Best Universities for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 18M citations received by 1.27M academic papers made by 369 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 Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in South Africa

#208 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in South Africa

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in South Africa

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in South Africa

#335 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in South Africa

#398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in South Africa

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in South Africa

#542 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in South Africa

#586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Egypt

#718 in the World

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

10. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in South Africa

#777 in the World

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

11. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Nigeria

#787 in the World

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

12. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Ghana

#841 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

13. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in South Africa

#851 in the World

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

14. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Uganda

#858 in the World

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

15. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Egypt

#916 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

16. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Ethiopia

#1010 in the World

Founded: 1950

17. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Nigeria

#1078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

18. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in South Africa

#1085 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

19. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Egypt

#1104 in the World

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

20. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Kenya

#1108 in the World

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

21. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Tunisia

#1121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

22. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Nigeria

#1172 in the World

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

23. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Morocco

#1176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

24. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Egypt

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

25. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Ghana

#1302 in the World

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

26. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Botswana

#1340 in the World

Founded: 1964

27. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Nigeria

#1370 in the World

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

28. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Zimbabwe

#1401 in the World

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

29. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in South Africa

#1421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

30. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Tunisia

#1430 in the World

31. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Tanzania

#1434 in the World

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

32. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Morocco

#1466 in the World

33. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Egypt

#1502 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

34. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Ethiopia

#1503 in the World

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

35. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Ghana

#1505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

36. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Tunisia

#1565 in the World

37. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Morocco

#1609 in the World

38. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Egypt

#1624 in the World

Founded: 1957

39. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in South Africa

#1642 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

40. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Ethiopia

#1686 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

41. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Egypt

#1687 in the World

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

42. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Nigeria

#1712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

43. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Nigeria

#1717 in the World

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

44. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Nigeria

#1720 in the World

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

45. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Tunisia

#1779 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

46. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Senegal

#1784 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

47. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Morocco

#1790 in the World

48. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Mozambique

#1796 in the World

Founded: 1985

49. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in South Africa

#1802 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

50. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in South Africa

#1814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

51. University of Malawi

Malawi | Zomba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Malawi

#1826 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

52. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Nigeria

#1846 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

53. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#8 in Egypt

#1854 in the World

Founded: 1972

54. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Zambia

#1893 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

55. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Tunisia

#1902 in the World

56. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in Egypt

#1912 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

57. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#9 in Nigeria

#1932 in the World

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

58. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Nigeria

#1939 in the World

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

59. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Morocco

#1955 in the World

60. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#10 in Egypt

#1959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

61. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Ethiopia

#1962 in the World

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

62. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Ivory Coast

#2021 in the World

Enrollment: 60,189
Founded: 1964

63. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Tanzania

#2026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

64. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Kenya

#2032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

65. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Egypt

#2049 in the World

Founded: 1961

66. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in Nigeria

#2112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

67. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in Egypt

#2116 in the World

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

68. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Tunisia

#2157 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

69. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Egypt

#2179 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

70. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Ethiopia

#2182 in the World

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

71. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Kenya

#2203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

72. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Egypt

#2215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

73. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Kenya

#2250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

74. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Algeria

#2266 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

75. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#12 in Nigeria

#2285 in the World

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

76. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in South Africa

#2300 in the World

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

77. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in South Africa

#2304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

78. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Tunisia

#2313 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

79. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Mauritius

#2317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

80. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Ethiopia

#2323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

81. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Tanzania

#2330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

82. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Algeria

#2345 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

83. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#6 in Morocco

#2378 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

84. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Ghana

#2386 in the World

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

85. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#18 in South Africa

#2413 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

86. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#13 in Nigeria

#2430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

87. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#7 in Ethiopia

#2451 in the World

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

88. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Sudan

#2457 in the World

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

89. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in Mozambique

#2465 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

90. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#3 in Algeria

#2470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

91. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in the DR Congo

#2510 in the World

Founded: 1954

92. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1 in Cameroon

#2527 in the World

Founded: 1993

93. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#14 in Nigeria

#2553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

94. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in Algeria

#2569 in the World

95. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#15 in Nigeria

#2585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

96. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Algeria

#2634 in the World

97. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#19 in South Africa

#2657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

98. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#16 in Nigeria

#2664 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

99. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#17 in Nigeria

#2665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

100. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#5 in Ghana

#2671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History111

Communications and Public Relations200

Criminology and Criminal Justice69

Demography324

Early Childhood Education39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law51

International Relations and Diplomacy28

Journalism and Digital Media70

Law363

Law Enforcement44

Library and Information science114

Linguistics327

Media Studies59

Military science23

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Philosophy358

Political Economy68

Political Science363

Public Policy / Administration119

Publishing22

Radio and Television broadcasting67

Social Work33

Sociology359

Special Education26

Sports / Exercise science31

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies211

Urban and Regional planning43