Before looking at the best universities of science and technology in Africa, it is important to realize that although Africa is yet to get there in terms of science and technology, the continent had been able to make some giant stride most especially with the efforts of private individuals and companies rather than the involvement of the government.
We have seen many young African inventors making names for themselves globally and many African made cars and other inventions. That stated, universities of science and technology in the continent have also been able to achieve a lot in the past years. It is on the basis of that that we compile the list of the best universities of science and technology in Africa based on the recent 41CU rankings.
According to the ranking, the best science and tech university in the world, which also happens to be the overall best university in 2018 is Massachusetts Institute of Technology which is followed by the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Here are the Best Universities of Science and Technology in Africa
1. Cape Peninsula University of Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 1
University Ranking in Africa: 16
General Global Ranking: 1414
Only established in 2005, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology came about after a merger of the Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon. It is located in Cape Town, South Africa and has a student population of over 35,000.
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs and it has 5 campuses, Bellville, Cape Town, Mowbray, Granger Bay, and Wellington campuses. It also has six faculties:
- Applied Sciences
- Business Management Sciences
- Education
- Engineering
- Health and Wellness Sciences
- Informatics and Design
For more information visit the University’s website here
2. Tshwane University of Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 2
University Ranking in Africa: 18
General Global Ranking: 1525
Another science and technology university in South Africa, Tshwane University of Technology is located in Gauteng and it was only established in 2003. It has a student population of close to 60 thousand students and it has as much as 6 satellite campuses: Nelspruit, Polokwane, Ga-Rankuwa, Witbank (eMalahleni), Pretoria and Soshanguve.
The institution has the following faculties:
- Economics and Finance
- Engineering and the Built Environment
- Humanities
- Information and Communication Technology
- Management Science
- Science
- The Arts
For more information visit the University’s website here
3. Durban University of Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 3
University Ranking in Africa: 21
General Global Ranking: 1588
Not only is Durban University of Technology one of the best universities of science and technology in Africa, it is also one of the most complete most especially when you look at all courses it offers. Located at KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the university was established in 2002 after a merger of ML Sultan and Technikon Natal.
It has a student population of more than 30 thousand across its seven campuses and it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. The institution has 15 institutions and centers as well as the following faculties:
- Faculty of Accounting & Informatics
- Faculty of Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Arts & Design
- Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Management Science
For more information visit the University’s website here
4. Namibia University of Science and Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 4
University Ranking in Africa: 28
General Global Ranking: 1966
Also known as NUST, this university was founded in 1980, but it was only in 2015 after going through various transformations that it became the Namibia University of Science and Technology after becoming a polytechnic in 1994. It is located Khomas Region, Namibia and it has a student population that is heading to go above 5000.
The University has the following faculties:
- Faculty of Computing and Informatics
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences
- Faculty of Human Sciences
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences
For more information visit the University’s website here
5. Central University of Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 5
University Ranking in Africa: 33
General Global Ranking: 2308
South Africa does not only have a fair share on the rank of the best universities of science and technology in Africa, it has indeed topped the ranking with more universities than any other country on the continent. One of such is the Central University of Technology which was founded in 1981, the institution has a population of over 12,500 students.
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as the following faculties:
- Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Management Sciences
For more information visit the University’s website here
6. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 6
University Ranking in Africa: 42
General Global Ranking: 2659
Just as you have guessed, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is a Ghanaian university that was established in 1951, with a population of 23,591 in 2011. The university has campuses in Sunyani and Accra.
Making giant strides in development, the university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs and it is open to both local and international students with a tuition fee od between 1,000 US$ to 5,000 US$ for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The university has the following colleges
- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Arts and Built Environment
- College of Engineering
- College of Science
For more information visit the University’s website here
7. Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport
African Science and Tech Ranking: 7
University Ranking in Africa: 53
General Global Ranking: 3265
Located in Egypt, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport was founded in in 2001 and it has grown to be one of the best universities in the country. It has five campuses in Alexandria, Cairo, PortaSaid, Aswan, and Smart Village.
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and it has the following colleges:
- Maritime Transport & Technology
- Engineering & Technology
- Management & Technology
- Computing & Information Technology
- Graduate School of Business
- International Transport & Logistics
- Language & Communication
- Fisheries Technology & Aquaculture
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Law
For more information visit the University’s website here
8. Universidade Técnica de Angola
African Science and Tech Ranking: 8
University Ranking in Africa: 51
General Global Ranking: 2953
Also referred to as the Technical University of Angola, this university which was founded in 2007 is located in Luanda, Angola. Now one of the best universities of science and technology in Africa, it has a population of close to 15000 students.
The university has the following faculties:
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
- Faculty of Management and Economics
For more information visit the University’s website here
9. Vaal University of Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 9
University Ranking in Africa: 55
General Global Ranking: 3297
Another South African University, the Vaal University of Technology is located at Gauteng and it began in 1966. The University has grown to have over 15,000 students and offer as much as 300 programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The institution has 4 campuses: Secunda, Kempton Park, Klerksdorp and Upington, and it also has the following faculties:
- Applied and Computer Science
- Engineering and Technology
- Humanities
- Management Sciences
For more information visit the University’s website here
10. Sudan University of Science and Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 10
University Ranking in Africa: 60
General Global Ranking: 3631
This university was founded in 1902 as the Khartoum Technical School and School of Commerce. It was, however, it was in 1990 that it became the Sudan University of Science and Technology. It is a big university with 10 campuses and 23 schools including:
- College of Graduate Studies
- College of Engineering Sciences (See also College of Engineering)
- College of Petroleum Engineering and Technology
- College of Medicine
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Medical Laboratory Sciences
- College of Medical Radiologic Sciences
- College of Science
- College of Agricultural Studies
- College of Veterinary Medicine
Offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, the university has over 72 thousand undergraduate students and 11,000 postgraduate students.
For more information visit the University’s website here
11. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
African Science and Tech Ranking: 11
University Ranking in Africa: 67
General Global Ranking: 4138
Popularly referred to as JKUAT, the university is located in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1994 and it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. It has over 20,000 students and it has seven campuses. The university has the following faculties:
- Faculty of Agriculture
- College of Pure and Applied Sciences
- College of Health Sciences
- School of Civil, Environmental and Geospatial Engineering
- School of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering
- School of Law (based at the Karen Campus)
- School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Materials Engineering
- Institute of Energy & Environment Technology
For more information visit the University’s website here
12. Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediène
African Science and Tech Ranking: 12
University Ranking in Africa: 67
General Global Ranking: 4412
Referred to as the University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene, this is a private university that was established in 1974. It is located in Algiers, Algeria and as at 2011, it was stated to have had a population of 25615 undergraduate and 2496 postgraduate students.
The university has eight faculties:
- Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Faculty of Chemistry
- Faculty of Physics
- Faculty of Civil Engineering
- Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science
- Faculty of Mathematics
- Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Planning
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering
For more information visit the University’s website here
13. Federal University of Technology, Akure
African Science and Tech Ranking: 13
University Ranking in Africa: 76
General Global Ranking: 4462
This happens to be the only Nigerian university to find its place among the 13 best African universities of science and technology. Located in Ondo state, Nigeria, FUTA, as it is known, was established in 1981 and it has grown to have over 15 thousand students.
See Also: 14 Best Universities of Science and Technology in Nigeria: 4icu Rankings 2018
Offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, the university has the following schools:
- School of Science (SOS)
- School of Earth and Mineral Sciences (SEMS)
- School of Environmental Technology (SET)
- School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET)
- School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology (SAAT)
- School of Management Technology (SMAT)
- School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS)
- School of Health and Health Technology (SHHT)
- School of Computing (SCOM)
For more information visit the University’s website here
