Study and find schools in Suriname

Studying in Suriname

Suriname is a small country on the north-east coast of South America and a member of CARICOM. Its national university works in Dutch: programme names, admission rules and announcements are published in Dutch, so the country is mainly an option for students who speak the language.

University education is concentrated in the capital, Paramaribo, at the Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname (AdeKUS). According to the university, it has 3,737 students, 422 academic staff and seven faculties. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Wetenschap en Cultuur) sets the yearly enrolment fee together with the university board and decides on the numerus fixus for some programmes.

The education system

AdeKUS offers three kinds of programmes:

• Bachelor's degrees of 180 ECTS credits in fields such as law, medicine, psychology, economics, business administration, civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, environmental science, physics, mathematics and public health
• Master's degrees, most of 120 ECTS, for example in accounting, applied statistics, finance and control, mineral geosciences and mining, petroleum geoscience and engineering, Surinamese law and sustainable management of natural resources
• The university bridging year (schakeljaar), a one-year programme for applicants whose school-leaving diploma does not fully meet the entry requirements of the bachelor's programme they want

Regular master's programmes run every year within a faculty. Others are offered occasionally, or for a limited period, through the Interfaculty for Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), and can be academic or professional in orientation. The university also has a doctoral office (Promoveren, CPE) for PhD candidates.

The faculties cover the humanities, law, social sciences, medical sciences, technological sciences and mathematics and natural sciences, plus the graduate interfaculty.

Admission and recognition

The admission requirements are set by law. In general you need at least a recognised VWO diploma (the pre-university secondary diploma) or an equivalent or higher qualification, and you must meet any specific requirements of the programme. Many programmes ask for minimum grades in particular subjects: law, for example, requires a pass in Dutch, English and economics or mathematics, and psychology a 6 or higher in Dutch, English and mathematics. Foreign diplomas must be equivalent to the VWO ("daaraan gelijkgesteld").

Applicants who do not meet all the requirements can take the bridging year, which admits holders of a HAVO diploma and several vocational and teacher-training diplomas. Some programmes cannot be entered through the bridging year; the programme page says whether it is possible.

Nine programmes have a numerus fixus with a limited number of places, including medicine, physiotherapy and public health. For 2026-27, for example, the university announced 30 places in psychology and 35 in business administration. Selected candidates must complete their enrolment by the dates in the university's announcements.

Visa and residence

Since 2019 Suriname's visa and tourist card procedure has been fully digital. In 2022 the government replaced the visa worldwide with an entry fee, whose payment voucher travellers show at check-in, but in 2023 the visa requirement was reintroduced for 21 countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To live in Suriname as a student you need a residence permit (verblijfsvergunning), handled by the Aliens Affairs department (Hoofdafdeling Vreemdelingenzaken) of the Ministry of Justice and Police. Visa-required foreigners who plan to stay longer than three months must apply for an authorisation for short stay (machtiging tot kort verblijf, MKV) at a Surinamese embassy or consulate before travelling. Citizens of countries with a visa-waiver agreement and of other CARICOM member states register with the aliens service after arrival and then apply for residence in Paramaribo. The application includes a petition to the Minister of Justice and Police, a copy of your passport, proof of means of support and a deposit of US$150 or the equivalent in SRD, according to the government. Extensions must be requested at least three months before the permit expires.

Costs

Government policy aims to keep university study as accessible and inexpensive as possible. All AdeKUS students pay an enrolment fee (inschrijfgeld), set each academic year by the ministry together with the university board. Some programmes, mainly master's degrees, also charge tuition fees (collegegeld), which differ by programme and are shown on each programme's page. Students can apply for study financing from the Nationale Ontwikkelingsbank (NOB).

For students from the outlying districts, the Student Housing Campus Village next to the university rents furnished, air-conditioned units. For 2025-26 the rent is SRD 1,050 a month for a unit in a two-person room and SRD 1,950 a month for a unit in a four-person room, according to the university.

Where to study

All university study takes place in Paramaribo, where the AdeKUS campus is located at Leysweg 86. The bridging year has classes in the afternoon and evening from Monday to Friday, with medical practicals on Saturday mornings.

Culture and practical life

The campus village organises community activities and has study rooms, a volleyball court and an open-air fitness area that students can use free of charge. Arrange your residence permit, housing and health insurance before the academic year begins, and contact the university's Student Affairs office (Bureau Studentenzaken) about enrolment as a foreign applicant.

Frequently asked questions

In which language are degrees taught in Suriname?

Mainly in Dutch: the university publishes its programmes and rules in Dutch, and several programmes require a pass in Dutch in the school-leaving diploma. Some master's programmes have English titles, so check the language of instruction with the faculty.

How do I get into the Anton de Kom University of Suriname?

You need a VWO diploma or an equivalent qualification plus the programme's specific requirements. If you do not meet them, the one-year bridging year may give access; nine programmes have a limited number of places.

How much does it cost to study in Suriname?

All students pay a yearly enrolment fee set by the ministry and the university, and some programmes, mainly master's degrees, charge tuition fees. A unit in the campus village costs SRD 1,050 to 1,950 a month in 2025-26.

Do I need a residence permit to study in Suriname?

Yes, for a longer stay. Visa-required nationals apply for an MKV at a Surinamese embassy before travelling; others register after arrival and apply for a residence permit in Paramaribo.