Best Universities for Data Science 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 Data Science. A graph of 349K citations received by 20.8K academic papers made by 98 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

#482 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

#501 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Data Science

#3 in South Africa

#543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. Cairo University

For Data Science

#1 in Egypt

#544 in the World

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

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Data Science

#4 in South Africa

#552 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Data Science

#5 in South Africa

#553 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Data Science

#6 in South Africa

#583 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

#615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

9. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Data Science

#639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

10. Ain Shams University

For Data Science

#2 in Egypt

#654 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Data Science

#661 in the World

12. University of Sfax

For Data Science

#663 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

13. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Data Science

#8 in South Africa

#690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

14. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Data Science

#692 in the World

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

15. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Data Science

#803 in the World

16. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Data Science

#3 in Egypt

#918 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

17. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Data Science

#946 in the World

18. Helwan University

For Data Science

#4 in Egypt

#995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

19. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Data Science

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

20. Covenant University

For Data Science

#1095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

21. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Data Science

#1107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

22. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1151 in the World

23. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Data Science

#1 in Mauritius

#1173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

24. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Data Science

#5 in Egypt

#1175 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

25. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Data Science

#1 in Kenya

#1194 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

#1197 in the World

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

27. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1267 in the World

28. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Data Science

#1 in Botswana

#1316 in the World

Founded: 1964

29. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Data Science

#1 in Uganda

#1366 in the World

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

30. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Data Science

#1392 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

31. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Data Science

#1423 in the World

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

32. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#6 in Egypt

#1436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

33. University of Ghana

For Data Science

#1 in Ghana

#1451 in the World

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

34. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Data Science

#7 in Egypt

#1478 in the World

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

35. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Data Science

#8 in Egypt

#1495 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

36. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Data Science

#10 in South Africa

#1496 in the World

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

37. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Data Science

#1543 in the World

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

38. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Data Science

#1551 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

39. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Data Science

#9 in Egypt

#1618 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

40. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Data Science

#11 in South Africa

#1625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

41. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Data Science

#1677 in the World

Founded: 1950

42. Minia University

For Data Science

#10 in Egypt

#1755 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

43. Benha University

For Data Science

#11 in Egypt

#1781 in the World

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

44. Assiut University

For Data Science

#12 in Egypt

#1784 in the World

Founded: 1957

45. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Data Science

#1801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

46. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Data Science

#1846 in the World

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

47. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Data Science

#13 in Egypt

#1873 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

48. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Data Science

#12 in South Africa

#1884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

49. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Data Science

#1889 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

50. Al-Azhar University

For Data Science

#14 in Egypt

#1902 in the World

Founded: 1961

51. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Data Science

#13 in South Africa

#1908 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

52. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Data Science

#14 in South Africa

#1959 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

53. University of Oran 1

For Data Science

#1964 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

54. South Valley University - Qena

For Data Science

#15 in Egypt

#1976 in the World

Founded: 1995

55. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Data Science

#16 in Egypt

#1977 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 9,228
Founded: 2005

56. Tanta University

For Data Science

#17 in Egypt

#1990 in the World

Founded: 1972

57. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Data Science

#15 in South Africa

#2001 in the World

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

58. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Data Science

#2019 in the World

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

59. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Data Science

#1 in Zimbabwe

#2083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

60. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#18 in Egypt

#2086 in the World

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

61. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Data Science

#2093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

62. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Data Science

#19 in Egypt

#2118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

63. Namibia University of Science and Technology

Namibia | Windhoek

For Data Science

#1 in Namibia

#2173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1985

64. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Data Science

#1 in Sudan

#2195 in the World

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

65. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Data Science

#2 in Ghana

#2201 in the World

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

66. Nile University

Egypt | Sheikh Zayed City

For Data Science

#20 in Egypt

#2231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2006

67. Fayoum University

For Data Science

#21 in Egypt

#2234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

68. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Data Science

#2297 in the World

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

69. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Data Science

#2299 in the World

70. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Data Science

#2319 in the World

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

71. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Data Science

#2329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

72. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Data Science

#2373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

73. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Data Science

#2 in Kenya

#2376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

74. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Data Science

#10 in Nigeria

#2379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

75. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Data Science

#1 in Tanzania

#2399 in the World

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

76. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Data Science

#2408 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

77. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Data Science

#1 in Zambia

#2409 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

78. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Data Science

#22 in Egypt

#2429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

79. Sudan University of Science and Technology

Sudan | Khartoum

For Data Science

#2 in Sudan

#2434 in the World

Founded: 1990

80. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Data Science

#11 in Nigeria

#2463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

81. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Data Science

#2469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

82. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Data Science

#12 in Nigeria

#2470 in the World

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

83. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Data Science

#13 in Nigeria

#2480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 130,000
Founded: 1999

84. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Data Science

#2492 in the World

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

85. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Data Science

#2511 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

86. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Data Science

#1 in Senegal

#2513 in the World

Founded: 1918

87. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Data Science

#2523 in the World

88. Future University in Egypt

Egypt | New Cairo

For Data Science

#23 in Egypt

#2538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 9,085
Founded: 2006

89. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Data Science

#16 in South Africa

#2551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

90. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Data Science

#2581 in the World

91. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Data Science

#14 in Nigeria

#2585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

92. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Data Science

#1 in Mozambique

#2603 in the World

Founded: 1985

93. American University of Nigeria

For Data Science

#15 in Nigeria

#2613 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

94. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Data Science

#3 in Ghana

#2615 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

95. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Data Science

#2644 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

96. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Data Science

#10 in Algeria

#2665 in the World

97. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Data Science

#2 in Uganda

#2669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

98. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Data Science

#2671 in the World