Best Universities for Political Science 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 Political Science. A graph of 8.33M citations received by 656K academic papers made by 363 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

#177 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Political Science

#2 in South Africa

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Political Science

#3 in South Africa

#302 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#4 in South Africa

#308 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Political Science

#5 in South Africa

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#6 in South Africa

#367 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

7. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Political Science

#7 in South Africa

#380 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

8. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Political Science

#8 in South Africa

#512 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. University of Ghana

Ghana | Legon

For Political Science

#1 in Ghana

#684 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

10. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Political Science

#9 in South Africa

#709 in the World

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

11. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Political Science

#1 in Nigeria

#737 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

#767 in the World

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

13. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Political Science

#1 in Uganda

#815 in the World

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

14. Cairo University

Egypt | Giza

For Political Science

#1 in Egypt

#865 in the World

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

15. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Political Science

#11 in South Africa

#945 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

16. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Political Science

#2 in Nigeria

#960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

17. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#1 in Kenya

#1010 in the World

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

18. Obafemi Awolowo University

Nigeria | Ife

For Political Science

#3 in Nigeria

#1050 in the World

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

19. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Political Science

#1 in Botswana

#1052 in the World

Founded: 1964

20. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Political Science

#1 in Ethiopia

#1080 in the World

Founded: 1950

21. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Political Science

#12 in South Africa

#1170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

22. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Ghana | Kumasi

For Political Science

#2 in Ghana

#1172 in the World

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

23. Ain Shams University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#2 in Egypt

#1181 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

24. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Political Science

#4 in Nigeria

#1187 in the World

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

25. University of Sfax

Tunisia | Sfax

For Political Science

#1 in Tunisia

#1189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

26. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Political Science

#1 in Morocco

#1193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

27. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

Morocco | Fez

For Political Science

#2 in Morocco

#1240 in the World

28. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Political Science

#3 in Ghana

#1279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

29. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Political Science

#3 in Egypt

#1286 in the World

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

30. Covenant University

Nigeria | Ota

For Political Science

#5 in Nigeria

#1296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

31. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Political Science

#4 in Egypt

#1351 in the World

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

32. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Political Science

#1 in Zimbabwe

#1367 in the World

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

33. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Political Science

#13 in South Africa

#1389 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

34. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Political Science

#5 in Egypt

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

35. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Political Science

#6 in Nigeria

#1528 in the World

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

36. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Political Science

#7 in Nigeria

#1561 in the World

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

37. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Political Science

#1 in Tanzania

#1583 in the World

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

38. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Political Science

#14 in South Africa

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

39. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#2 in Tunisia

#1615 in the World

40. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nigeria | Awka

For Political Science

#8 in Nigeria

#1629 in the World

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

41. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Political Science

#3 in Tunisia

#1655 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

42. University of Limpopo

South Africa | Mankweng

For Political Science

#15 in South Africa

#1657 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

43. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Political Science

#2 in Ethiopia

#1665 in the World

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

44. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Political Science

#1 in Zambia

#1690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

45. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Political Science

#3 in Morocco

#1711 in the World

46. University of Malawi

Malawi | Zomba

For Political Science

#1 in Malawi

#1740 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

47. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Political Science

#4 in Morocco

#1747 in the World

48. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Political Science

#16 in South Africa

#1771 in the World

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

49. Helwan University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#6 in Egypt

#1785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

50. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Political Science

#9 in Nigeria

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

51. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Political Science

#2 in Kenya

#1805 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

52. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Political Science

#17 in South Africa

#1815 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

53. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Political Science

#1 in Senegal

#1828 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

54. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#3 in Kenya

#1837 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

55. Pedagogical University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Political Science

#1 in Mozambique

#1863 in the World

Founded: 1985

56. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Political Science

#10 in Nigeria

#1896 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

57. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#4 in Tunisia

#1899 in the World

58. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Political Science

#7 in Egypt

#1911 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

59. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Political Science

#3 in Ethiopia

#1919 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

60. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Political Science

#4 in Kenya

#1959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

61. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Political Science

#11 in Nigeria

#1964 in the World

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

62. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Political Science

#4 in Ethiopia

#1968 in the World

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

63. Manouba University

Tunisia | Manouba

For Political Science

#5 in Tunisia

#2040 in the World

Enrollment: 17,040

64. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Political Science

#1 in Mauritius

#2061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

65. University for Development Studies

Ghana | Tamale

For Political Science

#4 in Ghana

#2103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Enrollment: 13,132
Founded: 1992

66. Lagos State University

Nigeria | Ojo

For Political Science

#12 in Nigeria

#2115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

67. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Political Science

#13 in Nigeria

#2116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

68. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Political Science

#18 in South Africa

#2122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

69. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Political Science

#5 in Morocco

#2153 in the World

70. Assiut University

Egypt | Asyut

For Political Science

#8 in Egypt

#2156 in the World

Founded: 1957

71. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Political Science

#9 in Egypt

#2161 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

72. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Political Science

#1 in Cameroon

#2188 in the World

Founded: 1993

73. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Political Science

#1 in the DR Congo

#2201 in the World

Founded: 1954

74. Tanta University

Egypt | Tanta

For Political Science

#10 in Egypt

#2221 in the World

Founded: 1972

75. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Political Science

#14 in Nigeria

#2247 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Political Science

#6 in Tunisia

#2255 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

77. University of Education, Winneba

Ghana | Winneba

For Political Science

#5 in Ghana

#2324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1992

78. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Political Science

#15 in Nigeria

#2376 in the World

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

79. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Political Science

#6 in Morocco

#2408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

80. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Political Science

#7 in Tunisia

#2427 in the World

81. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Political Science

#11 in Egypt

#2437 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

82. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique | Maputo

For Political Science

#2 in Mozambique

#2450 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

83. University of Venda

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Political Science

#19 in South Africa

#2486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

84. Minia University

Egypt | Minya

For Political Science

#12 in Egypt

#2488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

85. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Political Science

#1 in Algeria

#2504 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

86. University of Uyo

Nigeria | Uyo

For Political Science

#16 in Nigeria

#2509 in the World

Founded: 1991

87. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Political Science

#2 in Algeria

#2521 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

88. Vaal University of Technology

South Africa | Vanderbijlpark

For Political Science

#20 in South Africa

#2523 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

89. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Political Science

#5 in Ethiopia

#2525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

90. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Political Science

#17 in Nigeria

#2528 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

91. Walter Sisulu University

South Africa | Mthatha

For Political Science

#21 in South Africa

#2539 in the World

Founded: 2005

92. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Political Science

#13 in Egypt

#2549 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

93. Felix Houphouet-Boigny University

Ivory Coast | Abidjan

For Political Science

#1 in Ivory Coast

#2561 in the World

Enrollment: 60,189
Founded: 1964

94. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Political Science

#18 in Nigeria

#2576 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

95. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Political Science

#19 in Nigeria

#2598 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

96. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Political Science

#6 in Ethiopia

#2603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Enrollment: 17,030
Founded: 1991

97. Bayero University Kano

Nigeria | Kano

For Political Science

#20 in Nigeria

#2611 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

98. Al-Azhar University

Egypt | Cairo

For Political Science

#14 in Egypt

#2618 in the World

Founded: 1961

99. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Political Science

#21 in Nigeria

#2619 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

100. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Political Science

#1 in Sudan

#2647 in the World

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

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Africa

Broadcast Journalism45

Classics and Ancient History111

Communications and Public Relations200

Criminology and Criminal Justice69

Demography324

Early Childhood Education39

Intellectual Property and Patent Law23

International Law51

International Relations and Diplomacy28

Journalism and Digital Media70

Law363

Law Enforcement44

Library and Information science114

Linguistics327

Media Studies59

Military science23

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution31

Occupational Safety and Health54

Philosophy358

Political Economy68

Public Policy / Administration119

Publishing22

Radio and Television broadcasting67

Social Work33

Sociology359

Special Education26

Sports / Exercise science31

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies211

Urban and Regional planning43