Best Universities for Political Science 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 Political Science. A graph of 7.67M citations received by 627K academic papers made by 364 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 Political Science

#1 in South Africa

#181 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Political Science

#2 in South Africa

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Political Science

#3 in South Africa

#312 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#4 in South Africa

#323 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Political Science

#5 in South Africa

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#6 in South Africa

#382 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Political Science

#7 in South Africa

#406 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Political Science

#8 in South Africa

#524 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Political Science

#1 in Ghana

#705 in the World

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

10. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Political Science

#9 in South Africa

#731 in the World

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

11. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Political Science

#1 in Nigeria

#739 in the World

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

12. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Political Science

#10 in South Africa

#785 in the World

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

13. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Political Science

#1 in Uganda

#826 in the World

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

14. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Political Science

#1 in Egypt

#873 in the World

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

15. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Political Science

#11 in South Africa

#972 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Political Science

#2 in Nigeria

#983 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#1 in Kenya

#1022 in the World

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

18. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Political Science

#1 in Botswana

#1038 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Political Science

#3 in Nigeria

#1050 in the World

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

20. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Political Science

#1 in Ethiopia

#1096 in the World

Founded: 1950

21. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#2 in Egypt

#1181 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

22. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Political Science

#4 in Nigeria

#1201 in the World

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

23. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Political Science

#12 in South Africa

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

24. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Political Science

#2 in Ghana

#1209 in the World

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

25. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Political Science

#1 in Tunisia

#1213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

26. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Political Science

#1 in Morocco

#1214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

27. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Political Science

#2 in Morocco

#1280 in the World

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

28. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Political Science

#3 in Egypt

#1292 in the World

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

29. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Political Science

#5 in Nigeria

#1300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

30. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Political Science

#3 in Ghana

#1333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

31. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Political Science

#1 in Zimbabwe

#1345 in the World

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

32. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Political Science

#4 in Egypt

#1346 in the World

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

33. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Political Science

#13 in South Africa

#1396 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

34. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Political Science

#5 in Egypt

#1484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

35. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Political Science

#6 in Nigeria

#1514 in the World

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

36. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Political Science

#7 in Nigeria

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

37. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Political Science

#1 in Tanzania

#1576 in the World

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

38. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#2 in Tunisia

#1624 in the World

39. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Political Science

#8 in Nigeria

#1635 in the World

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

40. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#14 in South Africa

#1648 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

41. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Political Science

#15 in South Africa

#1669 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

42. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Political Science

#3 in Tunisia

#1676 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

43. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Political Science

#1 in Zambia

#1681 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

44. University of Malawi

Malawi | Zomba

For Political Science

#1 in Malawi

#1715 in the World

Founded: 1964

45. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Political Science

#3 in Morocco

#1726 in the World

46. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Political Science

#2 in Ethiopia

#1730 in the World

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

47. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Political Science

#9 in Nigeria

#1761 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

48. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Political Science

#4 in Morocco

#1768 in the World

49. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Political Science

#16 in South Africa

#1783 in the World

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

50. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#6 in Egypt

#1793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

51. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Political Science

#2 in Kenya

#1798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

52. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Political Science

#1 in Mozambique

#1825 in the World

Founded: 1985

53. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#3 in Kenya

#1835 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

54. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Political Science

#10 in Nigeria

#1852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

55. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Political Science

#1 in Senegal

#1869 in the World

Founded: 1918

56. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Political Science

#17 in South Africa

#1896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

57. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#4 in Tunisia

#1925 in the World

58. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Political Science

#7 in Egypt

#1930 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

59. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Political Science

#11 in Nigeria

#1944 in the World

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

60. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#4 in Kenya

#1949 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

61. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Political Science

#3 in Ethiopia

#1954 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

62. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Political Science

#1 in Mauritius

#2071 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

63. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Political Science

#5 in Tunisia

#2072 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

64. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Political Science

#4 in Ethiopia

#2077 in the World

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

65. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Political Science

#12 in Nigeria

#2105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

66. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Political Science

#18 in South Africa

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

67. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Political Science

#13 in Nigeria

#2142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

68. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Political Science

#8 in Egypt

#2161 in the World

Founded: 1957

69. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Political Science

#9 in Egypt

#2188 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

70. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Political Science

#4 in Ghana

#2190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1992

71. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Political Science

#5 in Morocco

#2217 in the World

72. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Political Science

#1 in the DR Congo

#2218 in the World

Founded: 1954

73. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Political Science

#14 in Nigeria

#2233 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Political Science

#10 in Egypt

#2246 in the World

Founded: 1972

75. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Political Science

#1 in Cameroon

#2276 in the World

Founded: 1993

76. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#6 in Tunisia

#2280 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

77. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Political Science

#5 in Ghana

#2355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

78. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Political Science

#15 in Nigeria

#2399 in the World

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

79. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Political Science

#2 in Mozambique

#2412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

80. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Political Science

#7 in Tunisia

#2429 in the World

81. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Political Science

#11 in Egypt

#2434 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

82. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Political Science

#6 in Morocco

#2442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

83. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Political Science

#1 in Algeria

#2479 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

84. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Political Science

#16 in Nigeria

#2487 in the World

Founded: 1991

85. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Political Science

#2 in Algeria

#2503 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

86. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Political Science

#12 in Egypt

#2538 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

87. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Political Science

#17 in Nigeria

#2543 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

88. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Political Science

#19 in South Africa

#2557 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

89. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Political Science

#20 in South Africa

#2561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

90. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Political Science

#18 in Nigeria

#2567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

91. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Political Science

#1 in Ivory Coast

#2569 in the World

Founded: 1964

92. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Political Science

#13 in Egypt

#2570 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

93. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Political Science

#19 in Nigeria

#2595 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

94. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Political Science

#5 in Ethiopia

#2599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

95. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Political Science

#20 in Nigeria

#2601 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

96. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Political Science

#6 in Ethiopia

#2616 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Founded: 1991

97. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#14 in Egypt

#2637 in the World

Founded: 1961

98. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Political Science

#21 in Nigeria

#2642 in the World

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

99. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Political Science

#1 in Sudan

#2651 in the World

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

100. Benha University

Egypt | Benha

For Political Science

#15 in Egypt

#2667 in the World

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History100

Communications and Public Relations195

Criminology and Criminal Justice64

Demography322

Early Childhood Education39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law50

International Relations and Diplomacy27

Journalism and Digital Media69

Law362

Law Enforcement41

Library and Information science112

Linguistics327

Media Studies53

Military science22

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Philosophy357

Political Economy67

Public Policy / Administration115

Publishing22

Radio and Television broadcasting66

Social Work32

Sociology359

Special Education27

Sports / Exercise science29

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies207

Urban and Regional planning39