Best Universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 20M citations received by 1.21M academic papers made by 347 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. Cairo University

For Chemistry

#1 in Egypt

#381 in the World

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

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#1 in South Africa

#423 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#2 in South Africa

#450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Chemistry

#3 in South Africa

#518 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#4 in South Africa

#552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Ain Shams University

For Chemistry

#2 in Egypt

#553 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#5 in South Africa

#554 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Chemistry

#3 in Egypt

#606 in the World

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

9. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Chemistry

#4 in Egypt

#608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

10. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Chemistry

#5 in Egypt

#777 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

11. Assiut University

For Chemistry

#6 in Egypt

#824 in the World

Founded: 1957

12. University of Sfax

For Chemistry

#852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

13. Al-Azhar University

For Chemistry

#7 in Egypt

#853 in the World

Founded: 1961

14. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#6 in South Africa

#884 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

15. Tanta University

For Chemistry

#8 in Egypt

#919 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Chemistry

#976 in the World

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

17. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Chemistry

#1048 in the World

18. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Chemistry

#7 in South Africa

#1065 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

19. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Chemistry

#8 in South Africa

#1102 in the World

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

20. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Chemistry

#9 in Egypt

#1147 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

21. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1178 in the World

22. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1197 in the World

23. Benha University

For Chemistry

#10 in Egypt

#1200 in the World

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

24. Minia University

For Chemistry

#11 in Egypt

#1221 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

25. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Chemistry

#12 in Egypt

#1254 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

26. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Chemistry

#1264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

27. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Chemistry

#1278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

28. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Chemistry

#13 in Egypt

#1325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

29. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Chemistry

#9 in South Africa

#1326 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

30. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#10 in South Africa

#1372 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

31. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Chemistry

#1376 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

32. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Chemistry

#1390 in the World

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

33. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Chemistry

#1411 in the World

Founded: 1950

34. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Chemistry

#1426 in the World

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

35. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Chemistry

#1428 in the World

36. Helwan University

For Chemistry

#14 in Egypt

#1437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

37. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Chemistry

#1465 in the World

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

38. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Chemistry

#11 in South Africa

#1488 in the World

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

39. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#12 in South Africa

#1531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

40. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Chemistry

#1548 in the World

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

41. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Chemistry

#1 in Uganda

#1598 in the World

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

42. University of Ghana

For Chemistry

#1 in Ghana

#1605 in the World

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

43. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Chemistry

#1609 in the World

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

44. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Chemistry

#1612 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

45. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Chemistry

#15 in Egypt

#1615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

46. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Chemistry

#1 in Kenya

#1620 in the World

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

47. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Chemistry

#1674 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

48. South Valley University - Qena

For Chemistry

#16 in Egypt

#1689 in the World

Founded: 1995

49. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Chemistry

#1710 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

50. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Chemistry

#1711 in the World

51. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#2 in Ghana

#1717 in the World

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

52. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Chemistry

#10 in Nigeria

#1744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

53. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Chemistry

#17 in Egypt

#1756 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

54. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1761 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

55. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Chemistry

#13 in South Africa

#1791 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

56. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Chemistry

#1839 in the World

57. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Chemistry

#1865 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

58. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Chemistry

#1875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

59. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Chemistry

#11 in Nigeria

#1909 in the World

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

60. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Chemistry

#1 in Sudan

#1920 in the World

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

61. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Chemistry

#12 in Nigeria

#1925 in the World

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

62. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Chemistry

#1958 in the World

63. Fayoum University

For Chemistry

#18 in Egypt

#1970 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

64. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Chemistry

#1988 in the World

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

65. Covenant University

For Chemistry

#13 in Nigeria

#2010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

66. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#14 in South Africa

#2024 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

67. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Chemistry

#14 in Nigeria

#2038 in the World

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

68. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Chemistry

#19 in Egypt

#2078 in the World

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

69. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Chemistry

#15 in South Africa

#2083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

70. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Chemistry

#20 in Egypt

#2099 in the World

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

71. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Chemistry

#2103 in the World

72. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Chemistry

#2111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#16 in South Africa

#2120 in the World

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

74. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Chemistry

#2160 in the World

Founded: 1993

75. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Chemistry

#15 in Nigeria

#2189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

76. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Chemistry

#2191 in the World

Founded: 1918

77. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Chemistry

#2203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

78. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Chemistry

#16 in Nigeria

#2228 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

79. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Chemistry

#2268 in the World

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

80. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Chemistry

#2272 in the World

81. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Chemistry

#2282 in the World

Founded: 1964

82. University of Uyo

For Chemistry

#17 in Nigeria

#2284 in the World

Founded: 1991

83. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Chemistry

#2320 in the World

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

84. University of Oran 1

For Chemistry

#2361 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

85. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Chemistry

#1 in Mauritius

#2362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

86. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Chemistry

#2366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

87. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Chemistry

#21 in Egypt

#2369 in the World

Founded: 2010

88. Aswan University

For Chemistry

#22 in Egypt

#2371 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

89. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Chemistry

#18 in Nigeria

#2388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

90. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Chemistry

#2394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

91. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Chemistry

#2395 in the World

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

92. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Chemistry

#2404 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

93. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Chemistry

#17 in South Africa

#2410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

94. Suez University

For Chemistry

#23 in Egypt

#2413 in the World

Founded: 2012

95. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Chemistry

#2419 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

96. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Chemistry

#1 in Burkina Faso

#2458 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

97. Bayero University Kano

For Chemistry

#19 in Nigeria

#2471 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

98. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Chemistry

#20 in Nigeria

#2492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

99. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Chemistry

#10 in Algeria

#2512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

100. Damanhour University

Egypt | Damanhur

For Chemistry

#24 in Egypt

#2523 in the World

Founded: 2010

Chemistry subfields in Africa

Biochemical Engineering44

Biochemistry326

Chemical Engineering245

Computational Chemistry106

Environmental Chemistry227

Inorganic Chemistry170

Materials Science314

Nanotechnology219

Nutrition and Food Science269

Organic Chemistry318

Petrology and Geochemistry177

Physical chemistry245

Polymer science and Plastics engineering18

Radiochemistry186