The Top 10 Universities in Africa (Part I)

By Christine Lai and Yolaan Begbie. While students from across the continent continue to move abroad to study at leading learning institutions in the U.S. and Europe, Africa boasts its own league of great universities. Presented below is Part I of Africa.com’s Top 10 Universities in Africa. Part II will feature the Top 10 Universities in South Africa, a country that is home to enough academic heavyweights to populate its own list.
1) CAIRO UNIVERSITY—EGYPT
Cairo University is a large public university with over 45,000 students and 5,000 faculty. More...
2) AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO—EGYPT
Founded in 1919, the American University in Cairo is an American-style small liberal arts college with a heavy emphasis on quality of teaching. More...
3) MANSOURA UNIVERSITY—EGYPT
Founded in 1972, Mansoura University is one of Egypt’s largest universities with a total student population of around 100,000 spread over its 17 faculties. A research powerhouse, Mansoura University boasts a world class array of medical centers, including those focused on oncology, urology and nephrology, gastroenterology, ophthalmic, and pediatric medicine. More...
4) MAKERERE UNIVERSITY—UGANDA
Founded as a technical school in 1922, Makerere University became an independent national university in 1970. The university developed a focused research agenda in line with the national government’s policy objectives, and seeks to support those programs with a multidisciplinary approach ranging from natural sciences to economics and education...
5) UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI—KENYA
Tracing its roots back to 1956, the University of Nairobi became an independent university in 1970. Today, the university is home to about 50,000 undergraduate students more...
6) UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM—TANZANIA
Following the dissolution of the University of East Africa, the University of Dar es Salaam was established as an independent university in 1970. More...
7) UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA
Contributions poured in from all around the country in the form of cash, cattle, grain, eggs, and other crops. Today, the University of Botswana, whose motto is “Education is a Shield,” has an undergraduate population of roughly 16,000. More...
8) UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
Originally founded as an affiliate college of the University of London, the University of Ghana became an independent institution in 1961. Today, undergraduate students number around 26,000. More...
9) UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
Established in 1962 with the aim of training professionals for the newly independent Nigeria, the University of Lagos is a comprehensive university that... More...
10) ASHESI UNIVERSITY
Established in 2002, Ashesi University’s mission is: to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa More...
METHODOLOGY
First, as with any similar list that determines which universities are "best," Africa.com collected both quantitative and qualitative data to determine which universities in Africa would make our Top 10 List. More...