Best Universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 17.9M citations received by 1.07M academic papers made by 353 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 the Witwatersrand

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Physics

#1 in South Africa

#399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

2. University of Cape Town

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Physics

#2 in South Africa

#435 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. Cairo University

For Physics

#1 in Egypt

#438 in the World

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

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Physics

#3 in South Africa

#548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Physics

#4 in South Africa

#566 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. Ain Shams University

For Physics

#2 in Egypt

#576 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#5 in South Africa

#589 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Physics

#3 in Egypt

#650 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Physics

#4 in Egypt

#652 in the World

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

10. University of Johannesburg

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Physics

#6 in South Africa

#720 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

11. University of Sfax

For Physics

#813 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 33,193

12. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Physics

#5 in Egypt

#888 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

13. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Physics

#7 in South Africa

#895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

14. Assiut University

For Physics

#6 in Egypt

#938 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. Tanta University

For Physics

#7 in Egypt

#972 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Al-Azhar University

For Physics

#8 in Egypt

#977 in the World

Founded: 1961

17. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#8 in South Africa

#1036 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

18. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Physics

#1062 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

19. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Physics

#1064 in the World

20. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Physics

#9 in South Africa

#1071 in the World

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

21. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1103 in the World

22. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Physics

#9 in Egypt

#1133 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

23. Benha University

For Physics

#10 in Egypt

#1142 in the World

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

24. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1155 in the World

25. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1206 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

26. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Physics

#1274 in the World

27. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Physics

#1315 in the World

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

28. Minia University

For Physics

#11 in Egypt

#1347 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

29. Helwan University

For Physics

#12 in Egypt

#1363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

30. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Physics

#10 in South Africa

#1395 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

31. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#11 in South Africa

#1429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

32. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Physics

#1439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

33. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Physics

#12 in South Africa

#1450 in the World

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

34. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Physics

#13 in Egypt

#1454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

35. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Physics

#1483 in the World

36. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Physics

#14 in Egypt

#1491 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

37. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Physics

#1602 in the World

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

38. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Physics

#1616 in the World

39. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Physics

#1617 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

40. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Physics

#1639 in the World

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

41. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Physics

#1645 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

42. South Valley University - Qena

For Physics

#15 in Egypt

#1668 in the World

Founded: 1995

43. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Physics

#1679 in the World

44. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Physics

#1725 in the World

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

45. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Physics

#16 in Egypt

#1727 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

46. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Physics

#1742 in the World

47. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1753 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

48. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Physics

#1756 in the World

Founded: 1950

49. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Physics

#1823 in the World

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

50. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Physics

#17 in Egypt

#1853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

51. Covenant University

For Physics

#1854 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

52. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Physics

#1884 in the World

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

53. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Physics

#18 in Egypt

#1891 in the World

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

54. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Physics

#1 in Uganda

#1894 in the World

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

55. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Physics

#1913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

56. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#1 in Ghana

#1921 in the World

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

57. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Physics

#13 in South Africa

#1964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

58. University of Ghana

For Physics

#2 in Ghana

#1971 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1948

59. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Physics

#14 in South Africa

#1982 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

60. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1989 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

61. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Physics

#10 in Nigeria

#2006 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

62. Aswan University

For Physics

#19 in Egypt

#2013 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

63. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Physics

#2019 in the World

64. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Physics

#2020 in the World

Enrollment: 15,263

65. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Physics

#1 in Kenya

#2036 in the World

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

66. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Physics

#2072 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

67. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Physics

#2100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

68. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Physics

#2103 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

69. Fayoum University

For Physics

#20 in Egypt

#2108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

70. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Physics

#2159 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

71. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Physics

#2165 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

72. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Physics

#11 in Nigeria

#2179 in the World

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

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Physics

#15 in South Africa

#2191 in the World

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

74. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Physics

#21 in Egypt

#2199 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

75. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Physics

#22 in Egypt

#2201 in the World

Founded: 2010

76. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Physics

#23 in Egypt

#2213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2012

77. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Physics

#10 in Algeria

#2237 in the World

78. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Physics

#12 in Nigeria

#2250 in the World

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

79. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Physics

#2261 in the World

Founded: 1993

80. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Physics

#2286 in the World

Founded: 1964

81. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Physics

#13 in Nigeria

#2287 in the World

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

82. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Physics

#24 in Egypt

#2304 in the World

Enrollment: 3,741
Male:Female: 59:41
Founded: 2010

83. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Physics

#11 in Algeria

#2322 in the World

84. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Physics

#2334 in the World

Enrollment: 89,589
Founded: 1918

85. Suez University

For Physics

#25 in Egypt

#2340 in the World

Founded: 2012

86. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Physics

#2390 in the World

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

87. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Physics

#14 in Nigeria

#2399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

88. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Physics

#12 in Algeria

#2406 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

89. University of Oran 1

For Physics

#13 in Algeria

#2420 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

90. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Physics

#2426 in the World

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

91. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Physics

#15 in Nigeria

#2440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

92. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Physics

#2473 in the World

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

93. University of Uyo

For Physics

#16 in Nigeria

#2475 in the World

Founded: 1991

94. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Physics

#1 in Mozambique

#2481 in the World

Founded: 1985

95. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Physics

#3 in Ghana

#2488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

96. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Physics

#26 in Egypt

#2517 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 12,178
Founded: 2005

97. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#14 in Algeria

#2535 in the World

98. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Physics

#1 in Sudan

#2544 in the World

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

99. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Physics

#17 in Nigeria

#2558 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

100. University of Fort Hare

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Alice

For Physics

#16 in South Africa

#2564 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

Physics subfields in Africa

Acoustical Engineering224

Applied/Engineering Physics43

Astrophysics and Astronomy247

Atomic and Molecular physics95

Condensed Matter Physics138

Materials Science317

Medical Physics28

Nanotechnology222

Nuclear Physics197

Optical Engineering281

Quantum and Particle physics334

Theoretical Physics99