17 African universities are among the best universities in the world. According to the QS World University Ranking 2018, Africa can look forward to being world-renowned in terms of knowledge.
Every year since 2000, QS World University Ranking publishes a list of the 1000 best universities in the world.
Dominated by American, European and Asian universities, 17 African universities are in the top 50 of the world rankings.
With first and second place Egypt and South Africa. According to the ranking, these universities are considered the best of African academic excellence.
The selection criteria are the perception of the establishment by the employers, the number of students per teacher or the number of teachers holding a doctorate.
The top 17 African universities listed in the world ranking of the best universities.
| 200 | 1 | University of Cape Town | public | South Africa |
| 381 | 2 | University of the Witwatersrand | public | South Africa |
| 405 | 3 | University of Stellenbosch | public | South Africa |
| 420 | 4 | American University of Cairo | private | Egypt |
| 521-530 | 5 | Cairo University | public | Egypt |
| 551-560 | 6 | University of Johannesburg | public | South Africa |
| 561-570 | 7 | University of Pretoria | public | South Africa |
| 701-750 | 8 | Ain Shams University | public | Egypt |
| 751-800 | 9 | University of Kwazulu-Natal | public | South Africa |
| 801-1000 | 10 | Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane | private | Morocco |
| 801-1000 | 11 | Al Azhar University | public | Egypt |
| 801-1000 | 12 | University of Alexandria | public | Egypt |
| 801-1000 | 13 | Assisu University | ||
| 801-1000 | 14 | Northwestern University | public | South Africa |
| 801-1000 | 15 | Rhodes University | public | South Africa |
| 801-1000 | 16 | University of Nairobi | public | Kenya |
| 801-1000 | 17 | University of Western Cape | public | South Africa |
