Best Universities for Oceanography 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 Oceanography. A graph of 2.85M citations received by 137K academic papers made by 271 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 Oceanography

#1 in South Africa

#134 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Oceanography

#2 in South Africa

#396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Oceanography

#3 in South Africa

#439 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Oceanography

#4 in South Africa

#447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Oceanography

#5 in South Africa

#486 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Oceanography

#6 in South Africa

#492 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

7. Cairo University

For Oceanography

#1 in Egypt

#550 in the World

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

8. Ain Shams University

For Oceanography

#2 in Egypt

#720 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Oceanography

#3 in Egypt

#729 in the World

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

10. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Oceanography

#805 in the World

Founded: 1950

11. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Oceanography

#7 in South Africa

#807 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

12. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Oceanography

#4 in Egypt

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

13. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Oceanography

#8 in South Africa

#863 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

14. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Oceanography

#9 in South Africa

#897 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

15. University of Sfax

For Oceanography

#903 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

16. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Oceanography

#965 in the World

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

17. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Oceanography

#10 in South Africa

#991 in the World

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

18. Tanta University

For Oceanography

#5 in Egypt

#996 in the World

Founded: 1972

19. Assiut University

For Oceanography

#6 in Egypt

#1006 in the World

Founded: 1957

20. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Oceanography

#7 in Egypt

#1012 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

21. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Oceanography

#1043 in the World

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

22. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Oceanography

#1047 in the World

23. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Oceanography

#1055 in the World

24. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Oceanography

#1 in Ghana

#1086 in the World

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

25. University of Ghana

For Oceanography

#2 in Ghana

#1093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

26. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Oceanography

#1097 in the World

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

27. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Oceanography

#11 in South Africa

#1115 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

28. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Oceanography

#1128 in the World

29. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Oceanography

#1 in Kenya

#1138 in the World

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

30. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Oceanography

#1144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

31. Al-Azhar University

For Oceanography

#8 in Egypt

#1171 in the World

Founded: 1961

32. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Oceanography

#1185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

33. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Oceanography

#1190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

34. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Oceanography

#12 in South Africa

#1198 in the World

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

35. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Oceanography

#1214 in the World

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

36. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Oceanography

#13 in South Africa

#1219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

37. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Oceanography

#1 in Uganda

#1268 in the World

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

38. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Oceanography

#1276 in the World

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

39. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Oceanography

#1296 in the World

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

40. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Oceanography

#1305 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

41. Helwan University

For Oceanography

#9 in Egypt

#1329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

42. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Oceanography

#10 in Egypt

#1350 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

43. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Oceanography

#1359 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

44. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Oceanography

#1374 in the World

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

45. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Oceanography

#1413 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

46. Minia University

For Oceanography

#11 in Egypt

#1429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

47. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Oceanography

#1430 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Covenant University

For Oceanography

#1431 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

49. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Oceanography

#1448 in the World

50. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Oceanography

#14 in South Africa

#1466 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

51. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Oceanography

#15 in South Africa

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

52. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Oceanography

#16 in South Africa

#1512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

53. South Valley University - Qena

For Oceanography

#12 in Egypt

#1519 in the World

Founded: 1995

54. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Oceanography

#1545 in the World

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

55. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Oceanography

#13 in Egypt

#1568 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

56. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Oceanography

#1575 in the World

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

57. Benha University

For Oceanography

#14 in Egypt

#1615 in the World

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

58. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Oceanography

#1 in Mauritius

#1617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

59. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Oceanography

#10 in Nigeria

#1618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

60. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Oceanography

#1648 in the World

61. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Oceanography

#1649 in the World

62. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Oceanography

#1658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

63. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Oceanography

#15 in Egypt

#1680 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

64. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Oceanography

#16 in Egypt

#1689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

65. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Oceanography

#1710 in the World

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

66. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Oceanography

#1747 in the World

67. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Oceanography

#1749 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

68. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Oceanography

#1756 in the World

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

69. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Oceanography

#11 in Nigeria

#1774 in the World

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

70. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Oceanography

#1791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

71. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Oceanography

#12 in Nigeria

#1812 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

72. Fayoum University

For Oceanography

#17 in Egypt

#1817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

73. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Oceanography

#13 in Nigeria

#1823 in the World

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

74. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Oceanography

#1831 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

75. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Oceanography

#14 in Nigeria

#1837 in the World

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

76. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Oceanography

#3 in Ghana

#1841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

77. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Oceanography

#1856 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

78. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Oceanography

#15 in Nigeria

#1870 in the World

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

79. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Oceanography

#17 in South Africa

#1877 in the World

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

80. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Oceanography

#18 in Egypt

#1881 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

81. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Oceanography

#16 in Nigeria

#1900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

82. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Oceanography

#19 in Egypt

#1920 in the World

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

83. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Oceanography

#1 in Ivory Coast

#1922 in the World

Enrollment: 60,189
Founded: 1964

84. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Oceanography

#1936 in the World

85. Aswan University

For Oceanography

#20 in Egypt

#1945 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

86. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Oceanography

#1959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

87. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Oceanography

#21 in Egypt

#1962 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

88. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Oceanography

#1964 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

89. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Oceanography

#1993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

90. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Oceanography

#1994 in the World

91. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Oceanography

#17 in Nigeria

#2000 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

92. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Oceanography

#18 in South Africa

#2003 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

93. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Oceanography

#2057 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

94. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Oceanography

#22 in Egypt

#2096 in the World

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

95. University of Uyo

For Oceanography

#18 in Nigeria

#2106 in the World

Founded: 1991

96. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Oceanography

#1 in Mozambique

#2112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

97. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Oceanography

#2 in Kenya

#2115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

98. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Oceanography

#23 in Egypt

#2116 in the World

Founded: 2010

99. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Oceanography

#2117 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

100. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Oceanography

#2118 in the World

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

Paleontology331

Petrology and Geochemistry177

Urban and Regional planning43

Wildlife and Fisheries Management & Conservation210