Best Universities for Philosophy 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 Philosophy. A graph of 4.92M citations received by 494K academic papers made by 357 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 Philosophy

#1 in South Africa

#463 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#2 in South Africa

#499 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#3 in South Africa

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Philosophy

#4 in South Africa

#569 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#5 in South Africa

#645 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

6. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#6 in South Africa

#681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

7. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Philosophy

#7 in South Africa

#758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

8. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Philosophy

#8 in South Africa

#830 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

9. Cairo University

For Philosophy

#1 in Egypt

#865 in the World

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

10. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Philosophy

#9 in South Africa

#1031 in the World

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

11. University of Sfax

For Philosophy

#1056 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

12. Ain Shams University

For Philosophy

#2 in Egypt

#1088 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

13. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Philosophy

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

14. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Philosophy

#1205 in the World

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

15. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Philosophy

#1228 in the World

16. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Philosophy

#10 in South Africa

#1277 in the World

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

17. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Philosophy

#3 in Egypt

#1316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

18. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Philosophy

#4 in Egypt

#1372 in the World

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

19. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Philosophy

#1396 in the World

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

20. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Philosophy

#1 in Ivory Coast

#1490 in the World

Founded: 1964

21. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Philosophy

#1494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

22. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Philosophy

#11 in South Africa

#1499 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

23. University of Ghana

For Philosophy

#1 in Ghana

#1512 in the World

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

24. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Philosophy

#1514 in the World

25. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Philosophy

#1571 in the World

26. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Philosophy

#5 in Egypt

#1596 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

27. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Philosophy

#1645 in the World

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

28. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Philosophy

#1 in Mozambique

#1655 in the World

Founded: 1985

29. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Philosophy

#1692 in the World

30. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Philosophy

#1727 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

31. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Philosophy

#2 in Ghana

#1767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

32. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Philosophy

#1804 in the World

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

33. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Philosophy

#1810 in the World

Founded: 1918

34. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Philosophy

#1 in Uganda

#1844 in the World

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

35. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Philosophy

#1859 in the World

36. Assiut University

For Philosophy

#6 in Egypt

#1860 in the World

Founded: 1957

37. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Philosophy

#1874 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Philosophy

#1899 in the World

39. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Philosophy

#1912 in the World

Founded: 1950

40. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Philosophy

#1 in Kenya

#1949 in the World

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

41. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Philosophy

#1950 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

42. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Philosophy

#7 in Egypt

#1997 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

43. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Philosophy

#2011 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

44. Tanta University

For Philosophy

#8 in Egypt

#2054 in the World

Founded: 1972

45. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Philosophy

#2059 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

46. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Philosophy

#9 in Egypt

#2065 in the World

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

47. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Philosophy

#12 in South Africa

#2139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

48. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Philosophy

#2148 in the World

49. Benha University

For Philosophy

#10 in Egypt

#2161 in the World

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

50. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Philosophy

#3 in Ghana

#2177 in the World

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

51. Helwan University

For Philosophy

#11 in Egypt

#2184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

52. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Philosophy

#2204 in the World

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

53. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Philosophy

#13 in South Africa

#2228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

54. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Philosophy

#2254 in the World

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

55. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Philosophy

#2267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

56. Al-Azhar University

For Philosophy

#12 in Egypt

#2279 in the World

Founded: 1961

57. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Philosophy

#2311 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

58. University of Malawi

For Philosophy

#1 in Malawi

#2321 in the World

Founded: 1964

59. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Philosophy

#14 in South Africa

#2351 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

60. Covenant University

For Philosophy

#2355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

61. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Philosophy

#2362 in the World

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

62. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Philosophy

#2407 in the World

63. Minia University

For Philosophy

#13 in Egypt

#2449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

64. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Philosophy

#2458 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

65. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Philosophy

#14 in Egypt

#2481 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

66. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Philosophy

#2497 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

67. University of Oran 1

For Philosophy

#2532 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

68. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Philosophy

#2544 in the World

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

69. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Philosophy

#2 in Mozambique

#2550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

70. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Philosophy

#2555 in the World

71. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Philosophy

#2619 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

72. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Philosophy

#2637 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

73. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Philosophy

#1 in Mauritius

#2655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

74. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Philosophy

#10 in Nigeria

#2658 in the World

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

75. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Philosophy

#2683 in the World

Founded: 1993

76. University of Zululand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Philosophy

#15 in South Africa

#2684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

77. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Philosophy

#4 in Ghana

#2692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

78. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Philosophy

#11 in Nigeria

#2708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

79. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Philosophy

#15 in Egypt

#2722 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

80. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Philosophy

#16 in South Africa

#2729 in the World

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

81. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Philosophy

#2744 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

82. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Philosophy

#17 in South Africa

#2746 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

83. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Philosophy

#12 in Nigeria

#2753 in the World

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

84. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Philosophy

#2 in Kenya

#2758 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

85. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Philosophy

#16 in Egypt

#2778 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

86. Fayoum University

For Philosophy

#17 in Egypt

#2809 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

87. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Philosophy

#1 in Burkina Faso

#2820 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

88. Nangui Abrogoua University

Ivory Coast Flag

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Philosophy

#2 in Ivory Coast

#2864 in the World

Founded: 1995

89. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Philosophy

#13 in Nigeria

#2875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

90. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Philosophy

#1 in the DR Congo

#2893 in the World

Founded: 1954

91. University of Mostaganem

Algeria | Mostaganem

For Philosophy

#10 in Algeria

#2913 in the World

Enrollment: 24,214

92. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Philosophy

#18 in South Africa

#2916 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

93. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Philosophy

#1 in Zambia

#2933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

94. University of Douala

Cameroon | Douala

For Philosophy

#2947 in the World

Founded: 1977

95. University of Uyo

For Philosophy

#14 in Nigeria

#2964 in the World

Founded: 1991

96. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Philosophy

#1 in Sudan

#2987 in the World

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

97. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Philosophy

#11 in Algeria

#2997 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

98. University of Lome

For Philosophy

#1 in Togo

#3030 in the World

Founded: 1970

99. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Philosophy

#12 in Algeria

#3057 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

100. Lagos State University

For Philosophy

#15 in Nigeria

#3105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

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