Best Public Health Schools 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 Public Health. A graph of 6.99M citations received by 333K academic papers made by 334 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 Public Health

#1 in South Africa

#100 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Public Health

#2 in South Africa

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Public Health

#3 in South Africa

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

4. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Public Health

#4 in South Africa

#194 in the World

Founded: 1918

5. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Health

#5 in South Africa

#244 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

6. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Public Health

#1 in Uganda

#253 in the World

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

7. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Public Health

#282 in the World

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

8. University of Ghana

For Public Health

#1 in Ghana

#312 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

9. University of Gondar

Ethiopia | Gondar

For Public Health

#322 in the World

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

10. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Public Health

#330 in the World

Founded: 1950

11. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Health

#1 in Kenya

#422 in the World

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

12. Jimma University

Ethiopia | Jimma

For Public Health

#447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1983

13. Cairo University

For Public Health

#1 in Egypt

#449 in the World

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

14. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Public Health

#508 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

15. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Public Health

#516 in the World

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

16. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Public Health

#6 in South Africa

#550 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

17. Ain Shams University

For Public Health

#2 in Egypt

#559 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

18. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Public Health

#2 in Ghana

#562 in the World

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

19. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Public Health

#7 in South Africa

#580 in the World

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

20. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Health

#8 in South Africa

#597 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

21. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Public Health

#9 in South Africa

#633 in the World

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

22. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Public Health

#638 in the World

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

23. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Public Health

#645 in the World

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

24. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Public Health

#3 in Egypt

#662 in the World

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

25. Mekelle University

Ethiopia | Mekelle

For Public Health

#667 in the World

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

26. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Public Health

#10 in South Africa

#680 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

27. University of Malawi

For Public Health

#1 in Malawi

#692 in the World

Enrollment: 10,500
Founded: 1964

28. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Public Health

#695 in the World

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

29. University of Zambia

Zambia | Lusaka

For Public Health

#1 in Zambia

#700 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1965

30. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Public Health

#3 in Ghana

#735 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

31. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Public Health

#4 in Egypt

#742 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

32. Haramaya University

Ethiopia | Haramaya

For Public Health

#745 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1954

33. University of Limpopo

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Mankweng

For Public Health

#11 in South Africa

#764 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

34. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Public Health

#797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 2007

35. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Health

#2 in Kenya

#810 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Founded: 1994

36. Assiut University

For Public Health

#5 in Egypt

#826 in the World

Founded: 1957

37. Hawassa University

Ethiopia | Awasa

For Public Health

#831 in the World

Enrollment: 30,414
Male:Female: 75:25
Founded: 1976

38. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Public Health

#862 in the World

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

39. Kenyatta University

Kenya | Nairobi

For Public Health

#3 in Kenya

#882 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1985

40. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Public Health

#903 in the World

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

41. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Public Health

#930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

42. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Public Health

#933 in the World

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

43. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Public Health

#12 in South Africa

#934 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

44. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Public Health

#945 in the World

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

45. Moi University

Kenya | Eldoret

For Public Health

#4 in Kenya

#969 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Founded: 1984

46. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Public Health

#10 in Nigeria

#993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

47. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Public Health

#994 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Public Health

#6 in Egypt

#1004 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

49. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Public Health

#1052 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

50. University for Development Studies

For Public Health

#4 in Ghana

#1057 in the World

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

51. Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Uganda | Mbarara

For Public Health

#2 in Uganda

#1073 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Founded: 1989

52. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Public Health

#1 in Sudan

#1075 in the World

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

53. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Public Health

#13 in South Africa

#1078 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

54. Arba Minch University

Ethiopia | Arba Minch

For Public Health

#1128 in the World

Enrollment: 37,433
Founded: 1986

55. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Public Health

#1138 in the World

56. University of Buea

Cameroon | Buea

For Public Health

#1157 in the World

Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1992

57. Bayero University Kano

For Public Health

#11 in Nigeria

#1161 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

58. Debre Markos University

Ethiopia | Debre Markos

For Public Health

#1169 in the World

Founded: 2005

59. University of Health and Allied Sciences

For Public Health

#5 in Ghana

#1183 in the World

Founded: 2011

60. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Public Health

#7 in Egypt

#1196 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

61. University of Kinshasa

DR Congo | Kinshasa

For Public Health

#1 in the DR Congo

#1199 in the World

Founded: 1954

62. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Public Health

#14 in South Africa

#1204 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

63. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Public Health

#12 in Nigeria

#1213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

64. Tanta University

For Public Health

#8 in Egypt

#1223 in the World

Founded: 1972

65. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Public Health

#1229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

66. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Public Health

#1244 in the World

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

67. University of Venda

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Thohoyandou

For Public Health

#15 in South Africa

#1249 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

68. Al-Azhar University

For Public Health

#9 in Egypt

#1257 in the World

Founded: 1961

69. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Public Health

#10 in Egypt

#1269 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

70. Covenant University

For Public Health

#13 in Nigeria

#1279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

71. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Public Health

#1281 in the World

72. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Public Health

#14 in Nigeria

#1297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

73. Eduardo Mondlane University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Public Health

#1 in Mozambique

#1306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1962

74. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Public Health

#15 in Nigeria

#1334 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

75. Lagos State University

For Public Health

#16 in Nigeria

#1335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

76. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Public Health

#17 in Nigeria

#1350 in the World

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

77. University of Jos

For Public Health

#18 in Nigeria

#1368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

78. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Health

#16 in South Africa

#1369 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

79. University of Abomey-Calavi

Benin | Abomey-Calavi

For Public Health

#1 in Benin

#1374 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1970

80. Sokoine University of Agriculture

Tanzania | Morogoro

For Public Health

#1380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Founded: 1984

81. University of Yaounde I

Cameroon | Yaounde

For Public Health

#1393 in the World

Founded: 1962

82. Wollega University

Ethiopia | Nekemte

For Public Health

#10 in Ethiopia

#1408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2007

83. Minia University

For Public Health

#11 in Egypt

#1416 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

84. Mizan Tepi University

Ethiopia | Mizan

For Public Health

#11 in Ethiopia

#1431 in the World

Founded: 2006

85. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Public Health

#19 in Nigeria

#1440 in the World

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

86. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Public Health

#20 in Nigeria

#1457 in the World

Founded: 2000

87. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Public Health

#17 in South Africa

#1490 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

88. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Public Health

#21 in Nigeria

#1494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

89. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Public Health

#1502 in the World

90. Debre Berhan University

Ethiopia | Debre Berhan

For Public Health

#12 in Ethiopia

#1510 in the World

Founded: 2007

91. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Public Health

#1513 in the World

92. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Public Health

#18 in South Africa

#1519 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

93. Benha University

For Public Health

#12 in Egypt

#1523 in the World

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

94. University of Sfax

For Public Health

#1532 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

95. University of Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso Flag

Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou

For Public Health

#1 in Burkina Faso

#1556 in the World

Enrollment: 44,860
Founded: 1974

96. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Public Health

#22 in Nigeria

#1561 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

97. Madda Walabu University

Ethiopia | Bale Robe

For Public Health

#13 in Ethiopia

#1575 in the World

Founded: 2006

98. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Public Health

#1 in Mauritius

#1585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

99. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Public Health

#1587 in the World

100. University of Uyo

For Public Health

#23 in Nigeria

#1590 in the World

Founded: 1991

Medicine subfields in Africa

Anatomy and Physiology227

Anesthesiology148

Bioethics/Medical Ethics51

Biomedical Engineering36

Clinical Psychology156

Critical Care Nursing139

Epidemiology126

Family medicine231

Forensic Science55

Gastroenterology and Hepatology163

Health Science235

Healthcare Management (MHA)208

Medical Physics28

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)191

Occupational Therapy32

Oncology and Cancer research193

Ophthalmology75

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine151

Pharmacology222

Physical Therapy161

Plastic Surgery33

Radiation Therapy61

Radiology and Nuclear medicine235

Respiratory Therapy33

Sonography and Ultrasound33

Sports / Exercise science31

Sports Medicine74