Best Universities for Biology in Africa

Updated: July 18, 2023

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 20.1M citations received by 1.83M academic papers made by 357 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.

1. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Biology

#1 in South Africa

#264 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Biology

#2 in South Africa

#346 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1922

3. Cairo University

For Biology

#1 in Egypt

#367 in the World

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

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Biology

#3 in South Africa

#377 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Biology

#4 in South Africa

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Biology

#5 in South Africa

#393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 56,483
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1908

7. Ain Shams University

For Biology

#2 in Egypt

#539 in the World

Founded: 1950

8. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Biology

#3 in Egypt

#587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Biology

#4 in Egypt

#596 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 120,000
Founded: 1942

10. Assiut University

For Biology

#5 in Egypt

#765 in the World

Founded: 1957

11. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Biology

#6 in Egypt

#766 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

12. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Biology

#768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

13. Al-Azhar University

For Biology

#7 in Egypt

#899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1961

14. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Biology

#6 in South Africa

#912 in the World

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

15. Tanta University

For Biology

#8 in Egypt

#938 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Biology

#1 in Uganda

#947 in the World

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

17. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Biology

#7 in South Africa

#956 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

18. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Biology

#8 in South Africa

#975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

19. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Biology

#9 in South Africa

#980 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

20. University of Sfax

For Biology

#986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

21. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Biology

#1009 in the World

Founded: 1950

22. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Biology

#1 in Kenya

#1064 in the World

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

23. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Biology

#9 in Egypt

#1096 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

24. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Biology

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

25. University of Ghana

For Biology

#1 in Ghana

#1158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Enrollment: 67,914
Male:Female: 51:49
Founded: 1948

26. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Biology

#1172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

27. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Biology

#10 in Egypt

#1173 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

28. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Biology

#10 in South Africa

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 18,720
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1959

29. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Biology

#1211 in the World

30. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Biology

#1215 in the World

31. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Biology

#11 in South Africa

#1225 in the World

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

32. Minia University

For Biology

#11 in Egypt

#1239 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

33. Benha University

For Biology

#12 in Egypt

#1242 in the World

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

34. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Biology

#1287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Enrollment: 18,040
Founded: 1955

35. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Biology

#1304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

36. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Biology

#13 in Egypt

#1354 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2005

37. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Biology

#1379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

38. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Biology

#1 in Sudan

#1419 in the World

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

39. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Biology

#1502 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

40. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Biology

#1528 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

41. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Biology

#2 in Ghana

#1542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1951

42. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Biology

#1560 in the World

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

43. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Biology

#12 in South Africa

#1593 in the World

Founded: 1916

44. University of Abomey-Calavi

Benin | Abomey-Calavi

For Biology

#1 in Benin

#1624 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 86,694
Male:Female: 73:27
Founded: 1970

45. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Biology

#13 in South Africa

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

46. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Biology

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

47. Helwan University

For Biology

#14 in Egypt

#1632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

48. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Biology

#14 in South Africa

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

49. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Biology

#1695 in the World

50. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Biology

#1701 in the World

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

51. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Biology

#15 in Egypt

#1707 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

52. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Biology

#1713 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 1988

53. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Biology

#16 in Egypt

#1721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

54. University of Malawi

For Biology

#1 in Malawi

#1723 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1964

55. South Valley University - Qena

For Biology

#17 in Egypt

#1753 in the World

Founded: 1995

56. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Biology

#1756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

57. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Biology

#1788 in the World

Founded: 1964

58. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Biology

#15 in South Africa

#1789 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

59. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Biology

#1791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

60. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Biology

#1814 in the World

Founded: 1918

61. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Biology

#1819 in the World

62. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Biology

#10 in Nigeria

#1822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

63. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Biology

#11 in Nigeria

#1833 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1975

64. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Biology

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

65. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Biology

#1864 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

66. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Biology

#1874 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

67. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Biology

#1877 in the World

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

68. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Biology

#1 in Zambia

#1917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

69. Fayoum University

For Biology

#18 in Egypt

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

70. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Biology

#12 in Nigeria

#1966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

71. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Biology

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

72. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Biology

#2042 in the World

Founded: 1993

73. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Biology

#13 in Nigeria

#2048 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1990

74. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Biology

#16 in South Africa

#2052 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

75. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Biology

#2061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

76. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Biology

#2071 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 57,852
Founded: 2001

77. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Biology

#1 in Mauritius

#2073 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

78. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Biology

#2102 in the World

79. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Biology

#2125 in the World

Enrollment: 8,443

80. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Biology

#2170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

81. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Biology

#19 in Egypt

#2178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Enrollment: 6,500
Founded: 1919

82. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Biology

#2190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

83. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Biology

#14 in Nigeria

#2195 in the World

Founded: 1975

84. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Biology

#17 in South Africa

#2204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

85. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Biology

#3 in Ghana

#2228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

86. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Biology

#20 in Egypt

#2242 in the World

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

87. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Biology

#2246 in the World

88. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Biology

#2256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 36,000

89. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Biology

#2 in Kenya

#2299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

90. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Biology

#2305 in the World

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

91. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Biology

#3 in Kenya

#2334 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

92. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Biology

#2335 in the World

93. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Biology

#4 in Kenya

#2370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Founded: 1994

94. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Biology

#2374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

95. Bayero University Kano

For Biology

#15 in Nigeria

#2378 in the World

Founded: 1975

96. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Biology

#2394 in the World

Enrollment: 30,414
Male:Female: 75:25
Founded: 1976

97. University of Uyo

For Biology

#16 in Nigeria

#2411 in the World

Founded: 1991

98. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Biology

#2421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

99. Covenant University

For Biology

#17 in Nigeria

#2444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Founded: 2002

100. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Biology

#2447 in the World

Founded: 1992