Top 10 Best and Affordable Universities in Africa for Computer Science

Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing technology ecosystems in the world, and with that growth comes a rising demand for high-quality computer science education. This article explores the top 10 best universities in Africa for studying computer science. These institutions have been selected based on key criteria such as the quality of teaching and research in computer science, modern facilities, affordability of tuition, support for international students, and rankings at both African and global levels.

We looked at universities that offer strong undergraduate (e.g., BSc in Computer Science) and postgraduate (e.g., MSc, PhD) programs, and that demonstrate consistent academic excellence. Consideration was also given to the language of instruction—whether English or French—ensuring accessibility for a diverse group of students across the continent. Tuition fees for both local and international students were compared and presented in both U.S. dollars and local currencies.

Whether you’re a student from within Africa or an international applicant seeking world-class education on the continent, this guide highlights institutions that not only deliver top-tier computer science programs but also provide rich academic environments for innovation, research, and future career opportunities.

Here are the Top 10 Best Universities in Africa for Computer Science:

University of Cape Town
University of Pretoria
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Cairo University
Mohammed V University of Rabat
University of Sfax
University of Ghana – Legon
University of Nairobi
Makerere University
University of Ibadan

1. University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Founded in 1829 (the oldest in South Africa), UCT is located in Cape Town. It offers BSc and BA degrees in Computer Science (with Honours tracks), as well as MSc and PhD programs. Instruction is in English. UCT is consistently the top-ranked African university (Times THE ranks it #1 in Africa for 2025).

In CS specifically, it’s #1 in Africa and #239 globally. This elite status comes from huge research output (over 95,000 publications, 2.9 million citations) and excellent faculty and labs.

UCT also has extensive international student services.

Tuition in 2025 is relatively modest: about ZAR 27,500–30,000 per year for a local undergraduate (~USD 1,600–1,700) and roughly ZAR 50,000–55,000 (~USD 2,800) for international students.

2. University of Pretoria (South Africa)

Founded in 1908, the University of Pretoria is in Pretoria. Its Faculty of Science offers a BSc in Computer Science as well as BSc Engineering degrees with computer science majors, plus MSc and PhD programs. Instruction is in English.

Pretoria is among Africa’s top research universities – Times ranked it #2 in Africa (2024 SSA ranking), and it is #2 in South Africa for CS (world #496). Its strong CS faculty regularly publishes in top venues. The campus has good facilities (new computer labs, research centres).

Tuition (2025) is roughly ZAR 74,000–94,000 per year for first-year BSc (South African citizens) and similar for permanent residents (about USD 4,000–5,200); fees for international students may be moderately higher.

3. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa)

Founded in 1922, Wits University is in Johannesburg. Wits offers BSc Computer Science, BSc Eng (with CS majors), and advanced CS degrees. Instruction is in English.

Wits is a world-class research university (Times ranks it in the 301–350 band globally). It is typically #3-4 in Africa for overall quality and #4 in SA for CS (world ~#546). Wits CS faculty publish heavily, and the campus has excellent labs and research centres.

Tuition is comparable to other top SA schools (around ZAR 60,000–70,000 per year, roughly USD 3,300–3,800), though exact 2025 fees should be checked with the university (science and engineering programmes range ~R56,500–R70,000).

4. Cairo University (Egypt)

Founded in 1908, Cairo University (in Giza, near Cairo) is Egypt’s flagship university. It offers a BSc in Computer and Systems Engineering (and related CS degrees) plus MSc/PhD programs. Instruction is primarily Arabic (with much coursework and research in English, given Egypt’s academic norms).

Cairo U. is #1 in Egypt and a leader in North Africa. It was rated by US News as Africa’s #3 university (2024) and QS has it among the top 150 globally for CS (its CS rank is ~351–400). According to EduRank, Cairo U. is #1 in Egypt and #468 worldwide for CS. Its long history and vast faculty yield high research output (Cairo averages thousands of CS publications).

Tuition is very affordable: about US$1,100/year for both domestic and international CS students (roughly EGP 60,000–61,000). Living costs in Cairo are also low.

Overall, Cairo U. combines top teaching and research in Africa with modest fees and active support for foreign students.

5. Mohammed V University of Rabat (Morocco)

Founded in 1957, Mohammed V University is Morocco’s largest and oldest university (in Rabat). It offers BSc and MSc programs in Computer Science and related fields (informatics, telecommunications). Instruction is in French and Arabic (French is common for science courses).

Mohammed V is ranked #1 in Morocco and among the top 15 in Africa for CS. In global subject rankings, it appears in QS (Computer Science) around the #600–650 mark. The university has modern tech facilities thanks to national investment.

It is relatively affordable: annual tuition is on the order of a few thousand USD (exact fees vary, e.g. roughly MAD 20,000–30,000 ≈ USD 2,000–3,000), which is low by international standards.

Its strong showing in African rankings and multilingual environment make it a top choice in Francophone Africa.

6. University of Sfax (Tunisia)

The University of Sfax, established in 1986, is a leading public university in Sfax, Tunisia. It offers a range of CS and engineering programs (BSc and MSc in Computer Science, IT, etc.) taught in French (and some Arabic).

Sfax U. is top-ranked in Tunisia (#1 in EduRank) and around #9 in our CS list. It is also featured in US News (THE) as one of Tunisia’s best tech schools. Its research output in CS and IT is strong for the region.

Tuition is low: annual fees for nationals are typically under TND 2,000 (≈USD 700), while internationals pay more (a few thousand USD at most). The university has modern computer labs and often partners with industry. Sfax U.’s high African rank (#774 globally for CS) reflects its quality.

7. University of Ghana – Legon (Ghana)

The University of Ghana in Accra was founded in 1948. Its Department of Computer Science offers BSc and MSc degrees in CS, with English instruction. Legon is the top university in West Africa; it was ranked 5th in Sub-Saharan Africa by THE (2024).

It is the only Ghanaian entry in the Times’ top African schools. In global lists, UG is typically in the 600–800 band.

Tuition is moderate: for 2024/25 the UG BSc Science rate was about USD 4,882 per year for African nationals and USD 5,794 for non‑African students (about GHS 75,000 and GHS 89,700 respectively).

Despite these modest fees (and additional campus charges), UG maintains quality facilities (new CS labs, research centres) and growing computer science research, making it a leader in English-speaking Africa.

8. University of Nairobi (Kenya)

Established in 1956, the University of Nairobi is Kenya’s flagship public university. Its College of Computing and Informatics offers a BSc in Computer Science and IT (plus MSc/PhD). Instruction is in English.

Nairobi is Kenya’s top university and regularly appears in the global 800–1000 QS band. In THE Africa rankings, it is often listed among Kenya’s best. The university has a sizable CS research output in AI and software engineering.

Tuition is affordable: a UniPage report states that for 2025, Kenyan undergraduates pay about USD 1,105 per year (≈KES 145,000), while international fees may be similar or slightly higher.

This low fee level (plus living costs) makes UoN accessible, and it provides solid CS education with many English-speaking international students.

9. Makerere University (Uganda)

Makerere University in Kampala was founded in 1922. Its College of Computing offers Bachelor’s and postgraduate programs in Computer Science, Information Systems, and related fields, taught in English.

Makerere is Uganda’s top university and East Africa’s oldest; it ranks in THE’s global top 1000 (around #951–1000). For computer science, EduRank lists Makerere at #21 in Africa. The campus has growing computing facilities and participates in regional tech initiatives.

Tuition is very low: undergraduates pay about UGX 1,001,000 per semester for East African nationals (≈UGX 2,002,000/year), while international students pay around USD 883 per semester (≈USD 1,766/year).

Makerere combines affordable fees with broad English-medium CS programs, attracting students from the region.

10. University of Ibadan (Nigeria)

Founded in 1948, the University of Ibadan is Nigeria’s premier university. Its Faculty of Technology offers BSc Computer Science and related engineering degrees, plus MSc/PhD programs; instruction is in English.

Ibadan is ranked #1 in Nigeria and around #19 in Africa for computer science. It is well-regarded for research in AI, telecommunications, and network security. Ibadan also appears in THE’s Sub-Saharan ranking (often among Nigeria’s best).

Fees are low by global standards: for example, tuition might be on the order of a few hundred USD per year for local students (perhaps around ₦100,000–150,000; roughly USD 150–200).

These modest fees and a relatively low cost of living mean Ibadan offers an affordable CS education. Its high African ranking and long history make it a top choice in anglophone West Africa.