Best Universities for Data Science 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 Data Science. A graph of 408K citations received by 22.4K academic papers made by 105 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 Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Data Science

#1 in South Africa

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Data Science

#2 in South Africa

#498 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Data Science

#3 in South Africa

#504 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

4. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Data Science

#4 in South Africa

#531 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Data Science

#5 in South Africa

#537 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. Cairo University

For Data Science

#1 in Egypt

#554 in the World

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

7. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Data Science

#6 in South Africa

#566 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

8. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Data Science

#7 in South Africa

#584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

9. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Data Science

#640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

10. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Data Science

#655 in the World

11. Ain Shams University

For Data Science

#2 in Egypt

#667 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

12. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Data Science

#669 in the World

13. University of Sfax

For Data Science

#674 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

14. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Data Science

#8 in South Africa

#681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

15. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Data Science

#801 in the World

16. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Data Science

#3 in Egypt

#919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

17. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Data Science

#926 in the World

18. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Data Science

#994 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

19. Helwan University

For Data Science

#4 in Egypt

#1014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

20. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Data Science

#1108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

21. Covenant University

For Data Science

#1130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

22. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1161 in the World

23. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Data Science

#1 in Mauritius

#1174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

24. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Data Science

#5 in Egypt

#1177 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

25. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Data Science

#1 in Kenya

#1219 in the World

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

26. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Data Science

#9 in South Africa

#1238 in the World

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

27. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1281 in the World

28. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Data Science

#1 in Uganda

#1331 in the World

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

29. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Data Science

#1 in Botswana

#1368 in the World

Founded: 1964

30. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Data Science

#1377 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

31. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#6 in Egypt

#1397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

32. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Data Science

#1425 in the World

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

33. University of Ghana

For Data Science

#1 in Ghana

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

34. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Data Science

#7 in Egypt

#1466 in the World

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

35. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Data Science

#8 in Egypt

#1481 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

36. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1502 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

37. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Data Science

#1515 in the World

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

38. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Data Science

#10 in South Africa

#1519 in the World

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

39. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Data Science

#9 in Egypt

#1617 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

40. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Data Science

#1624 in the World

Founded: 1950

41. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Data Science

#11 in South Africa

#1649 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

42. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Data Science

#1727 in the World

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

43. Minia University

For Data Science

#10 in Egypt

#1731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

44. Assiut University

For Data Science

#11 in Egypt

#1759 in the World

Founded: 1957

45. Benha University

For Data Science

#12 in Egypt

#1761 in the World

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

46. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Data Science

#12 in South Africa

#1804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

47. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Data Science

#1819 in the World

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

48. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Data Science

#13 in Egypt

#1864 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

49. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Data Science

#1890 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

50. Al-Azhar University

For Data Science

#14 in Egypt

#1891 in the World

Founded: 1961

51. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Data Science

#13 in South Africa

#1922 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

52. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Data Science

#15 in Egypt

#1950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

53. Tanta University

For Data Science

#16 in Egypt

#1981 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Data Science

#14 in South Africa

#1984 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

55. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Data Science

#15 in South Africa

#1997 in the World

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

56. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Data Science

#17 in Egypt

#1999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 12,178
Founded: 2005

57. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#18 in Egypt

#2029 in the World

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

58. University of Oran 1

For Data Science

#2032 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

59. South Valley University - Qena

For Data Science

#19 in Egypt

#2037 in the World

Founded: 1995

60. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Data Science

#2045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

61. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Data Science

#2074 in the World

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

62. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Data Science

#2 in Ghana

#2078 in the World

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

63. Nile University

Egypt | Sheikh Zayed City

For Data Science

#20 in Egypt

#2093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2006

64. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Data Science

#2131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

65. Namibia University of Science and Technology

Namibia | Windhoek

For Data Science

#1 in Namibia

#2186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1985

66. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Data Science

#1 in Sudan

#2244 in the World

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

67. Fayoum University

For Data Science

#21 in Egypt

#2273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

68. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Data Science

#2325 in the World

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

69. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Data Science

#2326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

70. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Data Science

#2349 in the World

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

71. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Data Science

#10 in Nigeria

#2356 in the World

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

72. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Data Science

#2361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

73. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Data Science

#2368 in the World

74. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Data Science

#2385 in the World

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

75. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Data Science

#2401 in the World

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

76. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Data Science

#2405 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

77. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Data Science

#2 in Kenya

#2413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

78. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Data Science

#11 in Nigeria

#2430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

79. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Data Science

#2437 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

80. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Data Science

#22 in Egypt

#2481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

81. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Data Science

#12 in Nigeria

#2498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

82. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Data Science

#1 in Senegal

#2504 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

83. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Data Science

#1 in Zambia

#2511 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

84. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Data Science

#13 in Nigeria

#2537 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

85. Sudan University of Science and Technology

Sudan | Khartoum

For Data Science

#2 in Sudan

#2541 in the World

Founded: 1990

86. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Data Science

#2551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

87. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Data Science

#14 in Nigeria

#2562 in the World

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

88. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Data Science

#2587 in the World

89. Future University in Egypt

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#23 in Egypt

#2591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

90. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Data Science

#3 in Ghana

#2610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

91. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Data Science

#16 in South Africa

#2621 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

92. American University of Nigeria

For Data Science

#15 in Nigeria

#2638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

93. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Data Science

#2639 in the World

94. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Data Science

#16 in Nigeria

#2653 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

95. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For Data Science

#2660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,949
Founded: 2007

96. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Data Science

#1 in Mozambique

#2683 in the World

Founded: 1985

97. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Data Science

#2705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

98. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Data Science

#2 in Uganda

#2715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

99. Bayero University Kano

For Data Science

#17 in Nigeria

#2717 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

100. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Data Science

#10 in Algeria

#2756 in the World