Best Universities for Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 2.56M citations received by 192K academic papers made by 282 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

#433 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in South Africa

#449 in the World

Founded: 1918

3. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Egypt

#479 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

#487 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in South Africa

#532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in South Africa

#613 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Egypt

#662 in the World

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

8. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Tunisia

#705 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

9. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in South Africa

#718 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

10. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Egypt

#726 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Egypt

#737 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

#855 in the World

Founded: 1972

14. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in South Africa

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

15. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Egypt

#960 in the World

Founded: 1957

16. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Tunisia

#962 in the World

17. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Egypt

#966 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

18. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Egypt

#1037 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

19. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Egypt

#1041 in the World

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

20. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Nigeria

#1149 in the World

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

21. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Morocco

#1161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

22. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in South Africa

#1201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

23. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in South Africa

#1212 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

24. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Algeria

#1263 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

25. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Tunisia

#1319 in the World

26. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Egypt

#1327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

27. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Tunisia

#1406 in the World

28. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Egypt

#1450 in the World

Founded: 1961

29. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Nigeria

#1483 in the World

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

30. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Nigeria

#1487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

31. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Morocco

#1496 in the World

32. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Ghana

#1519 in the World

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

33. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Nigeria

#1530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

34. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Nigeria

#1580 in the World

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

35. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Egypt

#1590 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

36. University of Science and Technology of Oran

Algeria | Oran

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Algeria

#1613 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

37. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Nigeria

#1619 in the World

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

38. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Morocco

#1640 in the World

39. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Ghana

#1647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

40. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Egypt

#1648 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

41. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Algeria

#1653 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

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. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Egypt

#1702 in the World

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

44. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Morocco

#1734 in the World

45. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Nigeria

#1736 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

46. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in South Africa

#1741 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

47. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Mechanical Engineering

#4 in Algeria

#1752 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

48. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Algeria

#1764 in the World

49. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in South Africa

#1774 in the World

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

50. 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

51. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in South Africa

#1825 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

52. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Algeria

#1829 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

53. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Morocco

#1857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

54. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Mechanical Engineering

#5 in Tunisia

#1858 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

55. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Nigeria

#1870 in the World

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

56. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Algeria

#1879 in the World

57. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Egypt

#1900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

58. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Algeria

#1926 in the World

59. Suez University

Egypt | Suez

For Mechanical Engineering

#18 in Egypt

#1927 in the World

Founded: 2012

60. South Valley University - Qena

Egypt | Qena

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in Egypt

#1945 in the World

Founded: 1995

61. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Mechanical Engineering

#20 in Egypt

#1970 in the World

Founded: 2010

62. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Ethiopia

#1971 in the World

Founded: 1950

63. Aswan University

Egypt | Aswan

For Mechanical Engineering

#21 in Egypt

#1996 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

64. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Tunisia

#2002 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

65. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in Egypt

#2004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

66. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Nigeria

#2019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

67. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Mechanical Engineering

#9 in Algeria

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

68. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Egypt

#2029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

69. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Mechanical Engineering

#10 in Algeria

#2038 in the World

70. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Mechanical Engineering

#7 in Tunisia

#2056 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%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

72. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in South Africa

#2072 in the World

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

73. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Algeria

#2075 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

74. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Uganda

#2099 in the World

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

75. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Kenya

#2151 in the World

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

76. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Algeria

#2241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

77. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Cameroon

#2274 in the World

Founded: 1993

78. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in South Africa

#2280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

79. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Zimbabwe

#2328 in the World

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

80. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Nigeria

#2330 in the World

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

81. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Mechanical Engineering

#12 in Nigeria

#2332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

82. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Botswana

#2334 in the World

Founded: 1964

83. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Morocco

#2341 in the World

84. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Nigeria

#2348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

85. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Ethiopia

#2359 in the World

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

86. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Nigeria

#2388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

87. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Kenya

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

88. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Mechanical Engineering

#15 in Nigeria

#2401 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

89. Fayoum University

Egypt | Faiyum

For Mechanical Engineering

#24 in Egypt

#2402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

90. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in Egypt

#2428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

91. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Zimbabwe

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

92. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Ethiopia

#2512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

93. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in Nigeria

#2516 in the World

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

94. Central University of Technology

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Mechanical Engineering

#16 in South Africa

#2533 in the World

Founded: 1981

95. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Mechanical Engineering

#26 in Egypt

#2537 in the World

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

96. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Mauritius

#2573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

97. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Ghana

#2577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

98. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Tanzania

#2607 in the World

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

99. University of Laghouat

Algeria | Laghouat

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Algeria

#2620 in the World

100. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in South Africa

#2647 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

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

Civil Engineering208

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

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