Best Universities for Civil Engineering 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 Civil Engineering. A graph of 1M citations received by 63K academic papers made by 208 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 Civil Engineering

#1 in South Africa

#276 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Civil Engineering

#2 in South Africa

#370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Egypt

#411 in the World

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

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Civil Engineering

#3 in South Africa

#439 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Civil Engineering

#4 in South Africa

#441 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Civil Engineering

#5 in South Africa

#529 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Ethiopia

#536 in the World

Founded: 1950

8. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Egypt

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

9. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Egypt

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

10. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Civil Engineering

#6 in South Africa

#624 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

11. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Egypt

#626 in the World

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

12. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Egypt

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

13. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Egypt

#733 in the World

Founded: 1972

14. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Ghana

#761 in the World

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

15. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Civil Engineering

#7 in South Africa

#848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

16. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Tunisia

#863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

17. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Nigeria

#866 in the World

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

18. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Nigeria

#901 in the World

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

19. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Egypt

#919 in the World

Founded: 1957

20. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Morocco

#965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

21. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Nigeria

#1024 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

22. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Nigeria

#1067 in the World

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

23. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Uganda

#1070 in the World

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

24. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Egypt

#1080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

25. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Ethiopia

#1082 in the World

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

26. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Civil Engineering

#8 in South Africa

#1085 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

27. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Nigeria

#1101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

28. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Civil Engineering

#9 in South Africa

#1105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

29. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Tanzania

#1129 in the World

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

30. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Algeria

#1143 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

31. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Civil Engineering

#10 in South Africa

#1182 in the World

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

32. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Morocco

#1183 in the World

33. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Botswana

#1204 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Nigeria

#1245 in the World

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

35. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Kenya

#1259 in the World

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

36. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Egypt

#1269 in the World

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

37. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Ghana

#1281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

38. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Ethiopia

#1327 in the World

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

39. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Civil Engineering

#11 in South Africa

#1330 in the World

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

40. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Nigeria

#1333 in the World

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

41. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Civil Engineering

#12 in South Africa

#1338 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

42. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Egypt

#1347 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

43. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Ethiopia

#1373 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

44. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Egypt

#1399 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

45. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Civil Engineering

#13 in South Africa

#1405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

46. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Tunisia

#1417 in the World

47. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Morocco

#1427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

48. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Zimbabwe

#1449 in the World

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

49. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Ethiopia

#1470 in the World

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

50. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Egypt

#1481 in the World

Founded: 1961

51. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Egypt

#1503 in the World

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

52. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Algeria

#1531 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

53. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Morocco

#1595 in the World

54. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Ethiopia

#1603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

55. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Tunisia

#1612 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

56. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Tunisia

#1614 in the World

57. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Tunisia

#1640 in the World

58. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Kenya

#1660 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

59. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Egypt

#1680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

60. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Ghana

#1689 in the World

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

61. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Egypt

#1720 in the World

Founded: 2010

62. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Nigeria

#1721 in the World

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

63. Arba Minch University

Ethiopia | Arba Minch

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Ethiopia

#1726 in the World

Enrollment: 37,433
Founded: 1986

64. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Civil Engineering

#9 in Nigeria

#1730 in the World

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

65. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Egypt

#1745 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

66. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Egypt

#1770 in the World

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

67. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Morocco

#1812 in the World

68. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Algeria

#1819 in the World

69. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Algeria

#1854 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

70. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Egypt

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

71. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Civil Engineering

#19 in Egypt

#1879 in the World

Enrollment: 3,741
Male:Female: 59:41
Founded: 2010

72. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Ghana

#1881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

73. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Tanzania

#1898 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

74. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Algeria

#1911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

75. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Nigeria

#1947 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

76. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Civil Engineering

#14 in South Africa

#1975 in the World

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

77. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Civil Engineering

#11 in Nigeria

#1983 in the World

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

78. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Nigeria

#1984 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

79. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Civil Engineering

#15 in South Africa

#1989 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

80. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Sudan

#1995 in the World

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

81. Aswan University

Egypt | Aswan

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Egypt

#2015 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

82. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Civil Engineering

#21 in Egypt

#2053 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

83. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Nigeria

#2082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

84. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Zambia

#2117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

85. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Civil Engineering

#14 in Nigeria

#2130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

86. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Civil Engineering

#15 in Nigeria

#2139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

87. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Ethiopia

#2143 in the World

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

88. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Algeria

#2145 in the World

89. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Nigeria

#2146 in the World

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

90. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Civil Engineering

#7 in Algeria

#2181 in the World

91. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Nigeria

#2183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

92. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Civil Engineering

#22 in Egypt

#2193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

93. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Morocco

#2221 in the World

94. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Nigeria

#2226 in the World

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

95. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Civil Engineering

#1 in Senegal

#2230 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

96. Fayoum University

Egypt | Faiyum

For Civil Engineering

#23 in Egypt

#2238 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

97. Future University in Egypt

Egypt | New Cairo

For Civil Engineering

#24 in Egypt

#2261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2006

98. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Civil Engineering

#8 in Algeria

#2263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

99. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Civil Engineering

#3 in Kenya

#2278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

100. South Valley University - Qena

Egypt | Qena

For Civil Engineering

#25 in Egypt

#2279 in the World

Founded: 1995

Engineering subfields in Africa

Acoustical Engineering224

Aerospace Engineering233

Agricultural Engineering69

Applied/Engineering Physics43

Architectural Engineering66

Architecture48

Automation and Control engineering81

Automotive Engineering130

Aviation19

Biochemical Engineering46

Biomedical Engineering36

Biotechnology221

Chemical Engineering249

Computer Engineering69

Computer Networking249

Construction Management44

Electrical Engineering290

Electronic Engineering151

Engineering Management37

Environmental Engineering220

Firefighting and Fire Science24

Geotechnical Engineering234

Human-Computer Interaction86

Industrial Engineering22

Landscape Architecture33

Marine Engineering27

Materials Science317

Mechanical Engineering282

Metallurgical Engineering283

Mining Engineering82

Nanotechnology222

Nuclear Engineering38

Operations Research71

Optical Engineering281

Petroleum Engineering72

Polymer science and Plastics engineering18

Product and Industrial Design13

Reliability and Quality Engineering100

Remote Sensing137

Renewable Energy Engineering162

Robotics41

Structural Engineering199

Systems Engineering160

Technical Drawing21

Telecommunications266

Transportation Engineering63