Best Universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 2.98M citations received by 263K 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 Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Linguistics

#1 in South Africa

#322 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#2 in South Africa

#377 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#3 in South Africa

#397 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Linguistics

#4 in South Africa

#417 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#5 in South Africa

#492 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Cairo University

For Linguistics

#1 in Egypt

#515 in the World

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

7. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#6 in South Africa

#539 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

8. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Linguistics

#7 in South Africa

#631 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#8 in South Africa

#650 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

10. Ain Shams University

For Linguistics

#2 in Egypt

#727 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

11. University of Sfax

For Linguistics

#758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

12. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Linguistics

#789 in the World

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

13. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Linguistics

#9 in South Africa

#822 in the World

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

14. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Linguistics

#3 in Egypt

#847 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

15. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Linguistics

#10 in South Africa

#895 in the World

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

16. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#4 in Egypt

#904 in the World

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

17. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Linguistics

#939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

18. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Linguistics

#1047 in the World

19. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Linguistics

#1060 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

20. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Linguistics

#11 in South Africa

#1109 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

21. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Linguistics

#1115 in the World

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

22. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Linguistics

#5 in Egypt

#1143 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

23. University of Ghana

For Linguistics

#1 in Ghana

#1195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

24. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1226 in the World

25. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1290 in the World

26. Assiut University

For Linguistics

#6 in Egypt

#1303 in the World

Founded: 1957

27. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Linguistics

#7 in Egypt

#1326 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

28. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Linguistics

#1327 in the World

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

29. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Linguistics

#1391 in the World

Founded: 1950

30. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Linguistics

#1 in Mozambique

#1412 in the World

Founded: 1985

31. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Linguistics

#1427 in the World

Founded: 1964

32. Tanta University

For Linguistics

#8 in Egypt

#1475 in the World

Founded: 1972

33. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Linguistics

#1 in Uganda

#1485 in the World

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

34. Benha University

For Linguistics

#9 in Egypt

#1507 in the World

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

35. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Linguistics

#1516 in the World

36. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Linguistics

#1563 in the World

37. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#1 in Kenya

#1631 in the World

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

38. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Linguistics

#1646 in the World

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

39. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Linguistics

#1654 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

40. Al-Azhar University

For Linguistics

#10 in Egypt

#1675 in the World

Founded: 1961

41. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Linguistics

#1720 in the World

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

42. Helwan University

For Linguistics

#11 in Egypt

#1732 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

43. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Linguistics

#1734 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

44. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Linguistics

#1737 in the World

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

45. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Linguistics

#12 in Egypt

#1768 in the World

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

46. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Linguistics

#2 in Ghana

#1769 in the World

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

47. Covenant University

For Linguistics

#1788 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

48. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Linguistics

#12 in South Africa

#1820 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

49. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Linguistics

#1822 in the World

50. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Linguistics

#1828 in the World

51. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Linguistics

#3 in Ghana

#1831 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

52. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#13 in South Africa

#1832 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

53. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Linguistics

#14 in South Africa

#1842 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

54. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Linguistics

#1863 in the World

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

55. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Linguistics

#1873 in the World

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

56. Minia University

For Linguistics

#13 in Egypt

#1908 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

57. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Linguistics

#1937 in the World

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

58. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Linguistics

#1951 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

59. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Linguistics

#14 in Egypt

#1966 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

60. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Linguistics

#10 in Nigeria

#2004 in the World

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

61. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#15 in Egypt

#2006 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

62. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Linguistics

#11 in Nigeria

#2014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

63. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Linguistics

#12 in Nigeria

#2030 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

64. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#2035 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

65. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Linguistics

#16 in Egypt

#2037 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

66. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Linguistics

#13 in Nigeria

#2038 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

67. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Linguistics

#4 in Ghana

#2045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Linguistics

#15 in South Africa

#2160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

69. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Linguistics

#2174 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

70. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Linguistics

#16 in South Africa

#2213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

71. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Linguistics

#2226 in the World

72. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Linguistics

#17 in South Africa

#2304 in the World

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

73. University of Malawi

For Linguistics

#1 in Malawi

#2332 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

74. South Valley University - Qena

For Linguistics

#17 in Egypt

#2381 in the World

Founded: 1995

75. Lagos State University

For Linguistics

#14 in Nigeria

#2386 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

76. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Linguistics

#1 in Sudan

#2390 in the World

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

77. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#18 in South Africa

#2391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

78. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Linguistics

#1 in Zambia

#2406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

79. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Linguistics

#18 in Egypt

#2433 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

80. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Linguistics

#2463 in the World

81. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Linguistics

#2469 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

82. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#2 in Kenya

#2480 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

83. Bayero University Kano

For Linguistics

#15 in Nigeria

#2482 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

84. University of Uyo

For Linguistics

#16 in Nigeria

#2522 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Linguistics

#2538 in the World

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

86. Fayoum University

For Linguistics

#19 in Egypt

#2542 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

87. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#3 in Kenya

#2545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

88. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Linguistics

#17 in Nigeria

#2630 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Linguistics

#2634 in the World

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

90. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Linguistics

#2650 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

91. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Linguistics

#2670 in the World

92. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Linguistics

#2684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

93. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Linguistics

#20 in Egypt

#2750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

94. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Linguistics

#2765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

95. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Linguistics

#18 in Nigeria

#2768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

96. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Linguistics

#1 in Mauritius

#2790 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

97. University of Oran 1

For Linguistics

#2802 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

98. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Linguistics

#19 in Nigeria

#2818 in the World

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

99. University of Jijel

Algeria | Jijel

For Linguistics

#2829 in the World

100. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Linguistics

#4 in Kenya

#2836 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

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