Best Universities for Mechanical Engineering 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 Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 2.31M citations received by 186K academic papers made by 277 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 Mechanical Engineering

#1 in South Africa

#435 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in South Africa

#446 in the World

Founded: 1918

3. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Egypt

#476 in the World

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

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in South Africa

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in South Africa

#529 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in South Africa

#638 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Egypt

#667 in the World

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

8. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in South Africa

#719 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Tunisia

#721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

10. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Egypt

#727 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Egypt

#746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

12. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Egypt

#838 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

13. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Egypt

#872 in the World

Founded: 1972

14. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in South Africa

#931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

15. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Egypt

#953 in the World

Founded: 1957

16. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Tunisia

#956 in the World

17. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Egypt

#957 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

18. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Egypt

#1026 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

19. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Egypt

#1059 in the World

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

20. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Nigeria

#1155 in the World

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

21. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Morocco

#1176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

22. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in South Africa

#1204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

23. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in South Africa

#1228 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

24. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Algeria

#1266 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

25. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Tunisia

#1323 in the World

26. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Egypt

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

27. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Tunisia

#1395 in the World

28. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Egypt

#1455 in the World

Founded: 1961

29. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Nigeria

#1481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

30. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Nigeria

#1482 in the World

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

31. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Morocco

#1507 in the World

32. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Nigeria

#1523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

33. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Ghana

#1525 in the World

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

34. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Ghana

#1577 in the World

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

35. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Egypt

#1579 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

36. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Nigeria

#1580 in the World

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

37. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Nigeria

#1606 in the World

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

38. University of Science and Technology of Oran

Algeria | Oran

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Algeria

#1620 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

39. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Algeria

#1656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

40. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Egypt

#1671 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

41. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Morocco

#1674 in the World

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

42. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in South Africa

#1680 in the World

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

43. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Nigeria

#1736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

44. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Morocco

#1737 in the World

45. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Algeria

#1745 in the World

46. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Egypt

#1748 in the World

Founded: 2010

47. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in South Africa

#1750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

48. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Algeria

#1751 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

49. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in South Africa

#1799 in the World

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

50. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in South Africa

#1802 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

51. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in Egypt

#1812 in the World

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

52. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Algeria

#1827 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

53. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Nigeria

#1869 in the World

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

54. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Algeria

#1876 in the World

55. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Tunisia

#1884 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

56. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Morocco

#1886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

57. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Algeria

#1918 in the World

58. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Egypt

#1942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

59. Suez University

Egypt | Suez

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in Egypt

#1945 in the World

Founded: 2012

60. South Valley University - Qena

Egypt | Qena

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in Egypt

#1953 in the World

Founded: 1995

61. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in Egypt

#1978 in the World

Founded: 2010

62. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Ethiopia

#1989 in the World

Founded: 1950

63. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Nigeria

#1997 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

64. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in Egypt

#2015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

65. Aswan University

Egypt | Aswan

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in Egypt

#2018 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

66. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Algeria

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

67. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Tunisia

#2031 in the World

68. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Algeria

#2033 in the World

69. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Egypt

#2043 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

70. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Tunisia

#2061 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

71. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Nigeria

#2067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

72. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Algeria

#2068 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in South Africa

#2097 in the World

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

74. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Uganda

#2109 in the World

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

75. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Kenya

#2150 in the World

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

76. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Algeria

#2229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

77. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Cameroon

#2282 in the World

Founded: 1993

78. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Zimbabwe

#2305 in the World

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

79. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in South Africa

#2306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

80. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Botswana

#2334 in the World

Founded: 1964

81. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Nigeria

#2335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

82. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Nigeria

#2345 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

83. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Nigeria

#2357 in the World

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

84. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Morocco

#2372 in the World

85. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Nigeria

#2380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

86. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Kenya

#2404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

87. Fayoum University

Egypt | Faiyum

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in Egypt

#2406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

88. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Nigeria

#2409 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

89. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Zimbabwe

#2430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

90. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in Egypt

#2462 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

91. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Ethiopia

#2496 in the World

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

92. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in Nigeria

#2510 in the World

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

93. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in South Africa

#2540 in the World

Founded: 1981

94. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in Egypt

#2565 in the World

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

95. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Mauritius

#2574 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

96. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Ethiopia

#2582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

97. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Tanzania

#2592 in the World

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

98. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Ghana

#2614 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

99. University of Laghouat

Algeria | Laghouat

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Algeria

#2625 in the World

100. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in South Africa

#2658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

Engineering subfields in Africa

Acoustical Engineering219

Aerospace Engineering225

Agricultural Engineering72

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Architectural Engineering63

Architecture47

Automation and Control engineering81

Automotive Engineering129

Aviation22

Biochemical Engineering44

Biomedical Engineering33

Biotechnology216

Chemical Engineering245

Civil Engineering205

Computer Engineering66

Computer Networking246

Construction Management41

Electrical Engineering287

Electronic Engineering143

Engineering Management35

Environmental Engineering219

Firefighting and Fire Science22

Geotechnical Engineering233

Human-Computer Interaction85

Industrial Engineering22

Landscape Architecture32

Marine Engineering26

Materials Science314

Metallurgical Engineering281

Mining Engineering74

Nanotechnology219

Nuclear Engineering38

Operations Research70

Optical Engineering280

Petroleum Engineering72

Polymer science and Plastics engineering18

Product and Industrial Design11

Reliability and Quality Engineering100

Remote Sensing131

Renewable Energy Engineering157

Robotics39

Structural Engineering194

Systems Engineering152

Technical Drawing20

Telecommunications263

Transportation Engineering63