Best Universities for Machine Learning 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 Machine Learning. A graph of 3.9M citations received by 252K academic papers made by 321 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 Machine Learning

#1 in Egypt

#323 in the World

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

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Machine Learning

#1 in South Africa

#401 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Machine Learning

#2 in South Africa

#490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Machine Learning

#3 in South Africa

#551 in the World

Founded: 1874

5. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Machine Learning

#2 in Egypt

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

6. University of Sfax

For Machine Learning

#564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Machine Learning

#4 in South Africa

#595 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Machine Learning

#5 in South Africa

#598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

9. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Machine Learning

#6 in South Africa

#610 in the World

Founded: 1918

10. Ain Shams University

For Machine Learning

#3 in Egypt

#633 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Machine Learning

#722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

12. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Machine Learning

#7 in South Africa

#743 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

13. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Machine Learning

#4 in Egypt

#751 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

14. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Machine Learning

#838 in the World

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

15. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Machine Learning

#5 in Egypt

#862 in the World

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

16. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Machine Learning

#6 in Egypt

#877 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

17. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Machine Learning

#886 in the World

18. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Machine Learning

#8 in South Africa

#947 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

19. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Machine Learning

#963 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Machine Learning

#1001 in the World

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

21. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Machine Learning

#1002 in the World

22. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Machine Learning

#1032 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

23. Helwan University

For Machine Learning

#7 in Egypt

#1047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

24. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Machine Learning

#1079 in the World

25. Tanta University

For Machine Learning

#8 in Egypt

#1102 in the World

Founded: 1972

26. University of Ghana

For Machine Learning

#1 in Ghana

#1126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

27. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Machine Learning

#1135 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

28. Assiut University

For Machine Learning

#9 in Egypt

#1185 in the World

Founded: 1957

29. Benha University

For Machine Learning

#10 in Egypt

#1186 in the World

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

30. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Machine Learning

#1200 in the World

31. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Machine Learning

#1 in Uganda

#1211 in the World

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

32. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Machine Learning

#9 in South Africa

#1222 in the World

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

33. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Machine Learning

#1235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

34. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Machine Learning

#1238 in the World

35. Minia University

For Machine Learning

#11 in Egypt

#1262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

36. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Machine Learning

#1282 in the World

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

37. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Machine Learning

#1295 in the World

38. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Machine Learning

#1315 in the World

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

39. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Machine Learning

#1319 in the World

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

40. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Machine Learning

#12 in Egypt

#1344 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

41. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Machine Learning

#2 in Ghana

#1382 in the World

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

42. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Machine Learning

#1410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

43. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Machine Learning

#1413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

44. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Machine Learning

#1418 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

45. Covenant University

For Machine Learning

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

46. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Machine Learning

#13 in Egypt

#1469 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

47. Al-Azhar University

For Machine Learning

#14 in Egypt

#1518 in the World

Founded: 1961

48. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Machine Learning

#1554 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

49. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Machine Learning

#1570 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

50. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Machine Learning

#1575 in the World

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

51. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Machine Learning

#1581 in the World

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

52. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Machine Learning

#3 in Ghana

#1623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

53. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Machine Learning

#15 in Egypt

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

54. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Machine Learning

#1 in Kenya

#1629 in the World

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

55. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Machine Learning

#1715 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

56. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Machine Learning

#1721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

57. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Machine Learning

#1726 in the World

58. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Machine Learning

#10 in South Africa

#1728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

59. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Machine Learning

#1788 in the World

60. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Machine Learning

#1794 in the World

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

61. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Machine Learning

#1806 in the World

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

62. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Machine Learning

#16 in Egypt

#1821 in the World

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

63. University of Malawi

For Machine Learning

#1 in Malawi

#1866 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

64. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Machine Learning

#2 in Kenya

#1882 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

65. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Machine Learning

#1894 in the World

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

66. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Machine Learning

#17 in Egypt

#1908 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

67. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Machine Learning

#1911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

68. Aswan University

For Machine Learning

#18 in Egypt

#1936 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

69. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Machine Learning

#11 in South Africa

#1944 in the World

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

70. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Machine Learning

#1958 in the World

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

71. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Machine Learning

#1 in Mauritius

#1971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

72. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Machine Learning

#1974 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

73. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Machine Learning

#1983 in the World

74. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Machine Learning

#2018 in the World

75. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Machine Learning

#2022 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

76. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Machine Learning

#2048 in the World

Founded: 1964

77. Arba Minch University

Ethiopia | Arba Minch

For Machine Learning

#2064 in the World

Enrollment: 37,433
Founded: 1986

78. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Machine Learning

#2113 in the World

79. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Machine Learning

#10 in Algeria

#2143 in the World

80. Fayoum University

For Machine Learning

#19 in Egypt

#2147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

81. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Machine Learning

#11 in Algeria

#2152 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

82. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Machine Learning

#12 in South Africa

#2157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

83. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Machine Learning

#10 in Nigeria

#2177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

84. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Machine Learning

#12 in Algeria

#2191 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

85. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Machine Learning

#11 in Nigeria

#2203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

86. University for Development Studies

For Machine Learning

#4 in Ghana

#2275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 13,132
Founded: 1992

87. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Machine Learning

#13 in South Africa

#2286 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

88. South Valley University - Qena

For Machine Learning

#20 in Egypt

#2289 in the World

Founded: 1995

89. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Machine Learning

#14 in South Africa

#2349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

90. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Machine Learning

#12 in Nigeria

#2369 in the World

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

91. Bayero University Kano

For Machine Learning

#13 in Nigeria

#2372 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

92. Nile University

Egypt | Sheikh Zayed City

For Machine Learning

#21 in Egypt

#2399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2006

93. Debre Markos University

Ethiopia | Debre Markos

For Machine Learning

#2402 in the World

Founded: 2005

94. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Machine Learning

#13 in Algeria

#2411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

95. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Machine Learning

#14 in Nigeria

#2412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

96. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Machine Learning

#15 in South Africa

#2429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

97. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Machine Learning

#15 in Nigeria

#2460 in the World

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

98. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Machine Learning

#16 in Nigeria

#2461 in the World

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

99. Future University in Egypt

Egypt | New Cairo

For Machine Learning

#22 in Egypt

#2478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

100. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Machine Learning

#23 in Egypt

#2482 in the World

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