Best Universities for Linguistics 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 Linguistics. A graph of 1.61M citations received by 204K academic papers made by 306 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

#343 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#2 in South Africa

#381 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#3 in South Africa

#415 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Linguistics

#4 in South Africa

#431 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#5 in South Africa

#484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. Cairo University

For Linguistics

#1 in Egypt

#529 in the World

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

7. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#6 in South Africa

#581 in the World

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

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Linguistics

#7 in South Africa

#695 in the World

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

9. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Linguistics

#8 in South Africa

#728 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

10. University of Sfax

For Linguistics

#729 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

11. Ain Shams University

For Linguistics

#2 in Egypt

#773 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

12. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Linguistics

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

13. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#3 in Egypt

#894 in the World

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

14. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Linguistics

#4 in Egypt

#901 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

15. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Linguistics

#9 in South Africa

#930 in the World

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

16. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Linguistics

#10 in South Africa

#965 in the World

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

17. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Linguistics

#11 in South Africa

#1051 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

18. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Linguistics

#1095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

19. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Linguistics

#1156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

20. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Linguistics

#1161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

21. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Linguistics

#1173 in the World

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

22. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1183 in the World

23. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Linguistics

#5 in Egypt

#1187 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

24. University of Ghana

For Linguistics

#1 in Ghana

#1270 in the World

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

25. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#1307 in the World

26. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Linguistics

#6 in Egypt

#1328 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

27. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Linguistics

#1347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

28. Assiut University

For Linguistics

#7 in Egypt

#1358 in the World

Founded: 1957

29. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Linguistics

#1376 in the World

Founded: 1964

30. Tanta University

For Linguistics

#8 in Egypt

#1444 in the World

Founded: 1972

31. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Linguistics

#1479 in the World

32. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Linguistics

#1490 in the World

Founded: 1950

33. Benha University

For Linguistics

#9 in Egypt

#1500 in the World

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

34. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Linguistics

#1 in Uganda

#1539 in the World

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

35. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Linguistics

#1563 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

36. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Linguistics

#1583 in the World

37. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#1 in Kenya

#1639 in the World

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

38. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Linguistics

#1648 in the World

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

39. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Linguistics

#10 in Egypt

#1670 in the World

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

40. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Linguistics

#1673 in the World

41. Al-Azhar University

For Linguistics

#11 in Egypt

#1702 in the World

Founded: 1961

42. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Linguistics

#1745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

43. Helwan University

For Linguistics

#12 in Egypt

#1824 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

44. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Linguistics

#12 in South Africa

#1825 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

45. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Linguistics

#13 in South Africa

#1846 in the World

Founded: 1916

46. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Linguistics

#14 in South Africa

#1850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

47. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Linguistics

#1881 in the World

Enrollment: 8,443

48. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Linguistics

#1946 in the World

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

49. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Linguistics

#1969 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

50. Covenant University

For Linguistics

#1973 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

51. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Linguistics

#13 in Egypt

#1978 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

52. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Linguistics

#1 in Mozambique

#1981 in the World

Founded: 1985

53. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Linguistics

#2 in Ghana

#1990 in the World

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

54. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Linguistics

#14 in Egypt

#1992 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

55. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Linguistics

#2008 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

56. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Linguistics

#2020 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

57. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Linguistics

#2038 in the World

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

58. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Linguistics

#15 in Egypt

#2066 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

59. Minia University

For Linguistics

#16 in Egypt

#2110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

60. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Linguistics

#2128 in the World

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

61. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Linguistics

#2142 in the World

62. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Linguistics

#2160 in the World

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

63. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Linguistics

#15 in South Africa

#2167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

64. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Linguistics

#10 in Nigeria

#2211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

65. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Linguistics

#2212 in the World

Enrollment: 16,315

66. University of Malawi

For Linguistics

#1 in Malawi

#2238 in the World

Founded: 1964

67. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Linguistics

#1 in Sudan

#2348 in the World

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

68. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Linguistics

#11 in Nigeria

#2352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

69. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Linguistics

#12 in Nigeria

#2353 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

70. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Linguistics

#2362 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

71. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Linguistics

#3 in Ghana

#2370 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

72. Bayero University Kano

For Linguistics

#13 in Nigeria

#2372 in the World

Founded: 1975

73. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Linguistics

#16 in South Africa

#2395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

74. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Linguistics

#1 in Zambia

#2427 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

75. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Linguistics

#17 in South Africa

#2436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

76. South Valley University - Qena

For Linguistics

#17 in Egypt

#2447 in the World

Founded: 1995

77. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Linguistics

#2473 in the World

78. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Linguistics

#14 in Nigeria

#2484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

79. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Linguistics

#18 in South Africa

#2496 in the World

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

80. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Linguistics

#18 in Egypt

#2519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

81. Fayoum University

For Linguistics

#19 in Egypt

#2564 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

82. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Linguistics

#2624 in the World

83. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#2 in Kenya

#2641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

84. University of Jijel

Algeria | Jijel

For Linguistics

#2646 in the World

85. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Linguistics

#2663 in the World

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

86. Lagos State University

For Linguistics

#15 in Nigeria

#2696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

87. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Linguistics

#2717 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

88. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Linguistics

#1 in Mauritius

#2721 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

89. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Linguistics

#2730 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

90. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Linguistics

#3 in Kenya

#2825 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

91. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Linguistics

#4 in Kenya

#2830 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

92. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Linguistics

#4 in Ghana

#2839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

93. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Linguistics

#2851 in the World

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

94. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Linguistics

#2858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 36,000

95. Nile University

Egypt | Sheikh Zayed City

For Linguistics

#20 in Egypt

#2861 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 500
Founded: 2006

96. University of Uyo

For Linguistics

#16 in Nigeria

#2876 in the World

Founded: 1991

97. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Linguistics

#10 in Algeria

#2883 in the World

98. German University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Linguistics

#21 in Egypt

#2884 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 2003

99. University of Oran 1

For Linguistics

#11 in Algeria

#2886 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

100. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Linguistics

#22 in Egypt

#2898 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