Africa has become a hub of innovation and technological advancement, with its universities playing a vital role in producing highly skilled engineers. From the vibrant cities of South Africa to the historic institutions of Egypt and the growing technical centres in other parts of the continent, engineering education in Africa is gaining global recognition. This article highlights the top 10 best universities in Africa for engineering, based on a comprehensive evaluation of several key factors.

The selection criteria include the quality of tuition, modernity and accessibility of facilities, affordability of tuition fees, and international rankings such as Times Higher Education and Edurank. Consideration was also given to the variety and depth of engineering disciplines offered — including civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, computer, mining, and industrial engineering — as well as the availability of both undergraduate (e.g. BEng, BSc) and postgraduate programs (e.g. MSc, MEng, PhD). Language of instruction (English or French), research output, and support for international students were also critical in the final rankings.

Below are the top 10 best engineering universities in Africa:

1. Cairo University
2. University of Cape Town
3. University of the Witwatersrand
4. Stellenbosch University
5. University of Pretoria
6. Ain Shams University
7. University of KwaZulu-Natal
8. Alexandria University
9. Mansoura University
10. University of Johannesburg

1. Cairo University (Egypt)

Cairo University is Egypt’s oldest modern university, founded in 1908 (originally as the Egyptian University). Its main campus is in Giza (Greater Cairo).

The university has a large Faculty of Engineering offering undergraduate and graduate programs in civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, chemical, architectural, computer, and other engineering disciplines. Instruction is primarily in Arabic (though many engineering textbooks and some advanced courses use English).

Cairo University is ranked among the top engineering schools in Africa. It has been listed as Africa’s highest-ranked engineering university, reflecting strong departments in civil, computer, and other fields. In global subject rankings, it is ranked among the top 500 universities worldwide (Edurank places it #426 worldwide).

It earned this status due to a long tradition of excellence, a very large student body, and high research output (numerous publications and partnerships in engineering fields). The campus has extensive laboratories and facilities for engineering studies.

Tuition is very low for Egyptian nationals: approximately EGP 10,000 per year (around USD 320) at the Faculty of Engineering. International students generally pay higher fees (on the order of several thousand USD per year, depending on the program).

2. University of Cape Town (South Africa)

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is South Africa’s oldest university (founded 1829) and is located in Cape Town.

UCT has a large Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment offering degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, industrial, mechatronics, computer science, architecture, and other engineering fields at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. All instruction is in English, making it accessible to international students.

UCT is consistently rated Africa’s top university overall. In the Times Higher Education Africa rankings, it is tied for #1, and its global rank is about 180. It also scores highly in engineering-specific rankings. It earned this rank thanks to world-class research centres (e.g. in sustainable energy, robotics, structural engineering), award-winning faculty, and modern labs.

UCT has strong ties with industry and offers many research projects and internships. About 18% of its students are international, reflecting strong support services and English instruction.

Tuition at UCT varies by program. For example, undergraduate engineering tuition is on the order of 30,000–50,000 ZAR per year (roughly USD 2,000–3,000) for South African students, with higher fees for international students. (For instance, UCT’s baseline was about ZAR 28,000 (~USD 1,750) for a typical undergraduate year.) Many scholarships are also available for African and international students.

3. University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa)

The University of the Witwatersrand, known as Wits (Johannesburg), originated in 1896 as a mining school and became a full university in 1922. Located in Johannesburg, it has a Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment with schools of civil, mechanical/aeronautical, electrical/electronic, chemical/metallurgical, industrial, mining, and construction studies, among others. The medium of instruction is English.

Wits ranks among the very top African universities (Times Higher Education puts it tied for Africa #2 and around the world #301–350). This is due to its strong research output (it produced multiple Nobel Laureates in sciences and abundant engineering publications), its history as a leading technical university (especially in mining engineering), and modern facilities like the iThemba LABS cyclotron for materials research. Its deep industry connections and high postgraduate enrollment also enhance its standing.

Because South African universities are highly subsidised, Wits’ tuition is relatively low. Wits charges about USD 158 per year for tuition (same for locals and foreigners). Even adding living costs, this makes Wits an affordable option by international standards. (If interpreted in rand, R3,000/year is very low for locals, reflecting government subsidies.)

4. Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

Stellenbosch University, founded in 1918 (with roots back to 1866), is in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. It is the oldest university in South Africa after UCT, and is highly regarded.

It has a Faculty of Engineering with programs in civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, industrial, chemical, mechatronics, and related fields. Courses are offered in both English and Afrikaans (Afrikaans historically, but many programs are now fully in English).

Stellenbosch is tied for Africa #2 (Times rank ~300–350 globally). It earned this rank by strong research (e.g. in water resources, energy, and materials), high-quality faculty, and good facilities (computer labs, engineering workshops, etc.). Stellenbosch is also known for innovation – it even built Africa’s first satellite (SUNSAT in 1999).

Tuition for South African students is approximately ZAR 78,000 per year for a first-year engineering degree (around USD 4,300). International students pay more (often 2–3 times the domestic rate), but still receive the benefits of Stellenbosch’s research-active environment.

5. University of Pretoria (South Africa)

The University of Pretoria was established in 1908 (as a campus of Transvaal University College) and is located in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital. It comprises several campuses, but the main engineering faculties (Engineering, Built Environment, and IT) are based on the Hatfield campus.

Pretoria’s Faculty of Engineering offers degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, electronic, computer, metallurgical, materials, industrial, and mining engineering, among others. Instruction is primarily in English (the university has a bilingual heritage with Afrikaans).

Pretoria ranks among the top five engineering universities in South Africa (Edurank lists it as #4 in SA and #546 globally). Its high rank is due to very high research output (Pretoria produces more master’s and doctoral graduates than any other SA university and leads in research output units). It also has modern labs and industry collaboration (e.g. its Gordon Institute of Business Science is noted globally for management of technology).

Annual tuition for a South African engineering student is roughly ZAR 60,000–70,000 (about USD 3,300–3,800). For example, a first-year civil engineering student pays around ZAR 60,000 (~USD 3,300). Tuition for international students is higher but still relatively moderate compared to many Western universities.

6. Ain Shams University (Egypt)

Ain Shams University in Cairo is a major public university founded in 1950 (its roots trace to older institutions). It is Egypt’s third-oldest public university and has campuses in Greater Cairo.

Ain Shams has a Faculty of Engineering offering undergraduate and graduate programs in traditional fields: civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, chemical, architectural, and computer engineering, plus newer areas like industrial and biomedical engineering. The main language of instruction is Arabic.

In subject rankings, Ain Shams is among Egypt’s top institutions: Edurank places it #2 in Egypt for engineering and around #564 globally. QS subject surveys also recognise its programs. Its strong showing is due to a large faculty and student body (over 220,000 students), significant research (Egyptian engineering publications and patents), and partnership programs. The university’s location in Cairo means students have access to many internships and research collaborations.

Tuition at Ain Shams is very affordable: roughly EGP 10,000 per year (about USD 320), similar to other Egyptian public universities. International student fees are higher (often several thousand USD per year), but still lower than Western counterparts.

7. University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a multi-campus public university formed in 2004 by merging the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. It has five campuses (Durban’s Westville is the main engineering campus, plus Pietermaritzburg and others).

UKZN’s engineering programs (often under the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science) include civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, mining, and environmental engineering. English is the language of instruction.

UKZN is ranked among Africa’s top engineering schools: Edurank lists it #580 globally (Times rank ~501–600). It has achieved this through a large research footprint (hundreds of engineering research articles annually), a diverse student body, and facilities like the new Engineering 4 Development Institute.

The merger gave UKZN expanded capacity and expertise. It also supports many international students (including other African countries) with student services and scholarships.

Tuition at UKZN for locals is quite low. For 2025, registration fees for South African students were around R5,950 per semester for tuition only (about R12,000 per year, roughly USD 650). International students pay full fees, which are on the order of tens of thousands of rand (several thousand USD) per year.

8. Alexandria University (Egypt)

Alexandria University, established in 1938 (as a branch of Cairo University) and independent since 1942, is a leading institution in Alexandria, Egypt. It is the country’s second-largest university after Cairo University.

Alexandria has 21 faculties, including a Faculty of Engineering. The engineering faculty offers degrees in civil, mechanical, electrical, computer, environmental, and other fields. Instruction is in Arabic (English used for technical materials).

Alexandria University consistently ranks among Africa’s best for engineering (Edurank #8 Africa, world #635). It benefits from being one of Egypt’s largest research hubs, with extensive lab facilities (including a coastal engineering lab and computing centres). Its city location means strong industry ties (shipping, petrochemicals, manufacturing). The university’s large alumni network and government research grants also boost its reputation.

Tuition costs are low for Egyptians: about EGP 10,000 per year (USD ~$320), comparable to other public Egyptian universities. International students generally pay higher tuition (on the order of a few thousand USD per year).

9. Mansoura University (Egypt)

Mansoura University, founded in 1972, is located in Mansoura city in the Nile Delta. It is one of Egypt’s biggest universities. It has a Faculty of Engineering offering programs in civil, mechanical, electrical/electronic, computer, architectural, and other engineering disciplines. The language of instruction is Arabic.

In recent rankings, Mansoura is among the top engineering schools in Egypt (Edurank #9 in Africa, world #668). It is noted for its strong healthcare and engineering research (the university also runs a large medical centre). Mansoura’s College of Engineering has modern facilities and research labs focusing on renewable energy, materials, and software. The university also plays a key role in the development of the Nile Delta region, collaborating on water and infrastructure projects.

Local tuition is inexpensive, around EGP 10,000 per year (~USD 320) for an undergraduate engineering student, similar to other Egyptian public universities. International students can expect to pay higher fees (a few thousand USD annually).

10. University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) was formed in 2005 by merging Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand, and parts of Vista University. UJ has multiple campuses in Johannesburg, including the main Auckland Park campus. Its Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment offers bachelor’s and master’s programs in aircraft maintenance, chemical, civil, electrical/electronic, mechanical, mining, and industrial engineering. Instruction is predominantly in English (it absorbed an Afrikaans-language university but now operates mainly in English).

UJ ranks highly in Africa (Times HE lists it tied for Africa #4 and global rank ~401–500). Edurank places it #10 in Africa (world #701). Its high profile comes from its large size (over 50,000 students) and comprehensive offerings. UJ emphasises research in areas like alternative energy and materials engineering, and it has special centres (e.g. a Laser Research Centre). It also has a large international student population (over 80 countries) and an active engineering research community.

Tuition at UJ is in line with other South African universities. Undergraduate fees are typically in the range of ZAR 30,000–50,000 per year (roughly USD 2,000–3,000) for domestic students; international rates are higher. (For example, a first-year Bachelor of Engineering could cost on the order of ZAR 35,000–40,000, depending on course load.) The university offers financial aid and bursaries to help offset costs.

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