Best Universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 16.1M citations received by 1.04M academic papers made by 352 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

#402 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

#433 in the World

Founded: 1874

3. Cairo University

For Physics

#1 in Egypt

#440 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

#551 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Physics

#4 in South Africa

#565 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. Ain Shams University

For Physics

#2 in Egypt

#578 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

7. University of Pretoria

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#5 in South Africa

#590 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

8. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Physics

#3 in Egypt

#655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Physics

#4 in Egypt

#658 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

#742 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

11. University of Sfax

For Physics

#829 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

12. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Physics

#5 in Egypt

#903 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

13. North-West University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Physics

#7 in South Africa

#910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

14. Assiut University

For Physics

#6 in Egypt

#941 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. Tanta University

For Physics

#7 in Egypt

#989 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Al-Azhar University

For Physics

#8 in Egypt

#994 in the World

Founded: 1961

17. University of South Africa

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#8 in South Africa

#1044 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

18. University of the Free State

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Physics

#9 in South Africa

#1070 in the World

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

19. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Physics

#1071 in the World

20. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Physics

#1088 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

21. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1093 in the World

22. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Physics

#9 in Egypt

#1129 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

23. Benha University

For Physics

#10 in Egypt

#1161 in the World

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

24. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1171 in the World

25. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1201 in the World

Enrollment: 54,549

26. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Physics

#1277 in the World

27. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Physics

#1301 in the World

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

28. Minia University

For Physics

#11 in Egypt

#1351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

29. Helwan University

For Physics

#12 in Egypt

#1355 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

30. Rhodes University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Makhanda

For Physics

#10 in South Africa

#1377 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

31. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Physics

#1440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

32. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#11 in South Africa

#1443 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

33. University of the Western Cape

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Bellville

For Physics

#12 in South Africa

#1458 in the World

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

34. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Physics

#13 in Egypt

#1471 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

35. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Physics

#14 in Egypt

#1487 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

36. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Physics

#1512 in the World

37. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Physics

#1578 in the World

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

38. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Physics

#1618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

39. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Physics

#1649 in the World

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

40. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Physics

#1650 in the World

Enrollment: 39,916

41. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Physics

#1659 in the World

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

42. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Physics

#1667 in the World

43. South Valley University - Qena

For Physics

#15 in Egypt

#1669 in the World

Founded: 1995

44. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Physics

#1717 in the World

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

45. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Physics

#16 in Egypt

#1743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

46. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1753 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

47. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Physics

#1769 in the World

Founded: 1950

48. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Physics

#1788 in the World

49. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Physics

#1812 in the World

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

50. Covenant University

For Physics

#1871 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

51. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Physics

#1881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

52. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Physics

#17 in Egypt

#1893 in the World

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

53. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Physics

#18 in Egypt

#1895 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

54. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Physics

#1902 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

55. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Physics

#1 in Uganda

#1905 in the World

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

56. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#1 in Ghana

#1967 in the World

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

57. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Physics

#13 in South Africa

#1979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

58. University of Ghana

For Physics

#2 in Ghana

#1980 in the World

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

59. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Physics

#10 in Nigeria

#1987 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

60. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1994 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 1,400

61. Durban University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Durban

For Physics

#14 in South Africa

#2002 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

62. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Physics

#2008 in the World

63. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Physics

#1 in Kenya

#2018 in the World

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

64. Aswan University

For Physics

#19 in Egypt

#2032 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

65. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Physics

#2046 in the World

66. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Physics

#2094 in the World

Enrollment: 19,311

67. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Physics

#2098 in the World

Enrollment: 18,484

68. Fayoum University

For Physics

#20 in Egypt

#2128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

69. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Physics

#2145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%

70. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Physics

#11 in Nigeria

#2164 in the World

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

71. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Physics

#2171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

72. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Physics

#2182 in the World

Enrollment: 31,588

73. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa Flag

South Africa | Cape Town

For Physics

#15 in South Africa

#2194 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

#2217 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

75. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Physics

#22 in Egypt

#2232 in the World

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

76. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Physics

#23 in Egypt

#2233 in the World

Founded: 2010

77. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Physics

#10 in Algeria

#2247 in the World

78. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Physics

#2268 in the World

Founded: 1993

79. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Physics

#2269 in the World

Founded: 1964

80. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Physics

#12 in Nigeria

#2275 in the World

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

81. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Physics

#13 in Nigeria

#2311 in the World

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

82. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Physics

#2319 in the World

Founded: 1918

83. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Physics

#11 in Algeria

#2326 in the World

84. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Physics

#24 in Egypt

#2364 in the World

Founded: 2010

85. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Physics

#2368 in the World

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

86. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Physics

#2391 in the World

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

87. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Physics

#14 in Nigeria

#2396 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

88. Suez University

For Physics

#25 in Egypt

#2398 in the World

Founded: 2012

89. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Physics

#12 in Algeria

#2400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

90. University of Oran 1

For Physics

#13 in Algeria

#2410 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

91. Pedagogical University

Mozambique Flag

Mozambique | Maputo

For Physics

#1 in Mozambique

#2425 in the World

Founded: 1985

92. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Physics

#15 in Nigeria

#2439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

93. University of Uyo

For Physics

#16 in Nigeria

#2467 in the World

Founded: 1991

94. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Physics

#3 in Ghana

#2511 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

95. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Physics

#1 in Sudan

#2515 in the World

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

96. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#14 in Algeria

#2540 in the World

97. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Physics

#26 in Egypt

#2549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 9,228
Founded: 2005

98. Bahir Dar University

Ethiopia | Bahir Dar

For Physics

#2575 in the World

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

99. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Physics

#17 in Nigeria

#2576 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

#2582 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

Physics subfields in Africa

Acoustical Engineering219

Applied/Engineering Physics41

Astrophysics and Astronomy244

Atomic and Molecular physics96

Condensed Matter Physics137

Materials Science314

Medical Physics27

Nanotechnology219

Nuclear Physics195

Optical Engineering280

Quantum and Particle physics332

Theoretical Physics95