This article reviews Africa’s best universities for international students, selected based on academic excellence, quality of education, campus facilities, affordability, vibrant extracurricular life, global and African rankings, and support services for foreign students.
Many of Africa’s best institutions score highly in global rankings and draw diverse student bodies. For example, QS reports that over 40 African universities are featured in its World Rankings (mostly in Egypt and South Africa), and Times Higher Education notes that the University of Cape Town alone hosts about 18% international students. Our list highlights universities from various regions and includes tuition and contact details for each.
Top 10 Universities in Africa for International Students:
- University of Cape Town (South Africa)
- Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
- University of the Witwatersrand – Wits (South Africa)
- Cairo University (Egypt)
- American University in Cairo (Egypt)
- University of Nairobi (Kenya)
- Makerere University (Uganda)
- University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
- University of Ghana (Ghana)
- University of Pretoria (South Africa)
1. University of Cape Town (South Africa)
Founded in 1829, the University of Cape Town is the oldest university in South Africa and the second-oldest in Africa. Its main campus lies at the foot of iconic Table Mountain in Cape Town, offering beautiful surroundings for study.
UCT is a research-intensive institution with a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across faculties such as Commerce, Law, Engineering, Science, Health Sciences, and Humanities. The university is consistently top-ranked: Times Higher Education ranks UCT in the #1 position in Africa, and QS ranks it within the world’s top 200.
UCT earns its rank through strong research output, high academic quality, and extensive international connections. It provides modern libraries, labs, and active student clubs.
Tuition is relatively affordable by international standards; for example, Bachelor of Arts tuition starts around ZAR 56,000 per year (roughly USD 3,000).
Contact: Tel +27 21 650 9111.
2. Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
Stellenbosch University was established in 1918 and is located about 50km from Cape Town in the historic town of Stellenbosch. Today, it has four campuses with about 150 departments in ten faculties.
Stellenbosch offers diverse programs in Engineering, Agriculture, Business, Medicine, the Arts and more, taught in English and Afrikaans. The university excels in research and is tied for second-best in Africa in THE’s 2025 ranking. In the QS 2025 rankings, it is listed among the top 500 universities in the world. It is particularly strong in research, with high citation scores and international collaboration. The university’s performance in health sciences, agriculture, and engineering contributes to its global visibility.
Stellenbosch also has many cultural and sporting clubs for international students. Its modern facilities include well-equipped labs, libraries, and student residences.
Annual tuition for first-year undergraduates typically ranges from ZAR 44,000 to 87,000 (about USD 2,400–4,700).
Contact: Tel +27 21 808 9111.
3. University of the Witwatersrand – Wits (South Africa)
Commonly known as Wits University, it traces its roots to 1896 as a mining school in Kimberley, becoming a full university by 1922.
Wits is located in Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, and has a multi-campus urban footprint. It enrols over 40,000 students in five main faculties (Commerce/Law, Engineering, Health Sciences, Science and Humanities).
Wits is Africa’s other tied #2 in THE’s 2025 ranking, reflecting its strong research and reputation. It is known for high-quality science and medical programs, and for student life centred around its historic sandstone campus. About 20% of Wits students live on campus, including an “International House” residence, showing support for foreign students.
Estimated international tuition is on the order of a few thousand dollars per year. (For example, a year’s tuition might be roughly USD 3,000–6,000, though exact fees depend on the program.)
Contact: Tel +27 11 717 1000.
4. Cairo University (Egypt)
Cairo University, founded in 1908 (originally the Egyptian University), is one of Egypt’s oldest and largest public universities. Its main campus is in Giza, on the west bank of the Nile in the Cairo metropolitan area.
Cairo University offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs across faculties like Arts, Science, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, and Economics. It has an especially strong reputation in fields such as medicine, engineering, and agriculture.
Internationally, Cairo U is well-known in Africa and the Middle East; many courses in science and medicine are offered in English for foreign students. The university provides some dormitories for foreigners and many support services to help newcomers adapt.
Cairo University ranks within the top 10 in Africa according to THE Africa rankings and is placed in the 801–1000 band globally. It is consistently among the top-ranked universities in Egypt. While it has a lower global rank due to citation impact and international outlook scores, its strong local reputation, size, and alumni network keep it at the forefront of African academia.
Tuition for international students varies by faculty: roughly USD 2,500–8,000 per year, depending on the field (approximately EGP 90,000–250,000).
Contact: Tel +20 2 3567 4835.
5. American University in Cairo (AUC) (Egypt)
AUC is a private, American-accredited university established in 1919 in downtown Cairo. It now has a large modern campus in New Cairo and a historic city campus near Tahrir Square. AUC offers over 35 undergraduate majors and dozens of graduate degrees, focused on liberal arts, business, sciences, engineering, and the humanities – all taught in English.
It is notable for its rigorous Western-style curriculum and extensive research centres. QS notes that AUC boasts Egypt’s largest English-language library, reflecting its commitment to international standards. Its alumni include many leaders in government and industry.
The university provides advising and orientation for international students and has an active campus life with student clubs from around the world.
The American University in Cairo (AUC) is Egypt’s top private university and ranks among Africa’s top 10 in most international league tables. In the QS World University Rankings 2025, AUC is placed in the 721–730 range globally. It performs exceptionally in faculty-student ratio, internationalisation, and employer reputation, which bolsters its position as one of the continent’s most internationally oriented institutions.
Tuition at AUC is high by African standards: a full-time undergraduate load can cost about USD 35,000 per year (roughly EGP 1,000,000).
Contact: Tel +20 2 2615 1000.
6. University of Nairobi (Kenya)
Founded in 1970 (evolving from earlier colleges), the University of Nairobi is Kenya’s largest public university. It is based in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, with multiple colleges (Arts & Social Sciences, Science & Technology, Engineering, Health Sciences, Agriculture, etc.).
The University of Nairobi has a strong regional reputation and research output. According to UniPage, it is ranked within the world’s top 950 universities and enrols around 27,000 students. Its campus life is cosmopolitan, and English is the medium of instruction.
The University of Nairobi ranks among the top 20 universities in Africa, and in global terms, it often appears in the 1001+ range in both THE and QS rankings. It is one of the most respected institutions in East Africa with strong performance in regional research, particularly in agriculture and public health.
Tuition fees are modest; international students pay roughly USD 600–1,200 per year. (KES 80,000–150,000 per year.)
Contact: Tel +254 20 491 0000.
7. Makerere University (Uganda)
Makerere University in Kampala is Uganda’s oldest and largest university. It started in 1922 as a technical school and became an independent national university in 1970.
Makerere has nine colleges and one business school, offering programs in Natural Sciences, Health Sciences, Engineering, Humanities, Education, Agriculture, Business, and Veterinary Medicine. The campus is urban in Kampala and known for its historic main building and vibrant student activism.
Makerere is consistently ranked among East Africa’s top schools and now hosts over 30,000 students (with nearly 3,000 international students). It supports foreign students with campus housing and international student services.
Makerere University is widely regarded as the top university in East Africa and ranks within Africa’s top 20. It has appeared in the 801–1000 bracket globally in past QS and THE rankings, and although its global ranking has been inconsistent, it is highly respected for its public health, agricultural, and development research output, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tuition is very affordable – on the order of hundreds of USD per year. For example, undergraduate tuition starts at about USD 360 per year for Ugandans and USD 540 for non-African foreigners (roughly UGX 1.3–2.0 million).
Contact: Tel +256 414 542 803.
8. University of Ibadan (Nigeria)
The University of Ibadan (UI) in Oyo State is Nigeria’s oldest degree-granting university. Established in 1948 as a University College affiliated with London, it became independent in 1962.
UI now has 16 faculties (e.g. Arts, Sciences, Medicine, Law, Agriculture, Technology) across a large suburban campus. It has made significant contributions to Nigeria’s development and is highly regarded nationally.
Ui’s alumni include presidents and prominent figures. Internationally, UI appears in global rankings and attracts students from West Africa.
The University of Ibadan is ranked as Nigeria’s top university and consistently features in the top 15 universities in Africa. Globally, it falls into the 1001+ range in THE rankings. Despite its modest global placement, UI is well-regarded in West Africa for its research contributions, especially in the humanities, education, and medicine.
Tuition in Nigerian public universities is very low by international comparison. For 2024/25, undergraduate fees range roughly ₦34,300–36,800 per year (about USD 40–45) and postgraduate programs up to ₦120,000 (about USD 140).
Contact: Tel +234 2 810 1100.
9. University of Ghana (Ghana)
The University of Ghana in Legon, Accra, is Ghana’s premier university. Founded in 1948, it grew from an affiliate of the University of London to an independent national university. The university serves both Ghanaian and international students (English is the medium).
Ghana’s flagship university has several colleges (Basic & Applied Sciences, Education, Humanities, Health Sciences, etc.) and a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs. It is known for research centres, such as the Pan-African Institute for Development, and active student clubs.
The University of Ghana is ranked among the top 20 universities in Africa, particularly strong in the West African region. In global terms, it appears in the 1001–1200 band in QS rankings. Its growing research capabilities and partnerships with international institutions are gradually improving its global standing.
Tuition varies by program; as an example, the business school’s international MBA costs about USD 7,400 per year (for African students) – non-African students pay about USD 9,100. For international students enrolling under Schedule A (Non-Degree & Undergraduate) programs in Science, Agriculture, Applied Science, and Veterinary fields, the tuition fees vary based on nationality and academic level. African nationals entering as freshmen (100 level) pay USD 4,882.00, while non-African nationals at the same level pay USD 5,794.00. For continuing students at 200, 300, or 400 levels, African nationals are charged USD 4,812.00, and non-African nationals pay USD 5,724.00. In more specialised programs, African nationals pay USD 6,406.00 at the 100 level and USD 6,336.00 at higher levels, while non-African nationals pay USD 8,203.00 and USD 8,133.00, respectively.
Contact: Tel +233 30 221 3820.
10. University of Pretoria (South Africa)
The University of Pretoria (UP) was established in 1908 and is one of South Africa’s leading research universities. It has grown from 32 students to over 50,000 and operates multiple campuses in Pretoria, the country’s administrative capital.
UP offers nine faculties (e.g. Law, Engineering, Humanities, Health Sciences, Veterinary, etc.) plus the well-known Gordon Institute of Business Science. The university is noted for strong graduate and professional programs.
UP consistently ranks high in African league tables and is known for its graduate employability. The university provides an international office, scholarships for foreign students, and modern facilities, including extensive campuses and student housing.
The University of Pretoria (UP) ranks in the top 5 in Africa, placed in the 401–500 band globally by THE 2025. It is also listed in the top 500 in QS rankings. UP performs well in research productivity, international collaboration, and industry engagement, contributing to its high ranking both continentally and internationally.
According to a student guide, international undergraduate tuition at UP is roughly USD 5,262 per year (about ZAR 90,000).
Contact: Tel +27 12 420 3111.
