Universities in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's universities range from large public universities with many faculties to small private colleges that focus on one field. For an international student, the country offers degree programmes in fields such as water engineering, agriculture, health sciences and the social sciences, as well as exchange and research partnerships with universities abroad.

Ethiopia has two types of higher education institutions: public universities and private higher education institutions. Public universities are usually not specialised in a single field and offer bachelor's and master's degrees across many subjects. Private institutions are usually colleges, often specialised in one field such as business administration, computer science or nursing, and most of them offer bachelor's programmes only.

Universities on SpainExchange

SpainExchange lists three universities in Ethiopia, each in a different city: Addis Ababa University in the capital, Arba Minch University in the south-west and Mekelle University in Mekelle, in the Tigray region in the north. Arba Minch University began as the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute and was inaugurated as a full university in June 2004. It is one of Ethiopia's National Research Universities and, according to the university, has more than 24,000 students in remedial, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes. Mekelle University has an International Affairs directorate that handles student and staff exchanges with universities in other countries.

Degrees and how they are organised

Ethiopian degrees follow a bachelor, master and doctorate structure. According to Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, which publishes descriptions of foreign education systems:

• bachelor's degree: 3 or 4 years in most fields, usually a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
• bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, law or pharmacy: 5 years
• Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: 6 years
• master's degree: usually 2 years, often with a thesis
• PhD: at least 3 years of research and a thesis

Universities grade on a letter scale from A+ to F, converted to grade points. Graduates usually first receive a provisional diploma, the Temporary Certificate of Graduation, before the final certificate.

Accreditation

Public universities are accredited as institutions, and their programmes are covered by that accreditation. For private institutions, both the institution and each programme need accreditation: the Education and Training Authority (ETA) runs a search tool for accredited private higher education institutions and their licensed programmes. Checking this before enrolling at a private college matters, because an accredited college does not automatically have accredited programmes.

Admission for international students

Ethiopian students enter bachelor's programmes with the Ethiopia Secondary School Leaving Examination (ESSLE), with a total score of at least 335 and sometimes an entrance exam. Institutions may also accept other qualifications, which is the route for applicants with a foreign school-leaving certificate; each university decides. Master's programmes require a bachelor's degree, sometimes in a related field, and may add an entrance exam or an English language test.

Students who will study in Ethiopia apply for a student visa through Ethiopia's Immigration and Citizenship Services. The requirements include:

• a passport valid for at least six months
• an acceptance letter from an accredited educational institution in Ethiopia
• proof of payment of tuition fees or scholarship details
• proof of sufficient financial means for the stay
• payment of the visa fee

Applicants outside Ethiopia submit the application through the Ethiopian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

Costs and funding

Fees for international students are set by each institution and are not published in one official list, so ask the university's international office or registrar for the fee for your programme in writing. Exchange agreements between universities are another route: Mekelle University's International Affairs directorate, for example, handles the movement of students between universities in different countries. Ask your home university which partnerships it has with Ethiopian universities.

How to choose a university

• Type of institution: a public university with many fields, or a specialised private college
• Accreditation: for private colleges, check both the institution and the programme with the ETA
• Field of study: some universities have particular strengths, such as water technology at Arba Minch
• Level: bachelor's, master's or doctoral study, or a semester as an exchange student
• Location: the capital, Addis Ababa, or a regional city such as Arba Minch or Mekelle
• Support for foreign students: an international office that handles admission, the visa letter and housing

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bachelor's degree take in Ethiopia?

Most bachelor's degrees take 3 or 4 years. Architecture, engineering, law and pharmacy take 5 years, and medicine and veterinary medicine take 6 years.

How can I check whether an Ethiopian college is accredited?

Public universities are accredited as institutions. For private colleges, the Education and Training Authority (ETA) has a search tool that shows whether the institution and each of its programmes is accredited.

What do I need for an Ethiopian student visa?

Among other documents, a passport valid for at least six months, an acceptance letter from an accredited Ethiopian institution, proof of tuition payment or a scholarship, and proof of sufficient funds. You apply through the Ethiopian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.