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Studying in Uganda
In short: Visa fee: USD 100 for the Student Pass; East African nationals pay nothing. Work while you study: Not allowed, paid or voluntary. Stay after you graduate: No post-study visa found. 55 universities, colleges and schools listed, with the subjects they teach.
Find a place to study
Universities and colleges in Uganda
55 places to study, 46 of them universities. Search by name, or start with your subject.
University · Wakiso
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University · Kagadi
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University · Lira
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University · Kibingo
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University · Kampala, Luweero
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- Work after study
- No route
From the official sources in the guide below, checked 7 November 2026. See it in your currency
By subject
Study a subject in Uganda
Choose a field to see the universities and colleges here recorded as teaching it.
Business and management
2 placesEngineering
2 placesMedicine and health
1 placeNursing and midwifery
1 placeLaw
1 placeAgriculture and environment
1 placeOnly subjects that our official course data shows for Uganda are listed. For anything else, open a university and check the course list on its website.
The practical part
Studying in Uganda: costs, visa and work rights
Checked against official sources on 7 November 2026. Every figure below says where it came from.
Visa fee
USD 100 for the Student Pass; East African nationals pay nothing
A standard fee for whatever period is granted, paid when you apply.
Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control: Student Pass, source re-checked 8 November 2026
Work while you study
Not allowed, paid or voluntary
The Student Pass does not allow gainful or voluntary employment.
Uganda Permanent Mission in Geneva: Student Pass, source re-checked 8 November 2026
Visa length
Granted for 3, 6 or 12 months, then renewed
The pass is sponsored by your school, whose organisation code is required.
Uganda Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control: Student Pass, source re-checked 8 November 2026
Stay after you graduate
No post-study visa found
The Student Pass ends with your studies; working needs a work permit.
Uganda Permanent Mission in Geneva: Student Pass, source re-checked 8 November 2026
We re-read these official pages on a rolling basis. When one changes, the new figure is checked by a person before it appears here.
What a year costs
Tuition. Each university publishes its own fee structure, and international (non-East African) students usually pay more than Ugandans. Makerere charges international applicants an application fee of USD 75; its course fees are in the admissions advert for each year. Ask your university for its current schedule.
Student Pass fee. USD 100, a standard fee for whatever period is granted. East African nationals pay nothing, but must still get the pass.
Living costs. No official monthly student budget is published. Kampala costs more than other university towns; hostels near campus are the usual choice.
The Student Pass
Your school sponsors the pass, and its organisation code is required. The Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control lists:
- your admission letter and a support letter from the school
- proof of fee payment and a valid student ID
- a copy of your passport's data page (valid at least six months) and a recent photo
- your current immigration status (visa or previous pass)
- for postgraduates: certified copies of earlier qualifications; for research students: a recommendation from the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology
- for under-18s: a parent's or guardian's status and ID, or a consent letter to the resident guardian
Passes are granted for 3, 6 or 12 months and renewed.
Working while you study
Not allowed. The pass "does not allow gainful or voluntary employment in Uganda", so unpaid work is ruled out too.
After you graduate
We found no post-study visa. The Student Pass ends with your studies; to work you need a work permit.
Language
Teaching is in English. Luganda is widely spoken in Kampala, and Swahili is an official language.
When to apply
Makerere opened applications for 2026-27 in April 2026. Other universities run their own intakes, often more than once a year. Apply for the Student Pass once you are admitted.
What to watch out for
Get the pass before you start. Studying without one breaks Uganda's immigration rules and puts your stay at risk.
Check accreditation. Confirm your university and programme with the National Council for Higher Education before you pay.
Where these numbers come from
| Figure | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Student Pass fee USD 100, East Africans exempt, 3, 6 or 12 months, documents | Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control: Student Pass | 7 Nov 2026 |
| No gainful or voluntary employment, sponsorship code | Uganda Permanent Mission in Geneva: Student Pass | 7 Nov 2026 |
| Makerere application fee USD 75, 2026-27 applications | Makerere University: undergraduate applications 2026-27 | 7 Nov 2026 |
Rules change. Check the official source before you rely on any figure. No national tuition figure or living-cost budget was published in a form we could verify.
Immigration and fee rules change, sometimes at short notice and sometimes without announcement. Every figure above carries the date we checked it and a link to the official source. Check that source before you rely on it.
Money
What it costs, honestly
Tuition, living costs and the proof-of-funds figure for Uganda are in the guide above, each with its source and the date we checked it.
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Scholarships by nationality
Choose your nationality for every government scholarship open to your passport, with deadlines and the official pages.
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