Study and find schools in Burundi

Studying in Burundi

Burundi is a small, densely populated country in the African Great Lakes region, on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Its higher education is led by one large public institution, the Université du Burundi (UB) in Bujumbura, founded in 1964. Few international students come here outside regional exchanges and partnerships, but for students from East and Central Africa, and for researchers interested in the region, UB is the main point of entry.

According to its history page, UB has more than 12,000 students in 8 faculties and 7 institutes and remains the largest public higher education institution in the country; its statistics panel gives a student population of 18,500, 68 programmes and 500 professors. The university's website is mainly in French, with an English version, and faculty and programme names are French.

The education system

Higher education and research fall under the Ministère de l'Education Nationale et de la Recherche Scientifique (MENRS). UB itself operates under the authority of the minister in charge of higher education and is organised by Decree No. 100/279 of 18 October 2012 into faculties and institutes, which are divided into departments and sections. Its roots go back further: the Faculty of Sciences opened in the 1961-62 academic year as part of the university centre of Usumbura, the colonial name of Bujumbura.

Degrees follow three levels, which UB lists as baccalauréat, master and doctorat. In Burundi the baccalauréat is the first university degree, not a school-leaving exam: students progress through years called Bac I, Bac II and Bac III, and the Faculty of Economics and Management, for example, builds in progressive specialisation from Bac II. UB's faculties and institutes cover, among others:

• medicine
• law and political science
• economics and management, and a higher institute of commerce
• agronomy and bio-engineering
• psychology and education sciences
• engineering sciences, sciences and digital technologies
• physical education and sport

Teacher training for secondary schools is also offered at the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Bujumbura, which has departments of applied sciences, natural sciences and languages and humanities. UB also hosts a Confucius Institute.

Admission and recognition

Burundian students enter university after the national state examination (Examen d'Etat). UB runs an online enrolment platform, where students are placed through orientation lists: for the 2025-26 academic year the lists were published on 14 November 2025 and classes began on 24 November 2025. The academic year therefore starts late in the calendar year.

UB does not publish specific admission rules or fees for international students on its website. Applicants with a foreign secondary or university qualification should contact the faculty they are interested in and the university's academic services directly, and ask how their qualification will be assessed and in which language the programme is taught. Master's and doctoral studies have their own application portals linked from UB's site.

Student visa and residence

Visas are issued by the Commissariat Général des Migrations (CGM), part of the national police. Its official list includes study visas only for two groups: students from member states of the East African Community (EAC), whose one-year study visa is free, and students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who pay US$25 for one year. Other nationals usually enter on an entry visa (US$90 for one month) and must ask the CGM which longer-stay visa applies; the ordinary residence visa costs US$500 for two years and requires at least six months already spent in Burundi. Applications and payment are made online.

For Spanish citizens, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a visa is compulsory, can be requested online at least 15 days in advance or at the airport, and costs US$90 (advice valid on 7 October 2026). A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required on entry.

Costs

No official tuition figures for international students are published online, and no official source gives student living costs. The local currency is the Burundian franc. The Spanish ministry notes that US dollars brought into the country must not have been issued before 2006, so plan cash carefully. Ask the faculty for the full cost of a year, including registration and any fees for foreign students, before you travel.

Where to study

Bujumbura, the largest city, is where UB has its headquarters and most of its campuses, including Mutanga (the main campus), Rohero, Kiriri and Kamenge; the university also lists campuses at Nyamugerera, Buhumuza and Zege. The ENS is also in Bujumbura. For a student, studying in Burundi effectively means studying in Bujumbura.

Safety and practical life

Safety is the main factor to weigh. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelling with caution and avoiding the border with the DRC, the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza and the Ruvubu and Kibira national parks. In Bujumbura it advises against being in the street between 18:00 and 6:00 and against using shared public transport (minibuses, shared cars and motorbikes).

Health services are poor, according to the same source, so take out health insurance with the widest possible cover, including medical evacuation and repatriation. Malaria is endemic, and floods can occur in the rainy season from February to May. Plastic bags are banned, including in luggage. Spain is represented in Burundi by its embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Frequently asked questions

Which university can I attend in Burundi?

The main option is the Université du Burundi in Bujumbura, a public university founded in 1964 with 8 faculties and 7 institutes. Teacher training is also offered at the Ecole Normale Supérieure.

What is a baccalauréat at a Burundian university?

It is the first university degree, studied over successive years called Bac I, Bac II and Bac III. It is followed by the master's and the doctorate.

Do I need a visa to study in Burundi?

Yes, foreign students generally need one. The CGM issues study visas to EAC nationals (free) and DRC nationals (US$25 for one year); other students should check with the CGM which visa applies to them.

When does the academic year start?

Late in the year: at the Université du Burundi, classes for 2025-26 began on 24 November 2025.

Is Burundi safe for students?

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelling with caution, avoiding several border provinces and parks, and not being in the street in Bujumbura between 18:00 and 6:00. Check your government's current advice before deciding.