Best Universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 2.64M citations received by 255K academic papers made by 327 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 Linguistics

#1 in South Africa

#324 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#2 in South Africa

#388 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#3 in South Africa

#395 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Linguistics

#4 in South Africa

#425 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#5 in South Africa

#493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Cairo University

For Linguistics

#1 in Egypt

#517 in the World

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

7. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#6 in South Africa

#545 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Linguistics

#7 in South Africa

#636 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#8 in South Africa

#667 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

10. Ain Shams University

For Linguistics

#2 in Egypt

#723 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. University of Sfax

For Linguistics

#747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

12. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Linguistics

#788 in the World

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

13. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Linguistics

#9 in South Africa

#837 in the World

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

14. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Linguistics

#3 in Egypt

#864 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

15. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#4 in Egypt

#908 in the World

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

16. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Linguistics

#10 in South Africa

#909 in the World

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

17. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Linguistics

#942 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

18. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Linguistics

#1061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

19. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Linguistics

#1098 in the World

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

20. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Linguistics

#1110 in the World

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

21. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Linguistics

#11 in South Africa

#1111 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

22. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Linguistics

#5 in Egypt

#1155 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

23. University of Ghana

For Linguistics

#1 in Ghana

#1209 in the World

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

24. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1228 in the World

25. Assiut University

For Linguistics

#6 in Egypt

#1298 in the World

Founded: 1957

26. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1304 in the World

27. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Linguistics

#1326 in the World

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

28. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Linguistics

#7 in Egypt

#1343 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

29. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Linguistics

#1 in Mozambique

#1392 in the World

Founded: 1985

30. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Linguistics

#1428 in the World

Founded: 1964

31. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Linguistics

#1431 in the World

Founded: 1950

32. Tanta University

For Linguistics

#8 in Egypt

#1481 in the World

Founded: 1972

33. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Linguistics

#1 in Uganda

#1493 in the World

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

34. Benha University

For Linguistics

#9 in Egypt

#1506 in the World

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

35. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Linguistics

#1521 in the World

36. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Linguistics

#1565 in the World

37. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#1 in Kenya

#1618 in the World

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

38. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Linguistics

#1639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

39. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Linguistics

#1660 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

40. Al-Azhar University

For Linguistics

#10 in Egypt

#1678 in the World

Founded: 1961

41. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Linguistics

#1701 in the World

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

42. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Linguistics

#1719 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

43. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Linguistics

#1732 in the World

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

44. Helwan University

For Linguistics

#11 in Egypt

#1752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

45. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Linguistics

#12 in Egypt

#1760 in the World

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

46. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Linguistics

#2 in Ghana

#1786 in the World

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

47. Covenant University

For Linguistics

#1798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

48. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Linguistics

#12 in South Africa

#1836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

49. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#13 in South Africa

#1840 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

50. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Linguistics

#14 in South Africa

#1841 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

51. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Linguistics

#1855 in the World

52. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Linguistics

#1856 in the World

53. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Linguistics

#1883 in the World

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

54. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Linguistics

#3 in Ghana

#1890 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

55. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Linguistics

#1900 in the World

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

56. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Linguistics

#1931 in the World

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

57. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Linguistics

#1938 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

58. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Linguistics

#13 in Egypt

#1958 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

59. Minia University

For Linguistics

#14 in Egypt

#1968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

60. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Linguistics

#10 in Nigeria

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

61. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Linguistics

#11 in Nigeria

#1987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

62. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Linguistics

#12 in Nigeria

#2008 in the World

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

63. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#15 in Egypt

#2013 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

64. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Linguistics

#4 in Ghana

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

65. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Linguistics

#13 in Nigeria

#2029 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

66. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#2055 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

67. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Linguistics

#16 in Egypt

#2062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

68. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Linguistics

#15 in South Africa

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

69. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Linguistics

#2173 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

70. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Linguistics

#2219 in the World

71. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Linguistics

#16 in South Africa

#2223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

72. University of Malawi

For Linguistics

#1 in Malawi

#2319 in the World

Founded: 1964

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Linguistics

#17 in South Africa

#2323 in the World

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

74. Lagos State University

For Linguistics

#14 in Nigeria

#2360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

75. South Valley University - Qena

For Linguistics

#17 in Egypt

#2363 in the World

Founded: 1995

76. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Linguistics

#1 in Zambia

#2379 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

77. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Linguistics

#1 in Sudan

#2384 in the World

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

78. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#18 in South Africa

#2429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

79. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Linguistics

#18 in Egypt

#2458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

80. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Linguistics

#2460 in the World

81. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Linguistics

#2463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

82. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#2 in Kenya

#2468 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

83. Bayero University Kano

For Linguistics

#15 in Nigeria

#2483 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

84. University of Uyo

For Linguistics

#16 in Nigeria

#2494 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. Fayoum University

For Linguistics

#19 in Egypt

#2535 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

86. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#3 in Kenya

#2542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

87. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Linguistics

#2570 in the World

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

88. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Linguistics

#17 in Nigeria

#2625 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Linguistics

#2665 in the World

90. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Linguistics

#2700 in the World

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

91. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Linguistics

#2709 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

92. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Linguistics

#2721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

93. University of Oran 1

For Linguistics

#2765 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

94. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Linguistics

#2771 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

95. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Linguistics

#18 in Nigeria

#2773 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

96. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Linguistics

#1 in Mauritius

#2787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

97. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Linguistics

#19 in Nigeria

#2793 in the World

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

98. University of Jijel

Algeria | Jijel

For Linguistics

#2802 in the World

99. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Linguistics

#4 in Kenya

#2811 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

100. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Linguistics

#20 in Nigeria

#2814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

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