Best Universities for History in Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in History. A graph of 3.53M citations received by 349K academic papers made by 338 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 History

#1 in South Africa

#120 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#2 in South Africa

#172 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#3 in South Africa

#230 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For History

#4 in South Africa

#265 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For History

#5 in South Africa

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#6 in South Africa

#427 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For History

#7 in South Africa

#460 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For History

#8 in South Africa

#498 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

9. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For History

#9 in South Africa

#636 in the World

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

10. Cairo University

For History

#1 in Egypt

#671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 257,200
Founded: 1908

11. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For History

#10 in South Africa

#707 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

12. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For History

#715 in the World

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

13. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For History

#11 in South Africa

#739 in the World

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

14. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For History

#1 in Uganda

#756 in the World

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

15. Ain Shams University

For History

#2 in Egypt

#766 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

16. University of Ghana

For History

#1 in Ghana

#807 in the World

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

17. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For History

#818 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

18. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#3 in Egypt

#825 in the World

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

19. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For History

#849 in the World

Founded: 1950

20. University of Sfax

For History

#920 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

21. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#1 in Kenya

#923 in the World

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

22. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For History

#960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

23. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For History

#963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 18,040
Founded: 1955

24. Obafemi Awolowo University

For History

#983 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

25. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For History

#1047 in the World

Founded: 1964

26. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For History

#12 in South Africa

#1076 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

27. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For History

#4 in Egypt

#1106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

28. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For History

#1108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

29. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For History

#1146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

30. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For History

#2 in Ghana

#1150 in the World

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

31. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For History

#5 in Egypt

#1260 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

32. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For History

#13 in South Africa

#1269 in the World

Founded: 1916

33. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For History

#1273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

34. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For History

#6 in Egypt

#1284 in the World

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

35. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1318 in the World

36. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1402 in the World

37. Tanta University

For History

#7 in Egypt

#1483 in the World

Founded: 1972

38. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For History

#1494 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

39. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For History

#1507 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

40. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For History

#1524 in the World

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

41. Helwan University

For History

#8 in Egypt

#1538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

42. Assiut University

For History

#9 in Egypt

#1576 in the World

Founded: 1957

43. University of Malawi

For History

#1 in Malawi

#1589 in the World

Founded: 1964

44. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For History

#14 in South Africa

#1591 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

45. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For History

#3 in Ghana

#1607 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

46. Covenant University

For History

#1612 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

47. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For History

#1 in Mauritius

#1626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

48. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For History

#1644 in the World

49. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For History

#1686 in the World

50. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For History

#1688 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

51. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For History

#10 in Egypt

#1706 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

52. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For History

#1716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

53. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For History

#1727 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

54. Al-Azhar University

For History

#11 in Egypt

#1751 in the World

Founded: 1961

55. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For History

#1773 in the World

Enrollment: 16,315

56. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For History

#15 in South Africa

#1786 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

57. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For History

#1800 in the World

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

58. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For History

#1804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 17,672
Founded: 1981

59. Minia University

For History

#12 in Egypt

#1811 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

60. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For History

#1 in Zambia

#1827 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

61. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#2 in Kenya

#1834 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

62. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For History

#1838 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

63. Benha University

For History

#13 in Egypt

#1846 in the World

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

64. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For History

#3 in Kenya

#1855 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

65. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For History

#1861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

66. University for Development Studies

For History

#4 in Ghana

#1867 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

67. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For History

#1900 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

68. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For History

#14 in Egypt

#1914 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

69. University of Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone | Freetown

For History

#1 in Sierra Leone

#1942 in the World

Founded: 2005

70. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For History

#1944 in the World

71. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For History

#1955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

72. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For History

#1956 in the World

Founded: 1918

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For History

#16 in South Africa

#1963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

74. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For History

#10 in Nigeria

#2067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

75. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For History

#11 in Nigeria

#2099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

76. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For History

#17 in South Africa

#2116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

77. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For History

#2122 in the World

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

78. Fayoum University

For History

#15 in Egypt

#2135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

79. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For History

#2144 in the World

Enrollment: 22,270
Male:Female: 52:48

80. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For History

#1 in Sudan

#2157 in the World

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

81. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For History

#2217 in the World

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

82. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For History

#2252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 36,000

83. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For History

#1 in Mozambique

#2301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

84. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For History

#2305 in the World

Enrollment: 8,443

85. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For History

#18 in South Africa

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

86. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For History

#12 in Nigeria

#2327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

87. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For History

#2335 in the World

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

88. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For History

#4 in Kenya

#2388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

89. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For History

#13 in Nigeria

#2417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1990

90. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For History

#19 in South Africa

#2428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

91. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For History

#16 in Egypt

#2437 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

92. University of Dodoma

Tanzania | Dodoma

For History

#2484 in the World

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

93. Egerton University

For History

#5 in Kenya

#2492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Founded: 1987

94. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For History

#14 in Nigeria

#2573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

95. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For History

#2622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

96. South Valley University - Qena

For History

#17 in Egypt

#2631 in the World

Founded: 1995

97. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For History

#2632 in the World

98. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For History

#2643 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

99. Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Mwanza

For History

#2667 in the World

Founded: 1994

100. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For History

#18 in Egypt

#2675 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Anthropology227

Broadcast Journalism40

Classics and Ancient History76

Communications and Public Relations170

Criminology and Criminal Justice49

Early Childhood Education37

Education Majors190

Forensic Science47

Gender Studies85

Human Rights Law50

Intellectual Property and Patent Law25

International Law44

International Relations and Diplomacy27

Journalism and Digital Media51

Law Enforcement37

Library and Information science85

Media Studies37

Military science19

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution28

Occupational Safety and Health50

Political Economy48

Political Science351

Public Policy / Administration95

Radio and Television broadcasting65

Special Education24

Sports / Exercise science21

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies169

Urban and Regional planning29