algeria Béjaïa
=20 801–1000 Benha University Egypt Benha
=20 801–1000 the University of Ghana Ghana Accra
=20 801–1000 University of Lagos Nigeria Lagos
=20 801–1000 University of Nairobi Kenya Nairobi
=20 801–1000 Tanta University Egypt Tanta
=20 801–1000 Tshwane University of Technology South Africa Pretoria
=29 1001+ Al-Azhar University Egypt Cairo
=29 1001+ Alexandria University Egypt Alexandria
=29 1001+ Assiut University Egypt Assiut
=29 1001+ University of Biskra Algeria Biskra
=29 1001+ University of Carthage Tunisia Tunis
=29 1001+ University of Constantine 1 Algeria Constantines
=29 1001+ University of Dar es Salaam Tanzania Dar es Salaam
=29 1001+ Fayoum University Egypt Faiyoum
=29 1001+ Université Hassan II de Casablanca Morocco Casablanca
=29 1001+ Helwan University Egypt Ain Helwan
=29 1001+ University of Manouba Tunisia Manouba
=29 1001+ University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad Morocco Marrakech
=29 1001+ Menoufia University Egypt Menoufia
=29 1001+ M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdès Algeria Boumerdès
=29 1001+ Minia University Egypt Minya
=29 1001+ Mohammed V University of Rabat Morocco Rabat
=29 1001+ University of Monastir Tunisia Monastir
=29 1001+ University of Nigeria Nsukka Nigeria Nsukka
=29 1001+ University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene Algeria Bab-Ezzouar
=29 1001+ University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf Algeria Bir El Djinn
=29 1001+ University of Sfax Tunisia Sfax
=29 1001+ Sohag University Egypt Sohag
=29 1001+ University of Sousse Tunisia Sousse
=29 1001+ University of South Africa Pretoria
=29 1001+ South Valley University Egypt Quena
=29 1001+ University of Tlemcen Algeria Tlemcen
=29 1001+ University of Tunis El Manar Tunisia Tunis
=29 1001+ Zagazig University Egypt Zagazig

Here is the complete list of the top universities in Africa with their rank in Africa and their global ranks.