Best Universities for Literature in Africa

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 574K citations received by 69.5K academic papers made by 219 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 Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Literature

#1 in South Africa

#202 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Literature

#2 in South Africa

#219 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Literature

#3 in South Africa

#236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Literature

#4 in South Africa

#250 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Literature

#5 in South Africa

#279 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Literature

#6 in South Africa

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Literature

#7 in South Africa

#427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Literature

#8 in South Africa

#513 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

9. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Literature

#9 in South Africa

#523 in the World

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

10. Cairo University

For Literature

#1 in Egypt

#665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 207,853
Founded: 1908

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Literature

#10 in South Africa

#696 in the World

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

12. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Literature

#11 in South Africa

#763 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

13. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Literature

#773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

14. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Literature

#923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

15. Ain Shams University

For Literature

#2 in Egypt

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

16. University of Ghana

For Literature

#1 in Ghana

#1030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

17. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Literature

#1038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

18. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Literature

#3 in Egypt

#1057 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

19. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Literature

#4 in Egypt

#1067 in the World

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

20. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Literature

#5 in Egypt

#1108 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

21. University of Sfax

For Literature

#1180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

22. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

23. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Literature

#1 in Uganda

#1224 in the World

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

24. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Literature

#1239 in the World

25. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Literature

#1 in Botswana

#1248 in the World

Founded: 1964

26. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Literature

#12 in South Africa

#1344 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

27. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Literature

#6 in Egypt

#1347 in the World

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

28. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Literature

#2 in Ghana

#1355 in the World

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

29. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#1365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

30. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#1367 in the World

31. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Literature

#1374 in the World

Founded: 1950

32. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Literature

#1 in Kenya

#1378 in the World

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

33. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Literature

#1404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

34. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#1453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

35. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Literature

#1498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 20,399
Founded: 1955

36. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Literature

#13 in South Africa

#1502 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

37. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Literature

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

38. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Literature

#1538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

39. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Literature

#1555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

40. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#10 in Nigeria

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

41. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Literature

#11 in Nigeria

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

42. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Literature

#1 in Mozambique

#1626 in the World

Founded: 1985

43. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Literature

#1648 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

44. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Literature

#7 in Egypt

#1668 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

45. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Literature

#14 in South Africa

#1709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

46. Benha University

For Literature

#8 in Egypt

#1723 in the World

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

47. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#1755 in the World

48. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Literature

#1759 in the World

49. Assiut University

For Literature

#9 in Egypt

#1761 in the World

Founded: 1957

50. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Literature

#15 in South Africa

#1785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

51. Covenant University

For Literature

#12 in Nigeria

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

52. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Literature

#1843 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

53. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Literature

#16 in South Africa

#1880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

54. University of Uyo

For Literature

#13 in Nigeria

#1896 in the World

Founded: 1991

55. Helwan University

For Literature

#10 in Egypt

#1898 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

56. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Literature

#17 in South Africa

#1903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

57. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Literature

#14 in Nigeria

#1908 in the World

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

58. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Literature

#1929 in the World

59. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Literature

#3 in Ghana

#1937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

60. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Literature

#15 in Nigeria

#1941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

61. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Literature

#1 in Sudan

#1951 in the World

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

62. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Literature

#1974 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 45,155
Founded: 1970

63. Tanta University

For Literature

#11 in Egypt

#1976 in the World

Founded: 1972

64. Minia University

For Literature

#12 in Egypt

#1983 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

65. University of Malawi

For Literature

#1 in Malawi

#1994 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

66. Lagos State University

For Literature

#16 in Nigeria

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

67. Al-Azhar University

For Literature

#13 in Egypt

#2032 in the World

Founded: 1961

68. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Literature

#4 in Ghana

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

69. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#17 in Nigeria

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

70. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Literature

#14 in Egypt

#2142 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

71. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Literature

#18 in South Africa

#2143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

72. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Literature

#19 in South Africa

#2182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

73. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Literature

#2210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 49,103
Male:Female: 58:42
Founded: 1954

74. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Literature

#2243 in the World

75. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Literature

#2 in Kenya

#2269 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

76. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#2271 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

77. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Literature

#18 in Nigeria

#2277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

78. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Literature

#19 in Nigeria

#2298 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Literature

#3 in Kenya

#2302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

80. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Literature

#2355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

81. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Literature

#2376 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

82. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Literature

#20 in Nigeria

#2410 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

83. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Literature

#2439 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

84. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Literature

#2501 in the World

85. Bayero University Kano

For Literature

#21 in Nigeria

#2526 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

86. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Literature

#2541 in the World

87. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Literature

#2561 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 2000

88. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Literature

#2571 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

89. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Literature

#2576 in the World

90. South Valley University - Qena

For Literature

#15 in Egypt

#2585 in the World

Founded: 1995

91. University of Jos

For Literature

#22 in Nigeria

#2590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

92. University for Development Studies

For Literature

#5 in Ghana

#2628 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 13,132
Founded: 1992

93. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Literature

#1 in Mauritius

#2633 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

94. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Literature

#2665 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

95. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Literature

#2717 in the World

Founded: 1993

96. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Literature

#1 in Zambia

#2723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

97. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Literature

#16 in Egypt

#2742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

98. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Literature

#2752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

99. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Literature

#2780 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1992

100. University of Oran 1

For Literature

#2808 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000