Best Universities for Literature in Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 512K citations received by 67K academic papers made by 210 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

#200 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

#222 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Literature

#3 in South Africa

#239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Literature

#4 in South Africa

#253 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Literature

#5 in South Africa

#281 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

#340 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Literature

#7 in South Africa

#424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Literature

#8 in South Africa

#526 in the World

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

9. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Literature

#9 in South Africa

#535 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

10. Cairo University

For Literature

#1 in Egypt

#668 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

#714 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

#750 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

13. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Literature

#767 in the World

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

14. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Literature

#931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

15. Ain Shams University

For Literature

#2 in Egypt

#1022 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

16. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Literature

#1026 in the World

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

17. University of Ghana

For Literature

#1 in Ghana

#1038 in the World

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

18. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Literature

#3 in Egypt

#1069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

19. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Literature

#4 in Egypt

#1074 in the World

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

20. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Literature

#5 in Egypt

#1118 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

21. University of Sfax

For Literature

#1186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

22. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#1223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

23. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Literature

#1 in Botswana

#1227 in the World

Founded: 1964

24. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Literature

#1 in Uganda

#1230 in the World

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

25. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Literature

#1257 in the World

26. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Literature

#12 in South Africa

#1339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

27. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Literature

#6 in Egypt

#1348 in the World

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

28. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#1361 in the World

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

29. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Literature

#2 in Ghana

#1368 in the World

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

30. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Literature

#1 in Kenya

#1369 in the World

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

31. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#1373 in the World

32. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Literature

#1401 in the World

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

33. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Literature

#1407 in the World

Founded: 1950

34. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

35. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Literature

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

36. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Literature

#1473 in the World

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

37. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Literature

#13 in South Africa

#1505 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

38. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

39. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Literature

#10 in Nigeria

#1545 in the World

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

40. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Literature

#1583 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

41. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Literature

#11 in Nigeria

#1586 in the World

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

42. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Literature

#1 in Mozambique

#1605 in the World

Founded: 1985

43. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Literature

#7 in Egypt

#1643 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

44. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Literature

#1655 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

45. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Literature

#14 in South Africa

#1682 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

46. Benha University

For Literature

#8 in Egypt

#1713 in the World

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

47. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#1767 in the World

48. Assiut University

For Literature

#9 in Egypt

#1768 in the World

Founded: 1957

49. Covenant University

For Literature

#12 in Nigeria

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

50. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Literature

#15 in South Africa

#1802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

51. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Literature

#1805 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

52. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Literature

#1851 in the World

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

53. University of Uyo

For Literature

#13 in Nigeria

#1868 in the World

Founded: 1991

54. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Literature

#14 in Nigeria

#1871 in the World

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

55. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Literature

#16 in South Africa

#1882 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

56. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Literature

#17 in South Africa

#1883 in the World

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

57. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Literature

#1921 in the World

58. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Literature

#1 in Sudan

#1924 in the World

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

59. Helwan University

For Literature

#10 in Egypt

#1932 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

60. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Literature

#15 in Nigeria

#1949 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

61. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Literature

#1958 in the World

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

62. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Literature

#3 in Ghana

#1968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

63. Minia University

For Literature

#11 in Egypt

#1983 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

64. Tanta University

For Literature

#12 in Egypt

#1997 in the World

Founded: 1972

65. University of Malawi

For Literature

#1 in Malawi

#2008 in the World

Founded: 1964

66. Lagos State University

For Literature

#16 in Nigeria

#2019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

67. Al-Azhar University

For Literature

#13 in Egypt

#2093 in the World

Founded: 1961

68. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#17 in Nigeria

#2099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

69. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Literature

#4 in Ghana

#2102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

70. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Literature

#14 in Egypt

#2163 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

71. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Literature

#18 in South Africa

#2168 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

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

73. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Literature

#2204 in the World

74. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Literature

#2224 in the World

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

75. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Literature

#2 in Kenya

#2245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

76. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Literature

#18 in Nigeria

#2254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

77. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Literature

#19 in Nigeria

#2294 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Literature

#2298 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

79. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Literature

#3 in Kenya

#2323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

80. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Literature

#20 in Nigeria

#2375 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

81. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Literature

#2376 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

82. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Literature

#2394 in the World

Founded: 1918

83. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Literature

#2403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

84. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Literature

#2525 in the World

85. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Literature

#2531 in the World

86. Bayero University Kano

For Literature

#21 in Nigeria

#2536 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

87. South Valley University - Qena

For Literature

#15 in Egypt

#2538 in the World

Founded: 1995

88. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Literature

#2553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

89. Midlands State University

Zimbabwe | Gweru

For Literature

#2560 in the World

Enrollment: 22,000
Founded: 2000

90. University of Jos

For Literature

#22 in Nigeria

#2563 in the World

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

91. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Literature

#2565 in the World

92. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Literature

#1 in Mauritius

#2651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

93. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Literature

#2684 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

94. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Literature

#1 in Zambia

#2694 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

95. University for Development Studies

For Literature

#5 in Ghana

#2704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

96. University of Oran 1

For Literature

#2730 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

97. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Literature

#16 in Egypt

#2759 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

98. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Literature

#2762 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Literature

#2767 in the World

Founded: 1993

100. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Literature

#2791 in the World