The worst under service any government in the world can give to its citizens is to underdevelop its universities, because tertiary institutions play a vital role in supporting the development of human capital.
By providing quality education and training, they equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge needed in the job market. This enhances employment opportunities and contributes to the overall economic growth of the country.
Little wonder Nelson Mandela, a former president of South Africa once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.”
Unfortunately, many African leaders choose not to invest in education and develop their citizenry, while wasting public funds on ostentatious living at the detriment of human capital development.
Here are the top 10 African universities rated in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
University of Cape Town, South Africa
The University of Cape Town in South Africa is a public research university established in 1829 as the South African College.
It was granted full university status in 1918, making it the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest university in Sub-Saharan Africa in continuous operation.
The university is ranked 171 in QS World University Rankings 2025, and number one in Africa.
University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa.
The university has its roots in the mining industry, as do Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand in general. It is ranked 267 in QS World University Rankings 2025, and second in the African continent.
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
The university is a multi-disciplinary school with a Wineland backdrop specialises in the study of AgriScience. Stellenbosch University in South Africa was founded on April 2, 1918. It is ranked 296 in QS World University Rankings 2025, and third in Africa.
Read also: Nigerian universities missing in 2025 top 1000 global universities ranking
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant, multicultural, and dynamic institution that shares the pace and energy of cosmopolitan Johannesburg, the city whose name it carries.
The university is alive down to its African roots, and well-prepared for its role in actualising the potential that higher education holds for the continent’s development.
It is ranked 312 in the recent QS World University Rankings 2025.
Cairo University-Giza, Egypt
The Cairo University –Giza, Egypt was founded on December 21, 1908, after being housed in various parts of Cairo. The university’s faculties, beginning with the Faculty of Arts, were established on its current main campus in Giza in October 1929.
The institution is the highest Egyptian higher institution ranked in QS World University Rankings 2025. It is ranked 350 in the world and fifth in Africa.
University of Pretoria, South Africa
The University of Pretoria (UP) is one of Africa’s top universities and the largest contact university in South Africa. The institution is known for offering socially impactful research to find solutions for the world’s most pressing issues.
The University of Pretoria has a high quality of teaching and learning in the classroom, online, or in communities. The university is ranked 354 in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
The American University in Cairo-Egypt
The American University in Cairo (AUC) in Egypt is a regional leading U.S.-accredited liberal arts institution. The university empowers its students to think creatively across disciplines in pursuit of world-changing ideas.
The university has a special place in connecting students to the real world, providing an ecosystem for innovation and serving the future of work, among others. It is ranked 410 in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
University of Kwazulu-Natal-Pinetown, South Africa
The University of KwaZulu-Natal is a university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.
It was founded on January 1, 2004, after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The university is one of the leading institutions of higher learning on the African continent and it is ranked 587 in the world.
Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt
Ain Shams University is a public university located in Cairo, Egypt. It was founded on July 1, 1950, and the university provides education at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. It is ranked 592 in the QS World University Rankings 2025.
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
The Addis Ababa University (AAU) is a national university located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the oldest university in Ethiopia. The university though the only tertiary institution in the country is rated 10th in Africa according to the QS World University Rankings 2025, and in the world, it is ranked in the 771-780 group.
The university has 13 campuses, of which 12 of these annexes are situated in Addis Ababa, and one is located in Bishoftu, about 45 kilometres away from the country’s capital.
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