Best Universities for Paleontology 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 Paleontology. A graph of 8.41M citations received by 467K academic papers made by 331 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 Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Paleontology

#1 in South Africa

#187 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Paleontology

#2 in South Africa

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Paleontology

#3 in South Africa

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Paleontology

#4 in South Africa

#282 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Paleontology

#5 in South Africa

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Cairo University

For Paleontology

#1 in Egypt

#348 in the World

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

7. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Paleontology

#2 in Egypt

#557 in the World

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

8. Ain Shams University

For Paleontology

#3 in Egypt

#574 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

9. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Paleontology

#4 in Egypt

#629 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

10. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Paleontology

#6 in South Africa

#646 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

11. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Paleontology

#7 in South Africa

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

12. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Paleontology

#5 in Egypt

#676 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

13. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Paleontology

#8 in South Africa

#736 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

14. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Paleontology

#752 in the World

Founded: 1950

15. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Paleontology

#762 in the World

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

16. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Paleontology

#9 in South Africa

#770 in the World

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

17. University of Sfax

For Paleontology

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

18. Al-Azhar University

For Paleontology

#6 in Egypt

#813 in the World

Founded: 1961

19. Assiut University

For Paleontology

#7 in Egypt

#822 in the World

Founded: 1957

20. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Paleontology

#10 in South Africa

#857 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

21. Tanta University

For Paleontology

#8 in Egypt

#891 in the World

Founded: 1972

22. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Paleontology

#920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

23. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Paleontology

#937 in the World

24. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Paleontology

#939 in the World

25. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Paleontology

#11 in South Africa

#986 in the World

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

26. University of Ghana

For Paleontology

#1 in Ghana

#988 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

27. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Paleontology

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

28. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Paleontology

#9 in Egypt

#1037 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

29. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Paleontology

#1044 in the World

30. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Paleontology

#1 in Uganda

#1055 in the World

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

31. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Paleontology

#1 in Kenya

#1059 in the World

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

32. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Paleontology

#1075 in the World

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

33. Benha University

For Paleontology

#10 in Egypt

#1146 in the World

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

34. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Paleontology

#12 in South Africa

#1181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

35. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Paleontology

#1184 in the World

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

36. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Paleontology

#1211 in the World

37. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Paleontology

#1218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

38. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Paleontology

#1225 in the World

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

39. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Paleontology

#11 in Egypt

#1265 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

40. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Paleontology

#13 in South Africa

#1279 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

41. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Paleontology

#1284 in the World

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

42. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Paleontology

#1313 in the World

43. Minia University

For Paleontology

#12 in Egypt

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

44. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Paleontology

#13 in Egypt

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

45. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Paleontology

#2 in Ghana

#1379 in the World

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

46. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Paleontology

#1392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

47. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Paleontology

#1399 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

48. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Paleontology

#1408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 2001

49. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Paleontology

#1415 in the World

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

50. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Paleontology

#1419 in the World

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

51. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Paleontology

#1480 in the World

Founded: 1964

52. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Paleontology

#1498 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

53. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Paleontology

#14 in South Africa

#1510 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

54. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Paleontology

#1526 in the World

55. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Paleontology

#14 in Egypt

#1529 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

56. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Paleontology

#1544 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

57. Helwan University

For Paleontology

#15 in Egypt

#1562 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

58. South Valley University - Qena

For Paleontology

#16 in Egypt

#1580 in the World

Founded: 1995

59. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Paleontology

#1598 in the World

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

60. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Paleontology

#10 in Nigeria

#1599 in the World

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

61. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Paleontology

#1605 in the World

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

62. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Paleontology

#11 in Nigeria

#1647 in the World

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

63. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Paleontology

#17 in Egypt

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

64. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Paleontology

#1665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

65. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Paleontology

#1683 in the World

Founded: 1993

66. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Paleontology

#1 in Sudan

#1709 in the World

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

67. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Paleontology

#15 in South Africa

#1813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

68. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Paleontology

#12 in Nigeria

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

69. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Paleontology

#1838 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

70. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Paleontology

#1843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

71. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Paleontology

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Enrollment: 17,030
Founded: 1991

72. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Paleontology

#1888 in the World

73. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Paleontology

#2 in Kenya

#1922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

74. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Paleontology

#1923 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

75. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Paleontology

#1 in Mauritius

#1953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

76. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Paleontology

#16 in South Africa

#1957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

77. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Paleontology

#17 in South Africa

#1963 in the World

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

78. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Paleontology

#1972 in the World

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

79. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Paleontology

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

80. Covenant University

For Paleontology

#13 in Nigeria

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

81. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Paleontology

#14 in Nigeria

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

82. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Paleontology

#1 in Zambia

#2030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

83. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Paleontology

#15 in Nigeria

#2039 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

84. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Paleontology

#16 in Nigeria

#2049 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

85. University of Antananarivo

Madagascar Flag

Madagascar | Antananarivo

For Paleontology

#1 in Madagascar

#2074 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1961

86. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Paleontology

#2085 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

87. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Paleontology

#2103 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

88. Fayoum University

For Paleontology

#18 in Egypt

#2122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

89. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Paleontology

#1 in Burkina Faso

#2132 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

90. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Paleontology

#2140 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1992

91. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Paleontology

#3 in Kenya

#2152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

92. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Paleontology

#1 in Ivory Coast

#2158 in the World

Enrollment: 60,189
Founded: 1964

93. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Paleontology

#2166 in the World

94. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Paleontology

#2189 in the World

95. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Paleontology

#19 in Egypt

#2190 in the World

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

96. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Paleontology

#3 in Ghana

#2200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

97. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Paleontology

#18 in South Africa

#2224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

98. University of Malawi

For Paleontology

#1 in Malawi

#2257 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

99. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Paleontology

#2271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

100. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Paleontology

#20 in Egypt

#2272 in the World

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