Africa's best Development Studies universities [Rankings]

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 4.05M citations received by 266K academic papers made by 331 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 Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Development Studies

#1 in South Africa

#76 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Development Studies

#2 in South Africa

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Development Studies

#3 in South Africa

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#4 in South Africa

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Development Studies

#5 in South Africa

#175 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#6 in South Africa

#204 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Development Studies

#7 in South Africa

#215 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Development Studies

#1 in Ghana

#245 in the World

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

9. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Development Studies

#1 in Uganda

#287 in the World

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

10. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Development Studies

#1 in Nigeria

#306 in the World

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

11. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Development Studies

#8 in South Africa

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Development Studies

#9 in South Africa

#361 in the World

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

13. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Development Studies

#2 in Nigeria

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

14. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Development Studies

#10 in South Africa

#429 in the World

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

15. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Development Studies

#3 in Nigeria

#447 in the World

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

16. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Development Studies

#1 in Ethiopia

#455 in the World

Founded: 1950

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Development Studies

#1 in Kenya

#471 in the World

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

18. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Development Studies

#1 in Botswana

#533 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Development Studies

#2 in Ghana

#538 in the World

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

20. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Development Studies

#1 in Egypt

#552 in the World

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

21. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Development Studies

#4 in Nigeria

#563 in the World

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

22. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Development Studies

#1 in Zimbabwe

#630 in the World

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

23. University of Malawi

Malawi | Zomba

For Development Studies

#1 in Malawi

#647 in the World

Founded: 1964

24. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Development Studies

#11 in South Africa

#655 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

25. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Development Studies

#5 in Nigeria

#696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

26. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Development Studies

#2 in Ethiopia

#708 in the World

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

27. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Development Studies

#1 in Zambia

#721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

28. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Development Studies

#3 in Ghana

#724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

29. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Development Studies

#3 in Ethiopia

#772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

30. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Development Studies

#2 in Egypt

#807 in the World

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

31. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Development Studies

#12 in South Africa

#818 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

32. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Development Studies

#1 in Tanzania

#828 in the World

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

33. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Development Studies

#6 in Nigeria

#837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

34. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Development Studies

#13 in South Africa

#868 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

35. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Development Studies

#7 in Nigeria

#875 in the World

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

36. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Development Studies

#3 in Egypt

#877 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

37. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Development Studies

#8 in Nigeria

#881 in the World

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

38. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Development Studies

#14 in South Africa

#897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

39. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Development Studies

#4 in Egypt

#928 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

40. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Development Studies

#4 in Ghana

#935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

41. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Development Studies

#4 in Ethiopia

#952 in the World

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

42. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Development Studies

#15 in South Africa

#968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

43. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Development Studies

#2 in Kenya

#971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

44. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For Development Studies

#1 in Sierra Leone

#985 in the World

Founded: 2005

45. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Development Studies

#5 in Egypt

#993 in the World

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

46. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Development Studies

#1 in Tunisia

#1022 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

47. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Development Studies

#9 in Nigeria

#1044 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

48. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#10 in Nigeria

#1045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

49. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Development Studies

#3 in Kenya

#1068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

50. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Development Studies

#11 in Nigeria

#1070 in the World

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

51. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Development Studies

#16 in South Africa

#1087 in the World

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

52. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#17 in South Africa

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

53. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Development Studies

#6 in Egypt

#1121 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

54. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Development Studies

#5 in Ethiopia

#1139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

55. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Development Studies

#2 in Tunisia

#1167 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

56. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Development Studies

#2 in Tanzania

#1204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

57. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Development Studies

#6 in Ethiopia

#1209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

58. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Development Studies

#12 in Nigeria

#1229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

59. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Development Studies

#13 in Nigeria

#1231 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

60. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Development Studies

#14 in Nigeria

#1260 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Development Studies

#7 in Egypt

#1296 in the World

Founded: 1972

62. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Development Studies

#18 in South Africa

#1305 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

63. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Development Studies

#15 in Nigeria

#1323 in the World

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

64. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Development Studies

#8 in Egypt

#1347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

65. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Development Studies

#1 in Morocco

#1353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

66. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Development Studies

#4 in Kenya

#1359 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

67. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Development Studies

#7 in Ethiopia

#1366 in the World

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

68. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Development Studies

#16 in Nigeria

#1372 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

69. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Development Studies

#1 in Mauritius

#1397 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

70. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Development Studies

#19 in South Africa

#1414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

71. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Development Studies

#9 in Egypt

#1446 in the World

Founded: 1957

72. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Development Studies

#10 in Egypt

#1457 in the World

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

73. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Development Studies

#2 in Uganda

#1459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

74. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#17 in Nigeria

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

75. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Development Studies

#11 in Egypt

#1480 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

76. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Development Studies

#18 in Nigeria

#1504 in the World

Founded: 1991

77. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Development Studies

#19 in Nigeria

#1521 in the World

Founded: 2000

78. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Development Studies

#20 in South Africa

#1531 in the World

Founded: 2005

79. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Development Studies

#1 in Cameroon

#1533 in the World

Founded: 1993

80. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Development Studies

#12 in Egypt

#1540 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

81. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Development Studies

#20 in Nigeria

#1601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

82. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Development Studies

#1 in Senegal

#1613 in the World

Founded: 1918

83. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Development Studies

#5 in Ghana

#1636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

84. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Development Studies

#1 in Namibia

#1647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

85. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Development Studies

#3 in Tunisia

#1650 in the World

86. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Development Studies

#2 in Cameroon

#1660 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Development Studies

#21 in South Africa

#1661 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

88. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Development Studies

#4 in Tunisia

#1675 in the World

89. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Development Studies

#1 in Mozambique

#1676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

90. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Development Studies

#21 in Nigeria

#1679 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

91. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Development Studies

#1 in Sudan

#1695 in the World

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

92. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Development Studies

#22 in Nigeria

#1718 in the World

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

93. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Development Studies

#2 in Mozambique

#1725 in the World

Founded: 1985

94. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

Ghana | Accra

For Development Studies

#6 in Ghana

#1756 in the World

Founded: 1961

95. University of Jos

Nigeria | Jos

For Development Studies

#23 in Nigeria

#1757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

96. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Development Studies

#3 in Tanzania

#1795 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

97. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa | Pretoria

For Development Studies

#22 in South Africa

#1808 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

98. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Development Studies

#24 in Nigeria

#1823 in the World

Founded: 1975

99. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Development Studies

#25 in Nigeria

#1835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

100. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Development Studies

#5 in Tunisia

#1837 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

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