Study and find schools in Mauritania

Studying in Mauritania

Mauritania (officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania) lies on the Atlantic coast of north-west Africa, bordered by Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali and Senegal. Its capital, Nouakchott, is also its main university city. For international students the country is a niche destination: higher education is taught mainly in Arabic and French, the sector is small, and practical conditions call for careful preparation.

According to the statistical yearbook of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), updated in February 2026, Mauritania has 46 higher education institutions and 45,384 enrolled students. The ministry's online directory lists 17 public and 10 private institutions, from universities to specialised institutes and schools.

The education system

Universities follow the licence-master-doctorate (LMD) model used in France and much of francophone Africa. At the Université de Nouakchott Al-Aasriya (UNA), the structure is:

• Licence (bachelor's degree): three years after the baccalauréat, six semesters and 180 credits; offered as an academic (fondamentale) or professional licence
• Master: two more years (bac+5), four semesters and 120 credits, either research or professional
• Doctorate: three years after the master's (bac+8) and 180 credits, including the thesis

Besides the universities, the public sector includes specialised institutions, many of them listed in the ministry directory with their founding year. Examples are the École Normale Supérieure in Nouakchott, created in 1970; the Institut Supérieur de Comptabilité et d'Administration des Entreprises (ISCAE), created in 2009; the École Supérieure Polytechnique, which is under the joint authority of the defence and higher education ministries; and the Institut Supérieur d'Anglais, where courses are taught mainly in English, with Arabic and French also in the programme. Traditional religious sciences are taught at the Grande Mahdara Chinguitiya in Akjoujt. Private institutions include the Université Libanaise Internationale, founded in Nouakchott in 2008.

Admission and recognition

A licence programme starts after the baccalauréat (secondary-school leaving certificate), so foreign applicants need an equivalent school-leaving qualification. Admission is handled by each institution; there is no central online application for international students, so contact the faculty or institute directly and ask about the language of instruction, the documents required and the academic calendar.

Recognition of qualifications is the responsibility of the MESRS Directorate of Academic Qualifications and Recognition of Diplomas, which has a dedicated diploma recognition service. Students who plan to use a Mauritanian degree abroad should also check the rules of the country where they will use it.

Student visa and residence

Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that a visa is required to enter Mauritania. Since 5 January 2025, every traveller who needs a visa must obtain an electronic visa before boarding the flight to Mauritania, through the official website of the national population register and secure documents agency (ANRPTS). The passport must be valid for more than six months, otherwise the visa is not issued.

Foreign residents hold a residence card: according to the same source, the first card is valid for one year, and it can then be renewed for two years and later for three. Requirements depend on your nationality, so confirm them with the embassy of Mauritania that covers your country before you travel (information checked on 7 October 2026).

Costs

No official tuition fees for international students were found on the ministry or university websites; ask each institution for its fees before applying. The local currency is the ouguiya (MRU), at around 40 ouguiyas per euro according to the Spanish travel advice. Credit cards are accepted almost nowhere outside some hotels in the capital, so students need to plan for cash payments and limited ATM access.

Where to study

Nouakchott concentrates most of the higher education sector. The Université de Nouakchott Al-Aasriya was created in July 2016 by merging the Université des Sciences, de Technologie et de Médecine and the Université de Nouakchott. Its faculties cover science and technology, medicine, law, economics and management, and letters and human sciences, together with a professional university institute. The university offers 24 academic and 17 professional licences, 16 research and 8 professional master's programmes, and three doctoral schools. Its website is published in French and Arabic.

Outside the capital, the ministry lists the Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Mer in Nouadhibou, the Institut Supérieur de l'Enseignement Technologique in Rosso, which focuses on agriculture, livestock and food processing, and the Grande Mahdara Chinguitiya in Akjoujt.

Culture and practical life

The Spanish government describes sanitary conditions as very precarious and considers it essential to take out health insurance with the widest possible cover, including air evacuation. The south of the country, along the Senegal River, is an endemic area for malaria and dengue, and floods are frequent during the rainy season, roughly from July to October. The coastal axis Nouadhibou-Nouakchott-Rosso is classed as low risk, while travel east of the 12th meridian west is advised against in all cases.

Mauritania is an Islamic republic: the sale and import of alcohol and pork products are prohibited, and modest dress is recommended. For students from Spain, the Canary Islands are close: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the nearest Spanish city, with almost daily flights. The UNA has cooperation agreements with universities in countries including France, Spain and Italy, and takes part in Erasmus+ mobility with the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Frequently asked questions

In which language are university courses taught in Mauritania?

Mainly in Arabic and French. Some specialised institutions use other languages; at the Institut Supérieur d'Anglais, courses are taught mainly in English.

How are degrees organised in Mauritania?

Universities use the LMD system: a three-year licence with 180 credits, a two-year master with 120 credits and a three-year doctorate.

Do I need a visa to study in Mauritania?

Most foreign nationals do. Since 5 January 2025, travellers who need a visa must obtain an electronic visa online before boarding their flight, and long stays require a residence card.

How many students are there in Mauritania?

According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, 45,384 students were enrolled in its 46 higher education institutions (figures updated in February 2026).