Best Law Schools 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 Law. A graph of 7.42M citations received by 581K academic papers made by 362 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 Law

#1 in South Africa

#159 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Law

#2 in South Africa

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Law

#3 in South Africa

#257 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Law

#4 in South Africa

#264 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Law

#5 in South Africa

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Law

#6 in South Africa

#314 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Law

#7 in South Africa

#338 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Law

#8 in South Africa

#457 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ghana

For Law

#1 in Ghana

#598 in the World

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

10. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Law

#624 in the World

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

11. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Law

#9 in South Africa

#636 in the World

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

12. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Law

#10 in South Africa

#680 in the World

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

13. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Law

#1 in Uganda

#708 in the World

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

14. Cairo University

For Law

#1 in Egypt

#769 in the World

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

15. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Law

#832 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

16. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Law

#11 in South Africa

#871 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Law

#1 in Kenya

#879 in the World

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

18. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Law

#892 in the World

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

19. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Law

#918 in the World

Founded: 1964

20. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Law

#937 in the World

Founded: 1950

21. Ain Shams University

For Law

#2 in Egypt

#1009 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

22. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Law

#2 in Ghana

#1018 in the World

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

23. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Law

#1022 in the World

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

24. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Law

#12 in South Africa

#1032 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

25. University of Sfax

For Law

#1110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

26. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Law

#3 in Egypt

#1118 in the World

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

27. Covenant University

For Law

#1128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

28. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Law

#3 in Ghana

#1153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

29. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Law

#1192 in the World

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

30. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Law

#4 in Egypt

#1238 in the World

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

31. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Law

#13 in South Africa

#1242 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

32. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Law

#5 in Egypt

#1266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

33. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Law

#1315 in the World

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

34. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Law

#1353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

35. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Law

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

36. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Law

#1369 in the World

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

37. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Law

#1418 in the World

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

38. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Law

#1428 in the World

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

39. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Law

#14 in South Africa

#1448 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

40. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Law

#15 in South Africa

#1456 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

41. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Law

#1476 in the World

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

42. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Law

#1 in Zambia

#1497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

43. University of Malawi

For Law

#1 in Malawi

#1542 in the World

Founded: 1964

44. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Law

#1548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

45. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Law

#16 in South Africa

#1581 in the World

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

46. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Law

#2 in Kenya

#1589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

47. Helwan University

For Law

#6 in Egypt

#1605 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

48. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Law

#10 in Nigeria

#1622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

49. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Law

#3 in Kenya

#1650 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

50. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Law

#1669 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

51. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Law

#17 in South Africa

#1685 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

52. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Law

#7 in Egypt

#1694 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

53. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Law

#1706 in the World

54. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Law

#4 in Kenya

#1726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

55. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Law

#1750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

56. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Law

#11 in Nigeria

#1752 in the World

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

57. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Law

#1792 in the World

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

58. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Law

#1842 in the World

59. Lagos State University

For Law

#12 in Nigeria

#1860 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

60. Assiut University

For Law

#8 in Egypt

#1884 in the World

Founded: 1957

61. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Law

#1 in Mauritius

#1891 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

62. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Law

#13 in Nigeria

#1899 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

63. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Law

#18 in South Africa

#1915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

64. University for Development Studies

For Law

#4 in Ghana

#1930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

65. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Law

#9 in Egypt

#1941 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

66. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Law

#14 in Nigeria

#1965 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Law

#1 in Mozambique

#1968 in the World

Founded: 1985

68. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Law

#1974 in the World

69. Tanta University

For Law

#10 in Egypt

#1978 in the World

Founded: 1972

70. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Law

#2029 in the World

71. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Law

#2030 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

72. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Law

#2072 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

73. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Law

#15 in Nigeria

#2080 in the World

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

74. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Law

#5 in Ghana

#2083 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

75. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Law

#11 in Egypt

#2142 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

76. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Law

#16 in Nigeria

#2215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

77. University of Uyo

For Law

#17 in Nigeria

#2234 in the World

Founded: 1991

78. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Law

#12 in Egypt

#2235 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

79. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Law

#18 in Nigeria

#2258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

80. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Law

#19 in South Africa

#2266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

81. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Law

#20 in South Africa

#2286 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

82. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Law

#2293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

83. Bayero University Kano

For Law

#19 in Nigeria

#2317 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

84. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Law

#2319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

85. Minia University

For Law

#13 in Egypt

#2324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

86. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Law

#20 in Nigeria

#2329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

87. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Law

#21 in Nigeria

#2350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 130,000
Founded: 1999

88. Benha University

For Law

#14 in Egypt

#2352 in the World

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

89. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Law

#2359 in the World

90. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Law

#1 in Sudan

#2376 in the World

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

91. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Law

#22 in Nigeria

#2388 in the World

Founded: 2000

92. University of Namibia

Namibia | Windhoek

For Law

#2411 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

93. Al-Azhar University

For Law

#15 in Egypt

#2416 in the World

Founded: 1961

94. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Law

#2428 in the World

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

95. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Law

#2449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

96. Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration

For Law

#6 in Ghana

#2466 in the World

Founded: 1961

97. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mthatha

For Law

#21 in South Africa

#2472 in the World

Founded: 2005

98. University of Jos

For Law

#23 in Nigeria

#2522 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

99. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Law

#2524 in the World

100. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Law

#2585 in the World

Founded: 1918

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