Study and find schools in Madagascar

Studying in Madagascar

Madagascar, the large island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of south-east Africa, has a public higher education system built on the French-inspired licence-master-doctorate (LMD) model. Malagasy and French are the main languages of education, which makes the country an option for French-speaking students and for researchers interested in its biodiversity, environment and geology.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESUPRES) oversees a network of public universities in all regions, from the Université d'Antananarivo in the capital to newer regional universities such as the Université de Fitovinany. Our directory lists one active school in Madagascar: the Université de Fianarantsoa, in the southern highlands, with around 30,000 students according to the university.

The education system in Madagascar

Studies are organised in teaching units (unités d'enseignement) within the LMD system. According to MESUPRES, a semester is worth 30 credits, and the common reference is 180 credits for the licence (bachelor's level) and 300 credits for the master's level, that is 120 credits after the licence. Doctoral studies follow the master's degree.

Besides the LMD degrees, institutions can offer:

• The diplôme de technicien supérieur (DTS), a shorter vocational qualification
• The national engineering diploma (diplôme national d'ingénieur)
• Distance learning through the Centre National du Télé-Enseignement de Madagascar (CNTEMAD)
• English language training at the Centre National d'Enseignement de la Langue Anglaise

The public network includes the historic universities of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara, a series of newer regional universities, and higher institutes of technology (IST) in Antananarivo and Antsiranana. MESUPRES approves the creation of institutions and new degree programmes, while universities keep relative autonomy in teaching matters. Private institutions also exist; their status is regulated and they are subject to state support and control.

Admission and recognition

Secondary school ends with the baccalauréat, whose results are published by MESUPRES, and the baccalauréat gives access to university studies. Each university and institute sets its own admission procedures and deadlines. International applicants should contact the institution directly well before the academic year starts.

For recognition, MESUPRES runs an online platform for habilitation, accreditation and equivalence (HAE). It is the place to check whether an institution and its programmes are authorised, and to apply for the equivalence of qualifications. Students who plan to return home with a Malagasy degree should also check how it will be recognised in their own country.

Student visa and residence

Visa requirements for students depend on nationality and the length of the stay. We could not fetch an official Malagasy government page with the current rules for students, so we do not list requirements or fees here. Contact the embassy or consulate of Madagascar in your country, and ask the university's international relations office for an enrolment certificate and help with residence formalities after arrival.

Costs

We found no official table of tuition fees for international students at Malagasy public universities. Registration fees are set by each institution, so ask the admissions or international office for the current amounts before applying. Budgets should also include health insurance and travel to and from the island.

Where to study

Antananarivo, the capital, has the largest university and the national institutes. Regional universities make it possible to study close to the subject of research, for example in coastal or rural areas.

The Université de Fianarantsoa traces its origins to the Centre Universitaire Régional de Fianarantsoa, opened in 1977-78 with a first-year mathematics programme and 126 students, and became a university on 7 October 1988. Today it has 160 teacher-researchers and about 30,000 students in 11 units: five faculties, three higher schools and three institutes. Examples include the Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine (created in 2014), the École Nationale d'Informatique (1981), an institute of environmental sciences and techniques, and a Confucius Institute. It has three doctoral schools, in modelling and computer science, geochemistry and medicinal chemistry, and governance and changing societies, and an annex in Farafangana in the south-east.

Culture and practical life

Malagasy is spoken everywhere, and French is widely used in administration and higher education. English is growing in importance: the Université de Fianarantsoa hosts an American Space, and its president took part in the US State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program in 2026. The university also has a student housing service (SIUVE).

Madagascar's biodiversity and environment attract students and researchers in ecology, earth sciences and environmental management, and universities work with international partners on research in these fields. Because health services and transport can be limited outside the main cities, international students should arrange health insurance before travelling and plan their housing with the university.

Frequently asked questions

What language are courses taught in at Malagasy universities?

Mainly French, with Malagasy also widely used. English is taught at the Centre National d'Enseignement de la Langue Anglaise and in some programmes.

How are degrees organised in Madagascar?

Universities follow the LMD system: a licence of 180 credits, a master's degree of 120 further credits and a doctorate, with 30 credits per semester.

How can I check if a Malagasy institution is recognised?

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research runs an online platform for habilitation, accreditation and equivalence (HAE) that covers authorised institutions and programmes.

Which universities are there in Madagascar?

The public network includes the universities of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara, newer regional universities, and institutes of technology in Antananarivo and Antsiranana.