Best Universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 4.78M citations received by 251K academic papers made by 280 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

#430 in the World

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

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa | Cape Town

For Optical Engineering

#1 in South Africa

#519 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Egypt

#528 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

4. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Optical Engineering

#2 in South Africa

#532 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

#662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Egypt

#665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

8. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#5 in South Africa

#722 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Egypt

#749 in the World

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

10. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Egypt

#843 in the World

Founded: 1961

11. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Tunisia

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

12. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Optical Engineering

#6 in South Africa

#869 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

13. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Egypt

#900 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

14. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Egypt

#959 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Egypt

#974 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Egypt

#997 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

17. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Tunisia

#1049 in the World

18. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Tunisia

#1073 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

#1103 in the World

21. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#8 in South Africa

#1125 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

22. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Algeria

#1168 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

23. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Morocco

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

24. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Egypt

#1249 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

#1268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

26. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Egypt

#1295 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

27. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Optical Engineering

#10 in South Africa

#1348 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

28. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Egypt

#1390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

29. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Algeria

#1459 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

30. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Egypt

#1478 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

31. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Optical Engineering

#11 in South Africa

#1480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

32. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Morocco

#1493 in the World

33. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Egypt

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

34. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Morocco

#1524 in the World

35. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Egypt

#1553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

36. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Optical Engineering

#12 in South Africa

#1558 in the World

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

37. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Morocco

#1576 in the World

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

38. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Uganda

#1579 in the World

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

39. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Tunisia

#1583 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

40. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Algeria

#1586 in the World

41. South Valley University - Qena

Egypt | Qena

For Optical Engineering

#16 in Egypt

#1606 in the World

Founded: 1995

42. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Nigeria

#1639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

43. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Nigeria

#1651 in the World

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

44. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#17 in Egypt

#1702 in the World

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

45. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Algeria

#1708 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

46. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Ethiopia

#1710 in the World

Founded: 1950

47. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Nigeria

#1730 in the World

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

48. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Morocco

#1742 in the World

49. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Optical Engineering

#18 in Egypt

#1763 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

50. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Kenya

#1815 in the World

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

51. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Nigeria

#1913 in the World

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

52. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Nigeria

#1929 in the World

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

53. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Optical Engineering

#13 in South Africa

#1940 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

54. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Nigeria

#1959 in the World

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

55. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Tunisia

#1979 in the World

56. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Morocco

#1985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

57. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Algeria

#2002 in the World

58. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Optical Engineering

#19 in Egypt

#2017 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

59. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Optical Engineering

#20 in Egypt

#2094 in the World

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

60. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Ghana

#2121 in the World

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

61. Aswan University

Egypt | Aswan

For Optical Engineering

#21 in Egypt

#2124 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

62. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Nigeria

#2126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

63. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Ghana

#2145 in the World

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

64. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Algeria

#2164 in the World

65. Fayoum University

Egypt | Faiyum

For Optical Engineering

#22 in Egypt

#2202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

66. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Nigeria

#2228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

67. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Ethiopia

#2234 in the World

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

68. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Algeria

#2242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

69. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Sudan

#2247 in the World

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

70. University of Science and Technology of Oran

Algeria | Oran

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Algeria

#2256 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

71. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Algeria

#2277 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

72. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Algeria

#2293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

73. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Senegal

#2295 in the World

Founded: 1918

74. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Nigeria

#2308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

75. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Optical Engineering

#23 in Egypt

#2335 in the World

Founded: 2010

76. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Optical Engineering

#14 in South Africa

#2338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

77. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Optical Engineering

#24 in Egypt

#2356 in the World

Founded: 2010

78. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Tunisia

#2387 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

79. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Nigeria

#2391 in the World

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

80. Suez University

Egypt | Suez

For Optical Engineering

#25 in Egypt

#2397 in the World

Founded: 2012

81. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Botswana

#2426 in the World

Founded: 1964

82. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Algeria

#2435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

83. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Nigeria

#2436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

84. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Nigeria

#2446 in the World

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

85. University of Oran 1

Algeria | Oran

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Algeria

#2458 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

86. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Algeria

#2470 in the World

87. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Zimbabwe

#2478 in the World

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

88. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Ethiopia

#2498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

89. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Algeria

#2562 in the World

90. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Cameroon

#2573 in the World

Founded: 1993

91. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Optical Engineering

#13 in Nigeria

#2583 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

92. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Ethiopia

#2589 in the World

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

93. National University of Science and Technology

Zimbabwe | Bulawayo

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Zimbabwe

#2592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1991

94. University of Benghazi

Libya | Benghazi

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Libya

#2596 in the World

Founded: 1955

95. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Optical Engineering

#14 in Nigeria

#2597 in the World

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

96. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Optical Engineering

#15 in Nigeria

#2644 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

97. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Mozambique

#2652 in the World

Founded: 1985

98. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Optical Engineering

#15 in South Africa

#2656 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

99. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Optical Engineering

#26 in Egypt

#2678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

100. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Optical Engineering

#16 in South Africa

#2696 in the World

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

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

Mechanical Engineering277

Metallurgical Engineering281

Mining Engineering74

Nanotechnology219

Nuclear Engineering38

Operations Research70

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