Best universities in Sub-Saharan Africa
Explore the best universities in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa according to Times Higher Education data
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The best universities in Sub-Saharan Africa: top five
| SSA University Rank 2023 | University | Country |
| 1 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa |
| 2 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa |
| 3 | Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences | Tanzania |
| 4 | University of Pretoria | South Africa |
| 5 | Makerere University | Uganda |
The University of the Witwatersrand takes first place in the first ever Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings.
The new ranking aims to shine a spotlight on the higher education institutions in this African region and to address local higher education challenges.
The top five is made up of universities from South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
The ranking includes 88 institutions from 20 countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Mauritius, Kenya and Mozambique.
The ranking was put together with a hybrid methodology that covers elements of teaching, impact and research. The methodology is made up of five key pillars: resources and finance; access and fairness; teaching skills; student engagement and Africa impact.
A key part of the data collection was a survey of more than 20,000 students from 88 institutions. Students were asked a range of questions including how challenged they felt by the teaching at the university, how much it supported critical thinking and the opportunities they had to interact with staff and peers.
Top five universities in Sub-Saharan Africa
1. University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
The University of the Witwatersrand, commonly known as “Wits”, is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The university has five faculties encompassing the sciences; commerce, law and management; engineering; health sciences; and humanities.
There are a range of student clubs available at the university including the Wits Model United Nations, the Investment Society, the Music Society and Poets Corner.
Famous alumni include Nelson Mandela, who studied law there and became president of South Africa and the 1993 Nobel laureate for peace, novelist Nadine Gordimer (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1991), Aaron Klug (Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1982) and Sydney Brenner (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2002).
2. University of Johannesburg, South Africa
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is the second South African university to feature in the top five of the SSA ranking.
The university has four campuses, each with its own unique identity and history.
UJ has eight colleges and faculties – business and economics; art, design and architecture; education; engineering and the built environment; health sciences; humanities; law and science. There is also the Johannesburg Business School.
There is a range of student services including psychological services, disability services, career services and internships.
3. Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences is a public university in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The university focuses on teaching and research in medicine, dentistry, public health, nursing and allied health.
The university has two campuses, one in Upanga West, in the coastal city of Dar es Salaam, and another 31km west of Muhimbili hospital, which has a 571-bed teaching hospital.
4. University of Pretoria, South Africa
The University of Pretoria was founded in 1908 with just four professors and 32 students. It has now expanded to become one of the largest research universities in South Africa.
There are nine faculties encompassing economics and management sciences; education; engineering, built environment and information technology; health sciences; humanities; law; natural and agricultural sciences; theology and religion and veterinary science. There is also the Gordon Institute of Business.
There is lots for students to do on campus, such as visiting the many museums and galleries, playing sports, joining a society or taking part in the many cultural events that are organised throughout the year.
5. Makerere University, Uganda
Makerere University was established in 1922 and is the oldest university in Uganda.
It began as a technical school offering courses in carpentry, building and mechanics and has since expanded to offer courses in agricultural sciences, business and management sciences, computing and information sciences, education, engineering, design art, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences and law.
The university is spread over three campuses in the country’s capital of Kampala.
