Best Universities for Physics in Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Africa ranked based on their research performance in Physics. A graph of 10.5M citations received by 849K academic papers made by 341 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 Physics

#1 in South Africa

#427 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. Cairo University

For Physics

#1 in Egypt

#458 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 257,200
Founded: 1908

3. University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Physics

#2 in South Africa

#493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

4. University of KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa | Durban

For Physics

#3 in South Africa

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

5. University of Stellenbosch

South Africa | Stellenbosch

For Physics

#4 in South Africa

#578 in the World

Founded: 1918

6. University of Pretoria

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#5 in South Africa

#590 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

7. Ain Shams University

For Physics

#2 in Egypt

#600 in the World

Enrollment: 220,000
Founded: 1950

8. Mansoura University

Egypt | Mansoura

For Physics

#3 in Egypt

#682 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1972

9. Alexandria University

Egypt | Alexandria

For Physics

#4 in Egypt

#695 in the World

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

10. University of Johannesburg

South Africa | Johannesburg

For Physics

#6 in South Africa

#821 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

11. University of Sfax

For Physics

#825 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%

12. North-West University

South Africa | Potchefstroom

For Physics

#7 in South Africa

#939 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 26,439
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 2004

13. Zagazig University

Egypt | Zagazig

For Physics

#5 in Egypt

#945 in the World

Enrollment: 117,299
Founded: 1974

14. Assiut University

For Physics

#6 in Egypt

#947 in the World

Founded: 1957

15. Tanta University

For Physics

#7 in Egypt

#1004 in the World

Founded: 1972

16. Al-Azhar University

For Physics

#8 in Egypt

#1030 in the World

Founded: 1961

17. Tunis University

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1046 in the World

18. University of Monastir

Tunisia | Monastir

For Physics

#1068 in the World

19. University of South Africa

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#8 in South Africa

#1079 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1873

20. University of the Free State

South Africa | Bloemfontein

For Physics

#9 in South Africa

#1117 in the World

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

21. Menoufia University

Egypt | Shibin El Kom

For Physics

#9 in Egypt

#1144 in the World

Enrollment: 80,000
Founded: 1976

22. Mohammed V University

Morocco | Rabat

For Physics

#1153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 67,415

23. University of Tunis El Manar

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1157 in the World

24. University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1179 in the World

25. Benha University

For Physics

#10 in Egypt

#1211 in the World

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

26. Cadi Ayyad University

Morocco | Marrakesh

For Physics

#1290 in the World

Enrollment: 29,703

27. Rhodes University

South Africa | Makhanda

For Physics

#10 in South Africa

#1340 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

28. Minia University

For Physics

#11 in Egypt

#1380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1976

29. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Physics

#1398 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

30. Helwan University

For Physics

#12 in Egypt

#1402 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1975

31. Beni-Suef University

Egypt | Beni Suef

For Physics

#13 in Egypt

#1452 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 2005

32. Tshwane University of Technology

South Africa | Pretoria

For Physics

#11 in South Africa

#1474 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

33. University of the Western Cape

South Africa | Bellville

For Physics

#12 in South Africa

#1476 in the World

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

34. Suez Canal University

Egypt | Ismailia

For Physics

#14 in Egypt

#1494 in the World

Enrollment: 40,317
Founded: 1976

35. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Physics

#1609 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

36. Hassan II University of Casablanca

Morocco | Casablanca

For Physics

#1610 in the World

Enrollment: 99,300

37. Ferhat Abbas Setif University 1

Algeria | Setif

For Physics

#1618 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

38. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Physics

#1630 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

39. University of Annaba

Algeria | Annaba

For Physics

#1649 in the World

Enrollment: 8,443

40. University of Constantine 1

Algeria | Constantine

For Physics

#1674 in the World

41. South Valley University - Qena

For Physics

#15 in Egypt

#1678 in the World

Founded: 1995

42. University of Carthage

Tunisia | Tunis

For Physics

#1718 in the World

Enrollment: 50,314

43. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University

For Physics

#1749 in the World

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

44. Sohag university

Egypt | Nasser City

For Physics

#16 in Egypt

#1750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2006

45. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Physics

#1801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 17,672
Founded: 1981

46. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Physics

#1830 in the World

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

47. American University in Cairo

Egypt | New Cairo

For Physics

#17 in Egypt

#1873 in the World

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

48. National Polytechnic School, Algeria

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#1880 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%

49. Addis Ababa University

Ethiopia | Addis Ababa

For Physics

#1891 in the World

Founded: 1950

50. Ibn Tofail University

Morocco | Kenitra

For Physics

#1895 in the World

Enrollment: 22,270
Male:Female: 52:48

51. Makerere University

Uganda | Kampala

For Physics

#1 in Uganda

#1931 in the World

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

52. Kafrelsheikh University

Egypt | Kafr El Sheikh

For Physics

#18 in Egypt

#1933 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Founded: 2006

53. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Physics

#1959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

54. Nelson Mandela University

South Africa | Port Elizabeth

For Physics

#13 in South Africa

#1973 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

55. University of Tlemcen

Algeria | Tlemcen

For Physics

#1976 in the World

56. Covenant University

For Physics

#1996 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

57. Gabes University

Tunisia | Gabes

For Physics

#2032 in the World

58. Aswan University

For Physics

#19 in Egypt

#2034 in the World

Enrollment: 1,898
Founded: 2012

59. Durban University of Technology

South Africa | Durban

For Physics

#14 in South Africa

#2061 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 10,213
Founded: 2002

60. University of Science and Technology of Oran

For Physics

#2064 in the World

61. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Physics

#2079 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

62. University of Nairobi

Kenya | Nairobi

For Physics

#1 in Kenya

#2080 in the World

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

63. University of Sousse

Tunisia | Sousse

For Physics

#2107 in the World

64. University of Ghana

For Physics

#1 in Ghana

#2131 in the World

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

65. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Physics

#2140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

66. University of Bejaia

Algeria | Bejaia

For Physics

#2142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%

67. Fayoum University

For Physics

#20 in Egypt

#2151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Founded: 2005

68. Damietta University

Egypt | Damietta

For Physics

#21 in Egypt

#2183 in the World

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

69. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

For Physics

#2 in Ghana

#2197 in the World

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

70. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

South Africa | Cape Town

For Physics

#15 in South Africa

#2199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2005

71. Abdelmalek Essaadi University

Morocco | Tetouan

For Physics

#2214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 36,000

72. Port Said University

Egypt | Port Said

For Physics

#22 in Egypt

#2217 in the World

Founded: 2010

73. University of Botswana

Botswana | Gaborone

For Physics

#2223 in the World

Founded: 1964

74. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport

Egypt | Alexandria

For Physics

#23 in Egypt

#2244 in the World

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1972

75. University of Biskra

Algeria | Biskra

For Physics

#2262 in the World

76. University of Batna 1

Algeria | Batna

For Physics

#10 in Algeria

#2277 in the World

77. University of Dschang

Cameroon | Dschang

For Physics

#2324 in the World

Founded: 1993

78. University of Dar es Salaam

Tanzania | Dar es Salaam

For Physics

#2325 in the World

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

79. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Physics

#10 in Nigeria

#2335 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

80. University of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe | Harare

For Physics

#2336 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 18,040
Founded: 1955

81. University of Boumerdes

Algeria | Boumerdes

For Physics

#11 in Algeria

#2337 in the World

82. University of Oran 1

For Physics

#12 in Algeria

#2355 in the World

Enrollment: 60,000

83. University of Blida 1

Algeria | Blida

For Physics

#13 in Algeria

#2390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%

84. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Physics

#11 in Nigeria

#2393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

85. Suez University

For Physics

#24 in Egypt

#2396 in the World

Founded: 2012

86. Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology

Egypt | New Borg El Arab

For Physics

#25 in Egypt

#2399 in the World

Founded: 2010

87. University of Algiers 1

Algeria | Algiers

For Physics

#14 in Algeria

#2432 in the World

88. Cheikh Anta Diop University

Senegal | Dakar

For Physics

#2450 in the World

Founded: 1918

89. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Physics

#12 in Nigeria

#2455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

90. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Physics

#13 in Nigeria

#2493 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1990

91. University of Khartoum

Sudan | Khartoum

For Physics

#1 in Sudan

#2498 in the World

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

92. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Physics

#14 in Nigeria

#2525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

93. University of Jijel

Algeria | Jijel

For Physics

#15 in Algeria

#2550 in the World

94. British University in Egypt

Egypt | El Shorouk

For Physics

#26 in Egypt

#2575 in the World

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

95. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Physics

#15 in Nigeria

#2585 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

96. University of Mauritius

Mauritius | Reduit

For Physics

#1 in Mauritius

#2604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1965

97. University of Uyo

For Physics

#16 in Nigeria

#2636 in the World

Founded: 1991

98. University of Fort Hare

South Africa | Alice

For Physics

#16 in South Africa

#2655 in the World

Founded: 1916

99. University of Zululand

South Africa | Kwadlangezwa

For Physics

#17 in South Africa

#2708 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

100. University of Cape Coast

Ghana | Cape Coast

For Physics

#3 in Ghana

#2720 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1962

Physics subfields in Africa

Acoustical Engineering179

Applied/Engineering Physics28

Astrophysics and Astronomy218

Atomic and Molecular physics85

Condensed Matter Physics123

Materials Science302

Medical Physics24

Nanotechnology201

Nuclear Physics169

Optical Engineering264

Quantum and Particle physics319

Theoretical Physics81