Best Universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 5.24M citations received by 257K academic papers made by 281 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

Egypt | Giza

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Egypt

#431 in the World

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

2. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Egypt

#523 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

3. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Optical Engineering

#1 in South Africa

#524 in the World

Founded: 1874

4. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Optical Engineering

#2 in South Africa

#530 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Optical Engineering

#3 in South Africa

#560 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Optical Engineering

#4 in South Africa

#664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Egypt

#666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

8. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#5 in South Africa

#720 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Egypt

#742 in the World

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

10. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Egypt

#832 in the World

Founded: 1961

11. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Tunisia

#843 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

12. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Optical Engineering

#6 in South Africa

#857 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

13. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Egypt

#892 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

14. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Egypt

#953 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Egypt

#963 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Egypt

#991 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

17. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Tunisia

#1051 in the World

18. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Tunisia

#1069 in the World

19. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Optical Engineering

#7 in South Africa

#1080 in the World

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

20. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Tunisia

#1097 in the World

21. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#8 in South Africa

#1105 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

22. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Algeria

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

23. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Morocco

#1173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

24. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Egypt

#1236 in the World

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

25. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Optical Engineering

#9 in South Africa

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

26. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Egypt

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

27. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Optical Engineering

#10 in South Africa

#1359 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

28. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Egypt

#1387 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

29. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Algeria

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

30. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#11 in South Africa

#1478 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

31. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Egypt

#1480 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

32. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Morocco

#1490 in the World

33. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Egypt

#1492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

34. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Morocco

#1507 in the World

35. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Morocco

#1539 in the World

36. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Egypt

#1549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

37. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Optical Engineering

#12 in South Africa

#1554 in the World

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

38. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Tunisia

#1572 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

39. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Uganda

#1581 in the World

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

40. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Algeria

#1591 in the World

41. South Valley University - Qena

Egypt | Qena

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Egypt

#1602 in the World

Founded: 1995

42. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Nigeria

#1640 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

43. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Nigeria

#1668 in the World

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

44. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Ethiopia

#1676 in the World

Founded: 1950

45. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Egypt

#1697 in the World

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

46. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Morocco

#1703 in the World

47. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Algeria

#1719 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

48. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Optical Engineering

#18 in Egypt

#1720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

49. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Nigeria

#1750 in the World

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

50. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Kenya

#1832 in the World

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

51. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Nigeria

#1912 in the World

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

52. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Nigeria

#1918 in the World

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

53. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Optical Engineering

#13 in South Africa

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

54. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Morocco

#1959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

55. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Nigeria

#1970 in the World

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

56. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Tunisia

#1979 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

57. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Optical Engineering

#19 in Egypt

#2001 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

58. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Algeria

#2014 in the World

59. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Ghana

#2039 in the World

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

60. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Optical Engineering

#20 in Egypt

#2084 in the World

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

61. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Ghana

#2100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

62. Aswan University

Egypt | Aswan

For Optical Engineering

#21 in Egypt

#2121 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

63. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Nigeria

#2122 in the World

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

64. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Ethiopia

#2159 in the World

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

65. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Algeria

#2164 in the World

66. Fayoum University

Egypt | Faiyum

For Optical Engineering

#22 in Egypt

#2165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

67. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Nigeria

#2223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

68. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Algeria

#2225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

69. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Algeria

#2251 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

70. University of Science and Technology of Oran

Algeria | Oran

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Algeria

#2256 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

71. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Algeria

#2290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

72. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Sudan

#2293 in the World

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

73. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Senegal

#2303 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

74. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Optical Engineering

#23 in Egypt

#2309 in the World

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

75. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Optical Engineering

#24 in Egypt

#2312 in the World

Founded: 2010

76. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Nigeria

#2314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

77. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Optical Engineering

#14 in South Africa

#2320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

78. Suez University

Egypt | Suez

For Optical Engineering

#25 in Egypt

#2349 in the World

Founded: 2012

79. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Tunisia

#2355 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

80. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Nigeria

#2366 in the World

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

81. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Nigeria

#2432 in the World

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

82. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Algeria

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

83. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Ethiopia

#2436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

84. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Botswana

#2444 in the World

Founded: 1964

85. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Nigeria

#2449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

86. University of Oran 1

Algeria | Oran

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Algeria

#2455 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

87. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Algeria

#2469 in the World

88. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Ethiopia

#2494 in the World

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

89. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Zimbabwe

#2508 in the World

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

90. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Algeria

#2568 in the World

91. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Cameroon

#2570 in the World

Founded: 1993

92. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Nigeria

#2586 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

93. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Zimbabwe

#2607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

94. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Nigeria

#2620 in the World

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

95. University of Benghazi

Libya | Benghazi

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Libya

#2627 in the World

Founded: 1955

96. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Nigeria

#2637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

97. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Optical Engineering

#15 in South Africa

#2668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

98. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Ghana

#2669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

99. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Nigeria

#2672 in the World

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

100. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#26 in Egypt

#2677 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

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

Mechanical Engineering282

Metallurgical Engineering283

Mining Engineering82

Nanotechnology222

Nuclear Engineering38

Operations Research71

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