Best Universities for Ecology 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 Ecology. A graph of 12.9M citations received by 714K academic papers made by 350 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 Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Ecology

#1 in South Africa

#132 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Ecology

#2 in South Africa

#149 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Ecology

#3 in South Africa

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Ecology

#4 in South Africa

#224 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Ecology

#5 in South Africa

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

6. Cairo University

For Ecology

#1 in Egypt

#429 in the World

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

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Ecology

#6 in South Africa

#488 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Ecology

#554 in the World

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

9. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Ecology

#572 in the World

Founded: 1950

10. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Ecology

#7 in South Africa

#577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

11. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Ecology

#2 in Egypt

#605 in the World

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

12. Ain Shams University

For Ecology

#3 in Egypt

#608 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

13. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Ecology

#8 in South Africa

#609 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

14. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Ecology

#674 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

15. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Ecology

#9 in South Africa

#683 in the World

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

16. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Ecology

#1 in Uganda

#701 in the World

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

17. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Ecology

#4 in Egypt

#702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

18. University of Ghana

For Ecology

#1 in Ghana

#709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

19. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Ecology

#1 in Kenya

#724 in the World

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

20. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Ecology

#5 in Egypt

#737 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

21. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Ecology

#10 in South Africa

#755 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

22. University of Sfax

For Ecology

#767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

23. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Ecology

#776 in the World

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

24. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Ecology

#2 in Ghana

#802 in the World

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

25. Assiut University

For Ecology

#6 in Egypt

#861 in the World

Founded: 1957

26. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Ecology

#940 in the World

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

27. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Ecology

#943 in the World

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

28. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Ecology

#965 in the World

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

29. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Ecology

#11 in South Africa

#989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

30. Al-Azhar University

For Ecology

#7 in Egypt

#996 in the World

Founded: 1961

31. Tanta University

For Ecology

#8 in Egypt

#997 in the World

Founded: 1972

32. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Ecology

#12 in South Africa

#1027 in the World

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

33. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Ecology

#1038 in the World

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

34. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Ecology

#1040 in the World

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

35. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Ecology

#1051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

36. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Ecology

#1086 in the World

37. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Ecology

#1087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

38. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Ecology

#13 in South Africa

#1118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

39. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Ecology

#1124 in the World

40. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Ecology

#1125 in the World

41. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Ecology

#1127 in the World

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

42. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Ecology

#14 in South Africa

#1132 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

43. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Ecology

#9 in Egypt

#1135 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

44. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Ecology

#1191 in the World

Founded: 1964

45. Minia University

For Ecology

#10 in Egypt

#1201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

46. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Ecology

#1203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

47. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Ecology

#10 in Nigeria

#1241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

48. Benha University

For Ecology

#11 in Egypt

#1248 in the World

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

49. Covenant University

For Ecology

#11 in Nigeria

#1250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

50. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Ecology

#1252 in the World

51. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Ecology

#1260 in the World

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

52. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Ecology

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

53. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Ecology

#1317 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

54. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Ecology

#12 in Egypt

#1331 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

55. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Ecology

#1350 in the World

56. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Ecology

#1355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

57. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Ecology

#15 in South Africa

#1366 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

58. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Ecology

#13 in Egypt

#1381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

59. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Ecology

#1388 in the World

Founded: 1993

60. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Ecology

#1 in Mauritius

#1394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

61. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Ecology

#1399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

62. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Ecology

#12 in Nigeria

#1406 in the World

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

63. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Ecology

#1409 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

64. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Ecology

#1411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

65. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Ecology

#1445 in the World

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

66. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Ecology

#2 in Kenya

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

67. Helwan University

For Ecology

#14 in Egypt

#1464 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

68. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Ecology

#3 in Ghana

#1467 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

69. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Ecology

#1478 in the World

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

70. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Ecology

#1489 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

71. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Ecology

#16 in South Africa

#1495 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

72. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Ecology

#3 in Kenya

#1499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

73. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Ecology

#13 in Nigeria

#1511 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

74. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Ecology

#14 in Nigeria

#1536 in the World

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

75. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Ecology

#1561 in the World

76. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Ecology

#17 in South Africa

#1577 in the World

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

77. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Ecology

#1586 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

78. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Ecology

#15 in Nigeria

#1591 in the World

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

79. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Ecology

#15 in Egypt

#1621 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

80. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Ecology

#1 in Sudan

#1622 in the World

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

81. South Valley University - Qena

For Ecology

#16 in Egypt

#1642 in the World

Founded: 1995

82. University for Development Studies

For Ecology

#4 in Ghana

#1652 in the World

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

83. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Ecology

#1655 in the World

84. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Ecology

#1682 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

85. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Ecology

#1 in Zambia

#1724 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

86. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Ecology

#16 in Nigeria

#1730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

87. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Ecology

#1745 in the World

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

88. Egerton University

For Ecology

#4 in Kenya

#1752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

89. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Ecology

#18 in South Africa

#1797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

90. Aswan University

For Ecology

#17 in Egypt

#1806 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

91. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Ecology

#1825 in the World

92. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Ecology

#1 in Burkina Faso

#1830 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

93. University of Uyo

For Ecology

#17 in Nigeria

#1836 in the World

Founded: 1991

94. Fayoum University

For Ecology

#18 in Egypt

#1838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

95. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Ecology

#18 in Nigeria

#1853 in the World

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

96. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Ecology

#5 in Kenya

#1876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

97. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Ecology

#1 in Ivory Coast

#1886 in the World

Enrollment: 60,189
Founded: 1964

98. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Ecology

#19 in Nigeria

#1911 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

99. University of Malawi

For Ecology

#1 in Malawi

#1917 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

100. University of Antananarivo

Madagascar Flag

Madagascar | Antananarivo

For Ecology

#1 in Madagascar

#1954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1961

Environmental Science subfields in Africa

Agricultural Science299

Earth science and Geophysics225

Environmental Chemistry230

Environmental Engineering220

Environmental Management302

Geography and Cartography361

Geotechnical Engineering234

Hydrology and Water resources management120

Meteorology and Atmospheric Science259

Mining Engineering82

Oceanography271

Paleontology331

Petrology and Geochemistry177

Urban and Regional planning43

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation210