Best universities in Africa 2026

By seeta.bhardwa@…, 20 October, 2025

Top universities in Africa 2026

Africa Rank 2026	WUR Rank 2026	University	Overall	Teaching	Research Environment	Research Quality	Industry	International Outlook
1	=164	University of Cape Town	60.8	39.4	46.7	87.8	84.8	77.9
=2	301–350	Stellenbosch University	51.6–54.2	34.8	40.8	75.5	91.8	58.6
=2	301–350	University of the Witwatersrand	51.6–54.2	34.9	43.1	70.8	91.6	74.3
=4	351–400	Mohammed VI Polytechnic University	49.9–51.5	34.7	34.9	72.7	56.2	72.8
=4	351–400	University of Johannesburg	49.9–51.5	29.5	38.4	69.9	81.1	82
=6	501–600	University of KwaZulu-Natal	43.6–46.1	31.4	37.9	61.5	49.1	54.9
=6	501–600	University of Pretoria	43.6–46.1	32.3	34.7	57.5	61.1	65.2
=8	601–800	American University in Cairo	39.0–43.5	30.1	25.9	53.7	33.9	71.9
=8	601–800	Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology (E-JUST)	39.0–43.5	30.7	27.4	65	40.8	53.3
=8	601–800	Kafrelsheikh University	39.0–43.5	28.7	9.6	76.9	21.6	53.1
=8	601–800	University of the Western Cape	39.0–43.5	22.9	24.8	68.3	24.4	62
=12	801–1000	Ain Shams University	35.5–38.9	28.6	27.5	50.4	41	53.1
=12	801–1000	Al-Azhar University	35.5–38.9	22.1	12.8	68	24.6	58.9
=12	801–1000	Alexandria University	35.5–38.9	20.7	18.2	63.5	31.7	55
=12	801–1000	Cairo University	35.5–38.9	29.4	20	60.7	42.7	48.6
=12	801–1000	Future University in Egypt	35.5–38.9	22.2	10.6	78.6	18	64.4
=12	801–1000	International University of Rabat	35.5–38.9	18.4	12	73.2	31	76.3
=12	801–1000	Makerere University	35.5–38.9	21.5	26.6	54.2	32.8	69.7
=12	801–1000	Mansoura University	35.5–38.9	20.2	11.9	69.4	32.9	76.8
=12	801–1000	North-West University	35.5–38.9	22.3	18.8	63.8	45.1	56.4
=12	801–1000	University of Cape Coast	35.5–38.9	18.2	22.1	63.3	33.3	44.9
=12	801–1000	University of Ibadan	35.5–38.9	29.6	15.6	63.5	22.1	43.8
=12	801–1000	University of Lagos	35.5–38.9	18.4	20.1	66.7	32.6	45.6
=12	801–1000	University of Tunis El Manar	35.5–38.9	45.7	27.2	32.9	70.4	55.2
=25	1001–1200	Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport	32.1–35.4	35.1	20.6	44.3	28.6	57.8
=25	1001–1200	Aswan University	32.1–35.4	16	11.9	64.9	22.6	50.2
=25	1001–1200	Bayero University	32.1–35.4	22.5	11	60.7	18	49.6
=25	1001–1200	Beni-Suef University	32.1–35.4	25.8	11.3	59.4	22.8	55.6
=25	1001–1200	Covenant University	32.1–35.4	21.6	27.5	50.8	55.7	42.3
=25	1001–1200	Damietta University	32.1–35.4	18	10.6	69	19.6	48.1
=25	1001–1200	Delta University for Science and Technology	32.1–35.4	21.4	11	70.9	18	51.7
=25	1001–1200	Landmark University	32.1–35.4	20.2	18.4	61.9	22.1	37.2
=25	1001–1200	Minia University	32.1–35.4	18.5	9.5	65.2	24.1	50.9
=25	1001–1200	New Valley University	32.1–35.4	23.9	8.6	63.7	17.1	49.1
=25	1001–1200	Suez University	32.1–35.4	17.7	10.5	66.1	25.9	50
=25	1001–1200	Tanta University	32.1–35.4	20	9.5	66.3	23.5	49.1
=25	1001–1200	University of Botswana	32.1–35.4	14.5	13.2	62.9	19.1	58.9
=25	1001–1200	University of Ghana	32.1–35.4	17	32.2	49.2	46.8	50.3
=25	1001–1200	University of Sadat City	32.1–35.4	17.8	11	66.4	19.1	50.7
=25	1001–1200	University of the Free State	32.1–35.4	23.1	20	49.6	30.6	51.7
=25	1001–1200	Zagazig University	32.1–35.4	17.9	11.2	71.2	36.4	50.7
=42	1201–1500	Ahmadu Bello University	27.3–32.0	24.3	10	58.9	20.6	44.2
=42	1201–1500	Assiut University	27.3–32.0	23.6	12.4	48.3	25.3	57.9
=42	1201–1500	Benha University	27.3–32.0	16.5	10.3	63.9	22	49
=42	1201–1500	Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST)	27.3–32.0	23.7	14.1	33.1	19.6	73.2
=42	1201–1500	Damanhour University	27.3–32.0	15	9.4	56.9	17.2	49.1
=42	1201–1500	Fayoum University	27.3–32.0	18.3	12.2	60.9	23.6	47.5
=42	1201–1500	Federal University of Technology, Minna	27.3–32.0	22.3	8.5	51.8	17.8	44.6
=42	1201–1500	Ibn Tofaïl University	27.3–32.0	26.6	22.2	47.8	22.6	27.2
=42	1201–1500	Ibn Zohr University	27.3–32.0	20.9	11.8	55.1	21	33.8
=42	1201–1500	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology	27.3–32.0	17.7	16.6	53.3	26.7	46.5
=42	1201–1500	Menoufia University	27.3–32.0	15.9	10.5	59.7	28.2	48.8
=42	1201–1500	Mohammed V University of Rabat	27.3–32.0	29.3	16.1	41.9	43.6	32.1
=42	1201–1500	Nelson Mandela University	27.3–32.0	20.9	16.8	43.2	34	43.8
=42	1201–1500	October 6 University	27.3–32.0	19.8	8.4	61.7	16.8	41
=42	1201–1500	Port Said University	27.3–32.0	13.3	10.3	61.4	29.7	48.6
=42	1201–1500	Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University	27.3–32.0	26	11.1	42.7	19.2	50
=42	1201–1500	Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University	27.3–32.0	25.2	11.9	48.2	24.2	26.2
=42	1201–1500	Sohag University	27.3–32.0	15	9.2	55.1	20.6	52.2
=42	1201–1500	South Valley University (Egypt)	27.3–32.0	12.8	9.3	58.9	19.3	49.4
=42	1201–1500	Suez Canal University	27.3–32.0	20	9.9	56.3	28.5	51.9
=42	1201–1500	The British University in Egypt	27.3–32.0	16.7	12.1	53	19.1	37.4
=42	1201–1500	Universidade Eduardo Mondlane	27.3–32.0	11.3	8.7	60.3	21.1	52.3
=42	1201–1500	Université Djillali Liabès de Sidi Bel-Abbès	27.3–32.0	25.5	9.7	46.3	17.6	36.8
=42	1201–1500	University of El Oued	27.3–32.0	19.8	8.9	53	17.5	44.2
=42	1201–1500	University of Ilorin	27.3–32.0	15.5	12.6	64.8	20.2	42.6
=42	1201–1500	University of Jendouba	27.3–32.0	19.2	23.2	37.1	51.4	46.4
=42	1201–1500	University of Jos	27.3–32.0	15.3	8.6	55.9	18.4	46.4
=42	1201–1500	University of Manouba	27.3–32.0	25.9	9.7	42.1	23.9	45.8
=42	1201–1500	University of Mauritius	27.3–32.0	27.5	14.9	42.2	41.3	37.5
=42	1201–1500	University of Nigeria Nsukka	27.3–32.0	32	11	40.3	20.3	41.4
=42	1201–1500	University of Sfax	27.3–32.0	29.7	12.3	41.5	39.3	46
=42	1201–1500	University of South Africa	27.3–32.0	19.7	17.8	51	30.4	42.2
=42	1201–1500	University of Tripoli	27.3–32.0	14.6	10.7	66.1	17.2	43.3
=42	1201–1500	Zewail City of Science and Technology	27.3–32.0	23.7	10.5	48.2	23.7	40.6
=76	1501+	Abdelmalek Essaâdi University	10.3–27.2	22.9	11.1	43.1	20.7	29
=76	1501+	Babcock University	10.3–27.2	27.6	9.9	41.8	16	33.5
=76	1501+	Badji Mokhtar University – Annaba	10.3–27.2	39.9	8.8	17	21.3	35.3
=76	1501+	Blida 1 University	10.3–27.2	18.3	8.2	15.7	18.2	35.2
=76	1501+	Delta State University, Abraka	10.3–27.2	13.5	9.4	15.1	16.3	24
=76	1501+	Durban University of Technology	10.3–27.2	17.9	14	38.1	25	51.2
=76	1501+	Ekiti State University	10.3–27.2	24.2	10.1	17.3	16.4	31.6
=76	1501+	Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	10.3–27.2	17.7	8.8	24.3	21.1	34.8
=76	1501+	Federal University of Technology Akure	10.3–27.2	24.4	12.2	40	23.9	46.6
=76	1501+	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	10.3–27.2	25.2	8.3	23.7	26.9	40.5
=76	1501+	Federal University Oye-Ekiti	10.3–27.2	10.3	9.2	16.5	16.3	39.9
=76	1501+	Ferhat Abbas Sétif University 1	10.3–27.2	15.3	8.5	36	20.9	39
=76	1501+	Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef	10.3–27.2	16.2	12	45.2	31.1	42.2
=76	1501+	Helwan University	10.3–27.2	22.7	9	43.1	23	47.6
=76	1501+	Ibn Khaldoun University	10.3–27.2	13.7	8.5	19.2	17.2	34.8
=76	1501+	Kenyatta University	10.3–27.2	14.3	9.1	34.2	17.4	54.6
=76	1501+	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	10.3–27.2	14	10.7	40.7	25.6	37.2
=76	1501+	Lagos State University	10.3–27.2	17.1	10.5	30.1	20.9	45.5
=76	1501+	Larbi Tebessi University	10.3–27.2	18.6	9.1	21.3	17.2	30.7
=76	1501+	M’Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdès	10.3–27.2	15.7	8.6	20.9	22.4	32.6
=76	1501+	Misr University for Science and Technology	10.3–27.2	15.6	8.8	31.5	18.1	41.2
=76	1501+	Moulay Ismail University	10.3–27.2	14	10.8	56.7	21.3	27.9
=76	1501+	Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences	10.3–27.2	21.6	14.9	30.3	27.5	54.6
=76	1501+	Nile University	10.3–27.2	15.2	12.9	34.6	38.8	31.4
=76	1501+	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	10.3–27.2	23.3	8.6	36.2	19.2	36
=76	1501+	Obafemi Awolowo University	10.3–27.2	21.5	13.4	36	45.5	41.1
=76	1501+	October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA)	10.3–27.2	21.2	9.1	40.3	17.2	30.8
=76	1501+	Oran 1 University	10.3–27.2	26.2	8.8	11.5	19.2	37.7
=76	1501+	Université 8 Mai 1945 Guelma	10.3–27.2	18.7	8.6	30.6	19.5	35.6
=76	1501+	Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD)	10.3–27.2	16.3	10.7	17.5	23.9	52.2
=76	1501+	Université Chouaïb Doukkali	10.3–27.2	15.8	11.6	40.1	21.5	28.3
=76	1501+	Université de Gabès	10.3–27.2	20.3	11.5	35	20.5	44.2
=76	1501+	Université de Skikda	10.3–27.2	13	7.7	48.6	16.9	42.2
=76	1501+	Université Frères Mentouri Constantine 1	10.3–27.2	20.2	8.8	15.2	19.2	36.8
=76	1501+	Université Hassan II de Casablanca	10.3–27.2	22.3	9.4	44.6	27	28.5
=76	1501+	Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla	10.3–27.2	28.2	10.2	21	17.3	32.6
=76	1501+	Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou	10.3–27.2	18.2	8	6.6	17.1	41.1
=76	1501+	Université Sultan Moulay Slimane	10.3–27.2	18.6	13	46	18.2	22.9
=76	1501+	University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem	10.3–27.2	22.1	7.9	10.7	16.6	35.5
=76	1501+	University Cadi Ayyad of Marrakech	10.3–27.2	23.3	10.9	43	24.5	38.3
=76	1501+	University for Development Studies	10.3–27.2	24.4	10.7	35.2	18.4	49.2
=76	1501+	University Mohamed Boudiaf of M’Sila	10.3–27.2	18.5	9.8	15.7	18.7	35.5
=76	1501+	University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd Tlemcen	10.3–27.2	27.3	8.2	13.7	20.1	35.3
=76	1501+	University of Batna 2	10.3–27.2	20.2	7.6	10.3	17.1	28.7
=76	1501+	University of Béjaïa	10.3–27.2	17.4	8.7	19	19.5	43.8
=76	1501+	University of Benin	10.3–27.2	15.6	9.2	50.5	17.8	35.5
=76	1501+	University of Biskra	10.3–27.2	18.2	8.3	23.6	18.7	38.5
=76	1501+	University of Calabar	10.3–27.2	20.4	9.6	39.7	17	39
=76	1501+	University of Carthage	10.3–27.2	24.8	10.2	32.2	34.7	43.9
=76	1501+	University of Dar es Salaam	10.3–27.2	14.5	11.1	26.5	21.9	47.2
=76	1501+	University of Jijel	10.3–27.2	15.9	8.7	15.5	17.3	33.9
=76	1501+	University of Laghouat	10.3–27.2	17.4	8.2	20.5	17.1	40.9
=76	1501+	University of Mascara	10.3–27.2	15.7	8	27.1	17	43.2
=76	1501+	University of Monastir	10.3–27.2	24.2	10.9	39.8	32.7	46.9
=76	1501+	University of Nairobi	10.3–27.2	15.9	16.1	39.7	22.5	49.4
=76	1501+	University of Namibia	10.3–27.2	14.5	9	27.2	17.7	60.4
=76	1501+	University of Oum El Bouaghi	10.3–27.2	23.8	14.5	30.8	30.1	32
=76	1501+	University of Port Harcourt	10.3–27.2	20.6	8.8	19.5	21.2	37.6
=76	1501+	University of Rwanda	10.3–27.2	14.1	14.9	25.6	21.1	57.5
=76	1501+	University of Science and Technology of Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf	10.3–27.2	38.6	8.4	11.1	22.4	31.9
=76	1501+	University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene	10.3–27.2	19.7	8.3	14.5	25.1	32.3
=76	1501+	University of Sousse	10.3–27.2	26.9	10.6	31	23.1	41.6
=76	1501+	University of Tunis	10.3–27.2	33.3	10	24.4	28.3	39.8
=76	1501+	University of Zambia	10.3–27.2	16.4	11.1	31.1	24	57.4
=76	1501+	University of Zimbabwe	10.3–27.2	14.2	10.6	43.8	20.9	51.3
=76	1501+	Ziane Achour University of Djelfa	10.3–27.2	17.7	8.4	10.2	16.8	31.9

Key insights from the 2026 Africa University Rankings

The University of Cape Town in South Africa is the top university in Africa in 2026, maintaining its position from last year. It ranks in the top 200 universities in the world
The Africa Ranking ranks 151 universities across 18 countries in the continent. These countries include Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania among others.
Egypt is the most represented country with 36 universities present, while Algeria is the second most represented country with 28 countries. South Africa is the most represented country in the top 10 but with 13 universities in total.

Choosing a university in Africa

When considering the top universities in Africa, prospective students should weigh factors like programme offerings, campus culture, location, and tuition fees. Whether you’re seeking high-quality programmes, research opportunities, or a vibrant campus life, Africa offers a wide range of options.

There are many great study abroad destinations to consider in Africa such as South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco or Egypt. Each country will offer something different for prospective students.

Use the Africa university ranking above to explore institutions that align with your academic goals and career ambitions.

The table for the best universities in Africa was derived from data collected from the THE World University Rankings. The results are calculated using 18 performance indicators underlying five metrics: research environment, teaching (the learning environment), research quality, industry and international outlook. For more insights and a detailed breakdown of our ranking methodology, visit our methodology page. Use the Africa university ranking table above to explore the right institution for you.

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Discover the top universities in Africa with the Times Higher Education Africa Rankings 2026 and compare more than 150 institutions that rank the highest across the continent.

Times Higher Education's list ranks the best universities in Africa based on a comprehensive evaluation that covers areas such as teaching quality, research output, international collaboration, knowledge transfer, and industry connections.

The trusted methodology behind the rankings is developed by Times Higher Education's expert data team and is relied upon by students, academics, university leaders, policymakers, and industry partners worldwide to make informed decisions about higher education excellence.

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Best universities in Africa 2026

Top universities in Africa 2026

Key insights from the 2026 Africa University Rankings

Choosing a university in Africa

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