young population and preparing them for the future economy which many believes is African.
Today, I’ll show you the best universities across Africa in 2023/2024. You’ll learn about these universities, their countries of location, courses offered, school fee ranges, and why they stand out among others as some of the best universities in Africa.
See Also: Top 3 Best Universities in Nigeria
Even though these universities are relatively new when compared to some of the world's leading universities, these institutions continue to improve their academic research, learning facilities and technologies to make them competitive in the global education market.
Best Universities in Africa 2023/2024
The universities in this list are well-renowned for their academic excellence, world-class facilities, highly qualified faculty, and diverse student community.
See Also: Best Universities in Ghana
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
Established in 1829, the University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa and Africa as a whole. The school offers a wide range of courses, including commerce, engineering, health sciences, humanities, law, and science.
The school fees vary depending on the course of study, but on average, it ranges from $3,000 to $5,000 per year.
Interesting fact
The University of Cape Town is that it was the first university in the world to perform a successful heart transplant.
- University of Pretoria, South Africa
The University of Pretoria was founded in 1908 and is located in Pretoria, South Africa. The university is one of the country’s largest and most prestigious universities, offering courses in agriculture, engineering, law, health sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and theology.
Students fees that range from $2,000 to $4,000 per year.
Did you know?
The University of Pretoria is that it has a unique cultural center called the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA). The institute was founded in 2010 as a think-tank that aims to provide insights and strategies for South Africa’s development.
- Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Still in South Africa, Stellenbosch University is one of the best universities in Africa in 2023/2024. The school was founded in 1918 and is located in the town of Stellenbosch in South Africa.
It is a research-intensive institution that offers c engineering, medicine, law, social sciences, and natural sciences courses
As a student at the university, you can pay up to $3,000 to $5,000 per year, but you’ll always get the value for your money with the impeccable education you’ll receive there.
- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
The University of Witwatersrand takes the fourth position as one of the best universities in Africa. The university is also known as Wits University. The school was founded in 1896 and is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wits University is a world-class institution that offers courses in humanities, engineering, science, law, and health sciences.
Their school fees range from $2,000 to $5,000 per year.
Interesting fact
During the apartheid era, Wits was one of the few universities that admitted students of all races, and many of its students and faculty members were active in the anti-apartheid movement.
The university's campus was a site of protests and demonstrations against the apartheid government, and many of its alumni, such as Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu, went on to become key figures in the struggle for freedom and democracy in South Africa.
- University of Ghana, Ghana
Ranked as one of the best universities in Africa, The University of Ghana was established in 1948 and is located in Legon, Accra.
The institution is the oldest and largest university in Ghana, offering courses in humanities, social sciences, law, natural sciences, agriculture, and health sciences.
As of 2023, students pay school fees ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 per year, depending on course.
- University of Nairobi, Kenya
The University of Nairobi is widely accepted as one of the finest universities in the continent of Africa. It was founded in 1956 in Nairobi, Kenya.
It is the largest and oldest university in Kenya. University of Nairobi offers course in humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences courses.
Their school fees range from $1,000 to $4,000 per year.
Best universities in Africa 2023/2024
- American University in Cairo, Egypt
The American University in Cairo was founded in 1919 in Cairo by Americans devoted to education and service in the Middle East.
Since then, it has maintained it status as one of the leading institutions of higher learning in Africa.
The university is a leading English-language institution in the Middle East, offering courses in humanities, social sciences, law, natural sciences, engineering, and business.
Students pay around $15,000 to $20,000 per year.
Did you know?
It was initially established as a liberal arts college offering instruction in English but has since expanded to offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide range of disciplines, including business, engineering, and social sciences.
- University of Ibadan, Nigeria
The University of Ibadan is the first and most prestigious university in Nigeria. It was established in 1948 in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.
UI as it is popularly known, offers a wide range of courses under different schools and faculties like humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences.
UI School school fees could be less than $1,000 to $2,000 per year.
Did you know?
The University of Ibadan has a rich history and has produced many of Nigeria's leaders and intellectuals, including two Nigerian Nobel laureates, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe.
The university's campus is also home to the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigeria Television, which was established in 1959.
- Makerere University, Uganda
Makerere University was founded in 1922 and is located in Kampala, Uganda. It is the oldest and largest university in Uganda, offering humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences courses.
The school fees range from $1,000 to $4,000 per year.
- University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is that it is the oldest and largest public university in the country. It was established in 1970 through the merger of the University College of Dar es Salaam and the Faculty of Law of the University of East Africa.
The university offers courses in humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences with school fees ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per year.
- Université Mohammed V de Rabat, Morocco
The Université Mohammed V de Rabat, often referred to as Mohammed V University, is a prestigious institution of higher education located in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco.
The school offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in various disciplines, including sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, medicine, law, economics, and more.
Best Universities in Africa 2023/2024
12. Cairo University, Egypt
Cairo University was founded in 1908 and is located in Giza, Egypt. It is the second-oldest university in Egypt and one of the largest in Africa, offering humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences courses. The school fees range from $2,000 to $5,000 per year.
- University of Lagos, Nigeria
The University of Lagos, also known as UNILAG, was established in 1962. It began as an affiliated college of the University of London and later gained full autonomy.
UNILAG offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields such as Arts, Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering, Law, Business Administration, Medicine, Pharmacy, Education, and Environmental Sciences.
Throughout its history, the university has maintained a reputation for academic excellence and research and is one of the best universities in Africa in 2023.
UNILAG students pay less than $1,000 per year.
- University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria
The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) is a prestigious Nigerian federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was established in 1960. UNN is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Nigeria, known for its academic excellence and research contributions.
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in diverse fields such as Medicine, Law, Engineering, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts, Education, Business Administration, Agriculture, and Environmental Studies.
Their school fees is less than $1000 in a year.
University of Cape Coast, Ghana - The University Of Cape Coast was founded in 1962 and is located in Cape Coast, Ghana.
It is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Ghana, offering courses in humanities, social sciences, law, engineering, health sciences, and natural sciences. The school fees range from $1,000 to $3,000 per year.
Before we round up, let me quickly provide the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the best universities in Africa in 2023.
Which university is the best in Africa 2023 ranking?
The University of Cape Town in South Africa has consistently been ranked as one of the top universities in Africa and it’s the best university in Africa in 2023. Established in 1829, the University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa and Africa as a whole.
Which university is leading in Africa?
The University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa has been widely regarded as one of the leading universities in Africa. UCT has consistently ranked highly in various international university rankings and is known for its academic excellence and research contributions.
Which top 10 African countries have the most universities?
The top 10 African countries with the highest number of universities are, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria.
