Best Universities for History 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 History. A graph of 6.3M citations received by 450K academic papers made by 351 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

#126 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#2 in South Africa

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#3 in South Africa

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For History

#4 in South Africa

#250 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For History

#5 in South Africa

#287 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

#394 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#7 in South Africa

#401 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For History

#8 in South Africa

#479 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

#569 in the World

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

10. Cairo University

For History

#1 in Egypt

#609 in the World

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

11. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For History

#678 in the World

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

12. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For History

#10 in South Africa

#694 in the World

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

13. Ain Shams University

For History

#2 in Egypt

#733 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

14. University of Ghana

For History

#1 in Ghana

#747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

15. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For History

#1 in Uganda

#749 in the World

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

16. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For History

#11 in South Africa

#751 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

17. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For History

#755 in the World

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

18. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For History

#788 in the World

Founded: 1950

19. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#3 in Egypt

#815 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

#902 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

21. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#1 in Kenya

#919 in the World

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

22. University of Sfax

For History

#924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

23. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For History

#938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

24. Obafemi Awolowo University

For History

#955 in the World

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

25. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For History

#2 in Ghana

#984 in the World

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

26. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For History

#1041 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

27. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For History

#1075 in the World

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

28. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For History

#4 in Egypt

#1077 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

29. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For History

#12 in South Africa

#1104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

30. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For History

#1121 in the World

Founded: 1964

31. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For History

#1166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

32. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For History

#13 in South Africa

#1167 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

33. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For History

#5 in Egypt

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

34. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For History

#6 in Egypt

#1285 in the World

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

35. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1346 in the World

36. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For History

#1387 in the World

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

37. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For History

#3 in Ghana

#1416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

38. Tanta University

For History

#7 in Egypt

#1425 in the World

Founded: 1972

39. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For History

#1438 in the World

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

40. Covenant University

For History

#1444 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

41. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For History

#1461 in the World

42. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1469 in the World

43. Helwan University

For History

#8 in Egypt

#1479 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

44. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For History

#1501 in the World

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

45. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#14 in South Africa

#1513 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

46. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For History

#1526 in the World

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

47. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For History

#1536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

48. Assiut University

For History

#9 in Egypt

#1559 in the World

Founded: 1957

49. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For History

#1588 in the World

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

50. University for Development Studies

For History

#4 in Ghana

#1595 in the World

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

51. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For History

#1608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

52. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For History

#1 in Mauritius

#1646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

53. Al-Azhar University

For History

#10 in Egypt

#1658 in the World

Founded: 1961

54. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For History

#1662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

55. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For History

#15 in South Africa

#1668 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

56. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For History

#1691 in the World

57. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For History

#1700 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

58. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#2 in Kenya

#1701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

59. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1718 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

60. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For History

#11 in Egypt

#1719 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

61. Benha University

For History

#12 in Egypt

#1739 in the World

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

62. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For History

#1755 in the World

63. University of Malawi

For History

#1 in Malawi

#1757 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

64. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For History

#1772 in the World

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

65. Minia University

For History

#13 in Egypt

#1784 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

66. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For History

#10 in Nigeria

#1803 in the World

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

67. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For History

#16 in South Africa

#1810 in the World

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

68. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For History

#1820 in the World

69. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For History

#1841 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

70. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For History

#1 in Zambia

#1842 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

71. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For History

#11 in Nigeria

#1851 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

72. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For History

#1868 in the World

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

73. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Flag

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For History

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1870 in the World

Founded: 2005

74. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For History

#1880 in the World

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

75. Fayoum University

For History

#14 in Egypt

#1885 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

76. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For History

#15 in Egypt

#1898 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

77. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For History

#1905 in the World

78. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For History

#1916 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

79. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For History

#3 in Kenya

#1948 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

80. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For History

#17 in South Africa

#1984 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

81. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For History

#1993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

82. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For History

#18 in South Africa

#2010 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

83. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For History

#12 in Nigeria

#2011 in the World

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

84. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For History

#2042 in the World

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

85. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For History

#2046 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

86. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For History

#1 in Sudan

#2083 in the World

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

87. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#4 in Kenya

#2112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

88. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For History

#13 in Nigeria

#2152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

89. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For History

#1 in Mozambique

#2188 in the World

Founded: 1985

90. Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

Tanzania | Arusha

For History

#2195 in the World

Enrollment: 117
Founded: 2009

91. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For History

#14 in Nigeria

#2221 in the World

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

92. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For History

#19 in South Africa

#2292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

93. Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Mwanza

For History

#2297 in the World

Founded: 1994

94. Egerton University

For History

#5 in Kenya

#2338 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

95. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For History

#15 in Nigeria

#2349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

96. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For History

#2358 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

97. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#16 in Egypt

#2362 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

98. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For History

#16 in Nigeria

#2506 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

99. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For History

#17 in Egypt

#2521 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

100. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For History

#17 in Nigeria

#2549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Anthropology258

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History111

Communications and Public Relations200

Criminology and Criminal Justice69

Early Childhood Education39

Education Majors236

Forensic Science55

Gender Studies117

Human Rights Law55

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law51

International Relations and Diplomacy28

Journalism and Digital Media70

Law Enforcement44

Library and Information science114

Media Studies59

Military science23

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Political Economy68

Political Science363

Public Policy / Administration119

Radio and Television broadcasting67

Special Education26

Sports / Exercise science31

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies211

Urban and Regional planning43