Africa is a vast continent with diverse cultures, landscapes, and higher education systems. The African Union has 55 member states.
African universities appear in global rankings. Students interested in studying law can compare universities by degree structure, postgraduate options, admissions requirements, language of instruction, tuition, and location.
Listed below are law faculties to consider. This is an editorial selection rather than a formal ranking. Several featured universities appear in the Times Higher Education Law 2026 subject ranking: the University of Cape Town at 101–125, the University of Pretoria at 126–150, Stellenbosch University at 151–175, and the University of the Witwatersrand at 201–250.
Top Law School in Africa
1. University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town‘s Faculty of Law offers undergraduate and postgraduate legal study. Its postgraduate portfolio includes postgraduate diplomas in law, LL.M. routes, MPhil routes, Ph.D. study, and the Doctor of Laws.
Prospective undergraduate students should consult UCT’s current undergraduate prospectus and Faculty of Law handbook for the available LL.B. routes and admissions details. Postgraduate applicants can use the university’s law postgraduate page to compare specializations and formats.
2. University of Pretoria
- Study Program
- Degree options highlighted: LL.B., LL.M., MPhil, LLD, and Ph.D.
The Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria offers undergraduate and postgraduate legal study. In the Times Higher Education Law 2026 subject ranking, the university is placed in the 126–150 band globally.
The University of Pretoria offers a four-year LL.B. Its 2026 undergraduate brochure also describes a route in which students first complete a three-year BA specializing in Law or BCom specializing in Law and then apply for the LL.B., which takes another two to three years.
At the postgraduate level, the faculty lists LL.M./MPhil and LLD/Ph.D. programs. It also offers a one-year, full-time LL.M. specializing in Corporate Law through coursework. Applicants should review the current program page before applying because admissions requirements and intake details can change.
3. Cairo University
- Study Program
- Study options highlighted: undergraduate and postgraduate law study, with Arabic, English, and French sections listed on the faculty website
The only faculty on this list outside South Africa is the Faculty of Law at Cairo University in Egypt. The university’s official Faculty of Law website lists Arabic, English, and French sections, as well as postgraduate study. Students considering Egypt can also review our guide to affordable universities in Egypt.
Applicants should consult the relevant section for the current admissions requirements and language expectations. The faculty website also publishes information about postgraduate study and master’s and doctoral theses.
4. Stellenbosch University
Another law faculty in South Africa is the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University. The faculty was established in 1921 and has a long history of legal education.
The faculty’s 2026 brochure lists a five-year BAccLLB, a three-year BA (Law), a three-year BCom (Law), and a four-year LL.B. as a first degree. The LL.B. can also be completed as a second degree: in two years by BA (Law) or BCom (Law) graduates, or in three years by graduates from other fields.
The postgraduate portfolio includes a two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law; one-year postgraduate diplomas in Intellectual Property Law and Public Procurement Policy and Regulation; LL.M. options by coursework or research; a professional LL.M. in Public Procurement Law; and the LLD.
5. University of Witwatersrand
- Study Program
- Degree options highlighted: BA with Law, BCom with Law, LL.B., PGDip in Law, LL.M., and Ph.D.
The University of the Witwatersrand School of Law is part of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the Times Higher Education Law 2026 subject ranking, Wits appears in the 201–250 band globally. Nelson Mandela studied law at Wits but did not complete his degree there; he completed his BA and LL.B. through the University of South Africa.
Wits lists undergraduate routes that include BA with Law, BCom with Law, and LL.B. study. Students who complete BA with Law or BCom with Law before the LL.B. can receive credit for law courses taken during their first degree and complete the LL.B. over two additional years.
At the postgraduate level, Wits states that the PGDip in Law and the LL.M. by coursework and research report can each be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time. It also lists research degrees as the Ph.D. in Law and the LL.M. by dissertation.
6. Enugu State University of Science and Technology
- Study Program | Tuition Fees | Scholarships: no verified listing
- Degree/s offered in Law: Bachelor’s; master’s and doctoral awards documented, current intake unconfirmed
Enugu State University of Science and Technology offers legal education through its Faculty of Law in Agbani, Enugu State, Nigeria. Its academic departments cover areas including public law, business law, and international law and jurisprudence. The business law department identifies company law, commercial law, banking and insurance law, and intellectual property law among its teaching areas.
The university offers the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), which appears in its official fee schedule. Its School of Professional and Legal Education also describes a Diploma in Law pathway whose graduates may apply through JAMB Direct Entry for a four-year LLB program. This duration applies specifically to that entry route. The ESUT Law Clinic provides another practical dimension, with trained law students delivering legal guidance under faculty supervision.
Official university publications document graduates who earned an LLM and a PhD in Law at ESUT. However, the accessible postgraduate program directory did not clearly establish the current law intake, available specializations, or normal completion periods. These awards should therefore be distinguished from a confirmed list of programs currently accepting applicants.
What Current Students / Alumni of Enugu State University of Science and Technology Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Law Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Odinaka Akpamgbo
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) | Odinaka describes learning to apply common-law principles during his LLB, alongside developing competitive thinking and a sense of responsibility. | He served as President of the Law Clinic and Vice-President of the Law Students’ Association. |
7. Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University is located in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Its Faculty of Law began in 1962 as one of the university’s foundation faculties. The faculty organizes legal teaching and research through four departments: Business Law, International Law, Jurisprudence and Private Law, and Public Law, providing several academic perspectives on legal institutions and practice.
Undergraduate legal education leads to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB). The university’s undergraduate admissions directory lists Law separately and provides requirements for both standard admission and Direct Entry applicants. Faculty teaching includes subjects such as international human rights law, banking law, and international trade and investment law. These are components of legal education rather than separate undergraduate degrees.
The postgraduate application system lists an LLM, an MPhil, and a PhD under Law. Faculty information also identifies postgraduate teaching in international humanitarian law, boundaries and immigration law, and consular and diplomatic law, alongside thesis supervision. The Postgraduate College describes financial assistance that includes fellowships and doctoral research grants, although this general information does not establish a funding entitlement for every law student.
What Current Students / Alumni of Obafemi Awolowo University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Law Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Busayo Caleb Afolabi
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
2013–2018 | Busayo reports that his university education, including his LLB, was conducted entirely in English. | He served as Student Chambers President of Magna Curia Chambers within the Faculty of Law. |
8. Wollo University
Wollo University provides legal education through its School of Law in Dessie, Amhara, Ethiopia. The school’s official overview identifies education, research, legal aid, and moot court as its main program areas. Its activities include clinical legal education, free legal assistance, seminars, panel discussions, and debates addressing legal and public-policy issues.
The undergraduate offering is an LLB in Law. The school describes regular education and continuing summer programs, with extension education also included in its mission. Practical learning includes legal-aid activities and moot court participation. The university reports participation in competitions addressing international law, human rights, humanitarian law, media law, and World Trade Organization law, giving students opportunities to develop legal argument and advocacy skills.
At the graduate level, the official program list names an LLM in Business Law and an LLM in Constitutional Law. These provide distinct postgraduate pathways within commercial and public-law fields. The school page does not specify their normal durations or credit requirements, and it does not list a law doctorate. Accordingly, the verified degree range is undergraduate and master’s study, with doctoral availability left unconfirmed.
What Current Students / Alumni of Wollo University Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Law Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Tarikawit Fikadu
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) | Tarikawit describes developing analytical thinking and legal reasoning during her LL.B. She reports that her law degree was taught in English. | — |
Africa has a range of law faculties and legal study options. The institutions featured above include the University of Cape Town, the University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, the University of the Witwatersrand, and Cairo University. Students should review current admissions details, fees, and program formats on each university’s official website before applying. If you’re interested in studying law in South Africa, check out our list of the best law universities in South Africa and start your journey toward a fulfilling legal career.
We hope that this article on Best Law Universities in Africa was helpful. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
