Best Art & Design Schools in Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 1.04M citations received by 140K academic papers made by 264 universities in Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Art & Design

#1 in South Africa

#256 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Art & Design

#2 in South Africa

#263 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Art & Design

#3 in South Africa

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Art & Design

#4 in South Africa

#326 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Art & Design

#5 in South Africa

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Art & Design

#6 in South Africa

#420 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Art & Design

#7 in South Africa

#521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

8. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Art & Design

#8 in South Africa

#591 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

9. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Art & Design

#9 in South Africa

#719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

10. Cairo University

For Art & Design

#1 in Egypt

#730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 257,200
Founded: 1908

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Art & Design

#10 in South Africa

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

12. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Art & Design

#11 in South Africa

#855 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

13. Ain Shams University

For Art & Design

#2 in Egypt

#905 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

14. University of Sfax

For Art & Design

#925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

15. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Art & Design

#1040 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

16. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Art & Design

#3 in Egypt

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 197,278
Founded: 1942

17. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Art & Design

#4 in Egypt

#1071 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

18. University of Ghana

For Art & Design

#1 in Ghana

#1122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 67,914
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1948

19. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Art & Design

#1252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

20. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Art & Design

#1312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

21. Helwan University

For Art & Design

#5 in Egypt

#1335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

22. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Art & Design

#1 in Uganda

#1375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1922

23. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Art & Design

#12 in South Africa

#1397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

24. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Art & Design

#6 in Egypt

#1398 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

25. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Art & Design

#7 in Egypt

#1416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 6,857
Founded: 1919

26. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Art & Design

#1459 in the World

Founded: 1964

27. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Art & Design

#1473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

28. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Art & Design

#1515 in the World

29. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Art & Design

#1545 in the World

30. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Art & Design

#8 in Egypt

#1574 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

31. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Art & Design

#13 in South Africa

#1587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

32. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Art & Design

#1622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

33. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Art & Design

#1 in Kenya

#1644 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1970

34. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Art & Design

#1723 in the World

35. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Art & Design

#1728 in the World

36. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Art & Design

#1734 in the World

Founded: 1950

37. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Art & Design

#1760 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 18,040
Founded: 1955

38. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Art & Design

#1800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

39. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Art & Design

#2 in Ghana

#1826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Enrollment: 85,000
Founded: 1951

40. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Art & Design

#1864 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

41. Covenant University

For Art & Design

#1875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

42. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Art & Design

#1888 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

43. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Art & Design

#1914 in the World

44. Tanta University

For Art & Design

#9 in Egypt

#1933 in the World

Founded: 1972

45. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Art & Design

#1942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

46. Assiut University

For Art & Design

#10 in Egypt

#1949 in the World

Founded: 1957

47. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Art & Design

#1951 in the World

Enrollment: 98,720
Male:Female: 54:46

48. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Art & Design

#14 in South Africa

#1968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

49. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Art & Design

#15 in South Africa

#1993 in the World

Founded: 1916

50. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Art & Design

#2007 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

51. Minia University

For Art & Design

#11 in Egypt

#2013 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

52. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Art & Design

#16 in South Africa

#2017 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

53. Al-Azhar University

For Art & Design

#12 in Egypt

#2043 in the World

Founded: 1961

54. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Art & Design

#3 in Ghana

#2056 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

55. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Art & Design

#2064 in the World

Enrollment: 16,315

56. Benha University

For Art & Design

#13 in Egypt

#2088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 88,016
Founded: 1976

57. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Art & Design

#14 in Egypt

#2090 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

58. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Art & Design

#2107 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

59. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Art & Design

#1 in Mauritius

#2149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

60. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Art & Design

#17 in South Africa

#2176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

61. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Art & Design

#15 in Egypt

#2197 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

62. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Art & Design

#2218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 17,672
Founded: 1981

63. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Art & Design

#2272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

64. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Art & Design

#18 in South Africa

#2274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

65. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Art & Design

#10 in Nigeria

#2323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

66. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Art & Design

#11 in Nigeria

#2351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

67. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Art & Design

#1 in Sudan

#2381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 41,030
Founded: 1956

68. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Art & Design

#2396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 36,000

69. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Art & Design

#1 in Mozambique

#2434 in the World

Founded: 1985

70. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Art & Design

#2435 in the World

Enrollment: 8,443

71. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Art & Design

#12 in Nigeria

#2451 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

72. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Art & Design

#2466 in the World

73. Fayoum University

For Art & Design

#16 in Egypt

#2480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

74. University of Malawi

For Art & Design

#1 in Malawi

#2498 in the World

Founded: 1964

75. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Art & Design

#13 in Nigeria

#2516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

76. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Art & Design

#2 in Kenya

#2527 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

77. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Art & Design

#17 in Egypt

#2538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

78. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Art & Design

#2594 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

79. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Art & Design

#2631 in the World

Enrollment: 22,270
Male:Female: 52:48

80. University of Uyo

For Art & Design

#14 in Nigeria

#2637 in the World

Founded: 1991

81. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Art & Design

#15 in Nigeria

#2643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

82. South Valley University - Qena

For Art & Design

#18 in Egypt

#2653 in the World

Founded: 1995

83. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Art & Design

#2714 in the World

84. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Art & Design

#3 in Kenya

#2752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

85. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Art & Design

#4 in Ghana

#2813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

86. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Art & Design

#1 in Zambia

#2814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

87. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Art & Design

#2831 in the World

Founded: 1918

88. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Art & Design

#16 in Nigeria

#2835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

89. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Art & Design

#2894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

90. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Art & Design

#19 in Egypt

#2904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

91. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Art & Design

#19 in South Africa

#2950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

92. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Art & Design

#20 in Egypt

#3009 in the World

Founded: 2010

93. Aswan University

For Art & Design

#21 in Egypt

#3038 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

94. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Art & Design

#22 in Egypt

#3052 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 9,228
Founded: 2005

95. Lagos State University

For Art & Design

#17 in Nigeria

#3060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

96. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Art & Design

#23 in Egypt

#3066 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2012

97. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Art & Design

#3115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

98. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Art & Design

#20 in South Africa

#3132 in the World

Enrollment: 27,039
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 2005

99. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Art & Design

#4 in Kenya

#3149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

100. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Art & Design

#3153 in the World

Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 2000