Best Universities for Chemistry 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 Chemistry. A graph of 22.4M citations received by 1.25M academic papers made by 349 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

#377 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

#433 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#2 in South Africa

#454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Chemistry

#3 in South Africa

#522 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. Ain Shams University

For Chemistry

#2 in Egypt

#550 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#4 in South Africa

#553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#5 in South Africa

#556 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Chemistry

#3 in Egypt

#599 in the World

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

9. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Chemistry

#4 in Egypt

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

10. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Chemistry

#5 in Egypt

#763 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

11. Assiut University

For Chemistry

#6 in Egypt

#819 in the World

Founded: 1957

12. Al-Azhar University

For Chemistry

#7 in Egypt

#839 in the World

Founded: 1961

13. University of Sfax

For Chemistry

#846 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

14. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Chemistry

#6 in South Africa

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

15. Tanta University

For Chemistry

#8 in Egypt

#893 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Chemistry

#984 in the World

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

17. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Chemistry

#1049 in the World

18. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Chemistry

#7 in South Africa

#1058 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

#1110 in the World

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

20. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Chemistry

#9 in Egypt

#1146 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

21. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1178 in the World

22. Benha University

For Chemistry

#10 in Egypt

#1180 in the World

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

23. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1181 in the World

24. Minia University

For Chemistry

#11 in Egypt

#1225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

25. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Chemistry

#1256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

26. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Chemistry

#12 in Egypt

#1260 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

27. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Chemistry

#1270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

28. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Chemistry

#13 in Egypt

#1299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

29. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Chemistry

#9 in South Africa

#1336 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

30. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Chemistry

#10 in South Africa

#1351 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

31. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Chemistry

#1381 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

32. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Chemistry

#1394 in the World

Founded: 1950

33. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Chemistry

#1400 in the World

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

34. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Chemistry

#1414 in the World

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

35. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Chemistry

#1417 in the World

36. Helwan University

For Chemistry

#14 in Egypt

#1432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

37. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Chemistry

#1478 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

#1492 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

#1520 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

40. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Chemistry

#1566 in the World

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

41. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Chemistry

#1568 in the World

42. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Chemistry

#15 in Egypt

#1577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

43. University of Ghana

For Chemistry

#1 in Ghana

#1600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

44. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Chemistry

#1 in Uganda

#1610 in the World

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

45. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Chemistry

#1640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

46. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Chemistry

#1 in Kenya

#1654 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%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

48. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Chemistry

#1675 in the World

49. South Valley University - Qena

For Chemistry

#16 in Egypt

#1681 in the World

Founded: 1995

50. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Chemistry

#2 in Ghana

#1693 in the World

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

51. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Chemistry

#1719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

52. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Chemistry

#17 in Egypt

#1741 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

53. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Chemistry

#10 in Nigeria

#1744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

54. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Chemistry

#1751 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

55. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Chemistry

#13 in South Africa

#1786 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

56. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Chemistry

#1841 in the World

57. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Chemistry

#1864 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

58. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Chemistry

#1877 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

59. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Chemistry

#11 in Nigeria

#1893 in the World

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

60. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Chemistry

#1913 in the World

61. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Chemistry

#12 in Nigeria

#1919 in the World

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

62. Fayoum University

For Chemistry

#18 in Egypt

#1954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

63. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Chemistry

#1 in Sudan

#1956 in the World

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

64. Covenant University

For Chemistry

#13 in Nigeria

#1987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

65. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Chemistry

#14 in South Africa

#1995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

66. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Chemistry

#2025 in the World

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

67. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Chemistry

#14 in Nigeria

#2050 in the World

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

68. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Chemistry

#19 in Egypt

#2062 in the World

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

69. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Chemistry

#20 in Egypt

#2083 in the World

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

70. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Chemistry

#15 in South Africa

#2084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

71. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Chemistry

#2087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

72. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Chemistry

#2110 in the World

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Chemistry

#16 in South Africa

#2117 in the World

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

74. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Chemistry

#2154 in the World

Founded: 1993

75. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Chemistry

#2188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

76. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Chemistry

#15 in Nigeria

#2190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

77. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Chemistry

#2213 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

78. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Chemistry

#16 in Nigeria

#2237 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

79. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Chemistry

#2255 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

80. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Chemistry

#2278 in the World

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

81. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Chemistry

#2287 in the World

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

82. University of Uyo

For Chemistry

#17 in Nigeria

#2298 in the World

Founded: 1991

83. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Chemistry

#2309 in the World

Founded: 1964

84. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Chemistry

#2317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

85. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Chemistry

#2319 in the World

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

86. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Chemistry

#21 in Egypt

#2351 in the World

Founded: 2010

87. Aswan University

For Chemistry

#22 in Egypt

#2363 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

88. University of Oran 1

For Chemistry

#2373 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

89. Suez University

For Chemistry

#23 in Egypt

#2375 in the World

Founded: 2012

90. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Chemistry

#18 in Nigeria

#2377 in the World

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

91. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Chemistry

#1 in Mauritius

#2379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

92. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Chemistry

#2388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

93. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Chemistry

#2389 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

94. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Chemistry

#17 in South Africa

#2418 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

95. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Chemistry

#2423 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

96. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Chemistry

#1 in Burkina Faso

#2462 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

97. Bayero University Kano

For Chemistry

#19 in Nigeria

#2463 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

98. Damanhour University

Egypt | Damanhur

For Chemistry

#24 in Egypt

#2477 in the World

Founded: 2010

99. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Chemistry

#20 in Nigeria

#2513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

100. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Chemistry

#10 in Algeria

#2514 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

Chemistry subfields in Africa

Biochemical Engineering46

Biochemistry326

Chemical Engineering249

Computational Chemistry108

Environmental Chemistry230

Inorganic Chemistry172

Materials Science317

Nanotechnology222

Nutrition and Food Science272

Organic Chemistry319

Petrology and Geochemistry177

Physical chemistry247

Polymer science and Plastics engineering18

Radiochemistry187