Best Universities for Archaeology 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 Archaeology. A graph of 5.35M citations received by 384K academic papers made by 344 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 Archaeology

#1 in South Africa

#115 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Archaeology

#2 in South Africa

#177 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Archaeology

#3 in South Africa

#218 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Archaeology

#4 in South Africa

#244 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Archaeology

#5 in South Africa

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Archaeology

#6 in South Africa

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Archaeology

#7 in South Africa

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Archaeology

#8 in South Africa

#464 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

9. Cairo University

For Archaeology

#1 in Egypt

#581 in the World

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

10. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Archaeology

#9 in South Africa

#648 in the World

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

11. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Archaeology

#693 in the World

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

12. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Archaeology

#1 in Uganda

#696 in the World

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

13. Ain Shams University

For Archaeology

#2 in Egypt

#706 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

14. University of Ghana

For Archaeology

#1 in Ghana

#708 in the World

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

15. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Archaeology

#10 in South Africa

#741 in the World

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

16. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Archaeology

#751 in the World

Founded: 1950

17. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Archaeology

#3 in Egypt

#770 in the World

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

18. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Archaeology

#11 in South Africa

#785 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

19. University of Sfax

For Archaeology

#835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

20. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Archaeology

#878 in the World

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

21. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Archaeology

#886 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

22. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Archaeology

#1 in Kenya

#890 in the World

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

23. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Archaeology

#2 in Ghana

#899 in the World

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

24. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Archaeology

#992 in the World

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

25. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Archaeology

#4 in Egypt

#1028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

26. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Archaeology

#1046 in the World

Founded: 1964

27. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Archaeology

#12 in South Africa

#1069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

28. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Archaeology

#1079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

29. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Archaeology

#5 in Egypt

#1097 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

30. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Archaeology

#1126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,000
Founded: 1970

31. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Archaeology

#13 in South Africa

#1131 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

32. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Archaeology

#1227 in the World

33. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Archaeology

#1313 in the World

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

34. Covenant University

For Archaeology

#1322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

35. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Archaeology

#1327 in the World

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

36. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Archaeology

#3 in Ghana

#1351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

37. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Archaeology

#1356 in the World

38. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Archaeology

#1357 in the World

39. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Archaeology

#6 in Egypt

#1362 in the World

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

40. Tanta University

For Archaeology

#7 in Egypt

#1372 in the World

Founded: 1972

41. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Archaeology

#1405 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

42. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Archaeology

#1415 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

43. Helwan University

For Archaeology

#8 in Egypt

#1430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

44. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Archaeology

#1456 in the World

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

45. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Archaeology

#1457 in the World

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

46. Assiut University

For Archaeology

#9 in Egypt

#1460 in the World

Founded: 1957

47. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Archaeology

#14 in South Africa

#1469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

48. University for Development Studies

For Archaeology

#4 in Ghana

#1490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

49. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Archaeology

#1497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

50. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Archaeology

#1538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

51. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Archaeology

#1564 in the World

52. Al-Azhar University

For Archaeology

#10 in Egypt

#1573 in the World

Founded: 1961

53. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Archaeology

#1575 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

54. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Archaeology

#1581 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

55. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Archaeology

#1 in Mauritius

#1592 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

56. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Archaeology

#15 in South Africa

#1601 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

57. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Archaeology

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

58. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Archaeology

#1643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

59. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Archaeology

#1645 in the World

60. Benha University

For Archaeology

#11 in Egypt

#1647 in the World

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

61. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Archaeology

#2 in Kenya

#1657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

62. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Archaeology

#12 in Egypt

#1664 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

63. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Archaeology

#1687 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

64. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Archaeology

#10 in Nigeria

#1689 in the World

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

65. University of Malawi

For Archaeology

#1 in Malawi

#1699 in the World

Founded: 1964

66. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Archaeology

#1724 in the World

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

67. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Archaeology

#1726 in the World

68. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Archaeology

#16 in South Africa

#1757 in the World

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

69. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Archaeology

#1 in Zambia

#1769 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

70. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Archaeology

#11 in Nigeria

#1793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

71. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Archaeology

#13 in Egypt

#1796 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

72. Minia University

For Archaeology

#14 in Egypt

#1800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

73. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Archaeology

#3 in Kenya

#1816 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

74. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Archaeology

#1869 in the World

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

75. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Archaeology

#1870 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

76. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Archaeology

#12 in Nigeria

#1893 in the World

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

77. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Archaeology

#1894 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

78. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Archaeology

#1910 in the World

Founded: 1918

79. Fayoum University

For Archaeology

#15 in Egypt

#1912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

80. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Archaeology

#1919 in the World

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

81. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Archaeology

#17 in South Africa

#1955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

82. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Archaeology

#13 in Nigeria

#1976 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

83. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Archaeology

#4 in Kenya

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

84. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Archaeology

#14 in Nigeria

#2019 in the World

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

85. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Archaeology

#18 in South Africa

#2051 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

86. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Archaeology

#1 in Sudan

#2123 in the World

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

87. Egerton University

For Archaeology

#5 in Kenya

#2168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

88. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Archaeology

#16 in Egypt

#2177 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

89. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Archaeology

#2181 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

90. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Archaeology

#19 in South Africa

#2203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

91. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Archaeology

#15 in Nigeria

#2263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

92. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Archaeology

#16 in Nigeria

#2291 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

93. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Archaeology

#1 in Mozambique

#2348 in the World

Founded: 1985

94. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Archaeology

#17 in Nigeria

#2377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

95. University of Uyo

For Archaeology

#18 in Nigeria

#2397 in the World

Founded: 1991

96. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Archaeology

#17 in Egypt

#2424 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

97. Bayero University Kano

For Archaeology

#19 in Nigeria

#2437 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

98. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Archaeology

#2440 in the World

99. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Archaeology

#2449 in the World

Founded: 1993

100. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Archaeology

#20 in Nigeria

#2461 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Anthropology252

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History100

Communications and Public Relations195

Criminology and Criminal Justice64

Early Childhood Education39

Education Majors230

Forensic Science53

Gender Studies116

Human Rights Law56

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law50

International Relations and Diplomacy27

Journalism and Digital Media69

Law Enforcement41

Library and Information science112

Media Studies53

Military science22

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Political Economy67

Political Science364

Public Policy / Administration115

Radio and Television broadcasting66

Special Education27

Sports / Exercise science29

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies207

Urban and Regional planning39