Top 10 Best University in Africa 2024

Africa, as the second largest continent in the world, has a wide number of institutions of learning in different countries. There are over a thousand officially recognized higher institutions in Africa. 

Introduction

   Almost all 54 countries in Africa have a higher institution to their name. The world has progressed to the point where education is one of the major weapons needed for survival and every country leader has taken steps to ensure the survival of their people. Out of the myriad of universities in Africa, in this article, we’ll be looking at the 10 that sit at the top of the list of best universities in Africa. 

University of Cape Town

   The University of Cape Town is the number one university in the whole of Africa. It was founded in 1829 and it is a public research university located in South Africa. It was fully recognized as a university later in 1918 making it one of the oldest universities in Africa and the oldest university in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region of Africa. According to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, the University of Cape Town is the 167th best university in the world. 

The university charges about EUR 4100 each year and they offer more than 70 courses among which include Property Development and Investment, Human Resource (HR) Management, Operations Management, Project Management Foundations, Paralegal Practitioner, Occupational Health and Safety Construction Management, Law, and many others. 

University of Witwatersrand

The University of Witwatersrand is a multi-campus public research university located in the Northern areas of Central Johannesburg, South Africa. It was founded in 1896 and is the third oldest university in South Africa. It was formed by the African School of Mines. 

The University of Witwatersrand can also be called Wits University and according to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, it ranks among the 301 – 350th universities in the world. Courses offered include Clinical Medical Practice, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and many others. Tuition fees range from R41,820 to R74,370. 

Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University situated in Stellenbosch in the western Cape province of South Africa is a public research university. Stellenbosch University was fully acknowledged as a higher institution in 1918 and along with the University of Cape Town, it’s the oldest university in South Africa and the sub-Saharan region. 

According to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, Stellenbosch University ranks among the 301 – 350th universities worldwide. Tuition fees range from R56,000 – R90,000. Courses offered include physiotherapy, dietetics, law, sports science, and many more. 

University of Johannesburg 

   University of Johannesburg is a public university located in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was founded as a result of a merger between the Rand Afrikaans University, the Technikon Witwatersrand, and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University. This merger took place in 2005. 

The Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, ranks the University of Johannesburg among the 401 – 500th universities in the world. Its tuition fees are R29,860 – R46,840 and courses offered include law, architecture, marketing, industrial design, and many more. 

University of KwaZulu-Natal

University of KwaZulu-Natal is a university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed after the merger between two prominent universities, the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville of South Africa. The merger was done on the first day of January 2004 after which the University of KwaZulu-Natal was formed. 

According to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, the University of KwaZulu-Natal ranks in the 501 – 600th ranks. Tuition fees are 31,700 ZAR and courses offered include Business Administration, Theology, Optometry, Agricultural Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, and many more. 

University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria is a public research university situated in Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa. It was founded in 1908 and it is the fourth South African institution to be awarded the status of a degree-awarding institution. According to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, the University of Pretoria ranks among the 501 – 600th universities in the world. 

Tuition fees are R60,000 – R85000 depending on the course of study. Courses offered include Law, Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Radiography, Theology Physiotherapy and many more.

Northwest University – South Africa

   Northwest University is a public university in South Africa which was formed from a merger between the Potchefstroom University and the University of North-West in 2004. After the successful merging, Northwest University became one of the most successful universities in South Africa and it also has the 3rd highest student population amongst all universities in South Africa. 

Tuition fees are R21,870 and courses offered are law, theology, nursing, accounting, and many others, Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking of Northwest University South Africa is 601 – 800th worldwide. 

Cairo University

   Cairo University is Egypt’s public university. Its main campus is located in Giza after being located in various parts of Cairo. The main campus was established in Giza in 1929. The university was founded more than a hundred years ago in 1908 by a group of individuals which include Saad Zaghloul, Fuad I of Egypt, Mohammad Farid, and Hassan Saeed Bey. 

According to the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, Cairo University ranks among the 801 – 1000th universities in the world. Its tuition fees are 6750 USD and courses offered include physiotherapy, nursing, pharmacology, medicine, mass communication, law, and many others. 

University of Ibadan

The University of Ibadan is a public university in Ibadan, Nigeria. It was founded in 1948 and was under the University of London until 1962 when it became an independent institution. It is also the oldest university in Nigeria.

 It is ranked among the 801 – 1000th universities in the world by the Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking, the tuition fees are about 150,000 naira, and courses offered include pharmacy, law, engineering, basic medical sciences, and many more. 

Mansoura University

Mansoura University is one of the biggest universities in Egypt. It was founded in 1972 in Mansoura city. The Times Higher Education (The) World University Ranking of Mansoura University is among the 801 – 1000th universities worldwide. Tuition fees are 90,000 Egyptian pounds and courses offered include agriculture, botany, geology, irrigation and many more. 

Conclusion

   These are the top 10 universities in Africa. Although some of their rankings sit near the 1000th position, it should be noted that Nigeria alone has more than a thousand universities. Do you know any institutions that can make this list? Let us know in the comment section.