Best Universities for History 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 History. A graph of 5.83M citations received by 435K academic papers made by 347 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 History

#1 in South Africa

#127 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#2 in South Africa

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#3 in South Africa

#227 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For History

#4 in South Africa

#251 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For History

#5 in South Africa

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#6 in South Africa

#405 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#7 in South Africa

#424 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For History

#8 in South Africa

#487 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For History

#9 in South Africa

#565 in the World

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

10. Cairo University

For History

#1 in Egypt

#618 in the World

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

11. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For History

#686 in the World

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

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For History

#10 in South Africa

#711 in the World

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

13. Ain Shams University

For History

#2 in Egypt

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

14. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For History

#1 in Uganda

#744 in the World

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

15. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For History

#745 in the World

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

16. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For History

#11 in South Africa

#749 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

17. University of Ghana

For History

#1 in Ghana

#752 in the World

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

18. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For History

#800 in the World

Founded: 1950

19. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#3 in Egypt

#814 in the World

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

20. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For History

#908 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

21. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#1 in Kenya

#913 in the World

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

22. University of Sfax

For History

#917 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

23. Obafemi Awolowo University

For History

#948 in the World

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

24. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For History

#952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

25. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For History

#2 in Ghana

#1004 in the World

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

26. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For History

#1060 in the World

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

27. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For History

#1063 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

28. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For History

#4 in Egypt

#1089 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

29. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For History

#1107 in the World

Founded: 1964

30. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For History

#12 in South Africa

#1128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

31. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For History

#1170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

32. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For History

#5 in Egypt

#1171 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

33. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For History

#13 in South Africa

#1177 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

34. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For History

#6 in Egypt

#1276 in the World

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

35. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1358 in the World

36. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For History

#1381 in the World

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

37. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For History

#1423 in the World

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

38. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For History

#3 in Ghana

#1444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

39. Tanta University

For History

#7 in Egypt

#1445 in the World

Founded: 1972

40. Covenant University

For History

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

41. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1463 in the World

42. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For History

#1491 in the World

43. Helwan University

For History

#8 in Egypt

#1493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

44. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For History

#1500 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

45. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For History

#1546 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

46. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#14 in South Africa

#1550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

47. Assiut University

For History

#9 in Egypt

#1556 in the World

Founded: 1957

48. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For History

#1594 in the World

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

49. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For History

#1596 in the World

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

50. University for Development Studies

For History

#4 in Ghana

#1636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

51. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For History

#1637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

52. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For History

#1 in Mauritius

#1642 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

53. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For History

#15 in South Africa

#1672 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

54. Al-Azhar University

For History

#10 in Egypt

#1677 in the World

Founded: 1961

55. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#2 in Kenya

#1704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

56. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For History

#1706 in the World

57. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For History

#1709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

58. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For History

#11 in Egypt

#1713 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

59. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For History

#1714 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

60. University of Malawi

For History

#1 in Malawi

#1726 in the World

Founded: 1964

61. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1745 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

62. Benha University

For History

#12 in Egypt

#1752 in the World

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

63. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For History

#1779 in the World

64. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For History

#10 in Nigeria

#1782 in the World

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

65. Minia University

For History

#13 in Egypt

#1788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

66. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For History

#1794 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

67. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For History

#1 in Zambia

#1825 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

68. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For History

#11 in Nigeria

#1829 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

69. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For History

#16 in South Africa

#1833 in the World

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

70. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For History

#1835 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

71. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Flag

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For History

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1860 in the World

Founded: 2005

72. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For History

#1866 in the World

73. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For History

#14 in Egypt

#1890 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

74. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For History

#1900 in the World

Founded: 1918

75. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For History

#3 in Kenya

#1901 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

76. Fayoum University

For History

#15 in Egypt

#1902 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

77. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For History

#1912 in the World

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

78. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For History

#1990 in the World

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

79. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For History

#17 in South Africa

#1998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

80. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For History

#12 in Nigeria

#2029 in the World

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

81. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For History

#2032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 28,949
Founded: 2007

82. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For History

#1 in Sudan

#2042 in the World

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

83. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For History

#2047 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

84. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For History

#2049 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

85. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For History

#18 in South Africa

#2082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

86. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For History

#2103 in the World

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

87. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For History

#13 in Nigeria

#2116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

88. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#4 in Kenya

#2129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

89. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For History

#1 in Mozambique

#2154 in the World

Founded: 1985

90. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For History

#14 in Nigeria

#2209 in the World

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

91. Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

Tanzania | Arusha

For History

#2272 in the World

Enrollment: 117
Founded: 2009

92. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For History

#19 in South Africa

#2312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

93. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For History

#2331 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

94. Egerton University

For History

#5 in Kenya

#2335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

95. Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Mwanza

For History

#2347 in the World

Founded: 1994

96. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For History

#15 in Nigeria

#2349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

97. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#16 in Egypt

#2395 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

98. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For History

#16 in Nigeria

#2507 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

99. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For History

#17 in Nigeria

#2516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

100. University of Uyo

For History

#18 in Nigeria

#2560 in the World

Founded: 1991

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