Universities in Madagascar

Universities in Madagascar are mostly public institutions that report to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESUPRES). The ministry lists six long-established universities, in Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara, and a group of newer regional universities, such as the Université de l'Itasy, the Université de la Sava and the Université de Fitovinany. Alongside them are the higher institutes of technology (IST) in Antananarivo and Antsiranana, a national distance-learning centre and a national centre for English. Private institutions also exist; according to the ministry, their status is regulated through state support and control.

French is the main language of university teaching, and Malagasy is used widely in daily life. For international students, Madagascar is a niche destination. It is of most interest to French-speaking students and to researchers in fields linked to the island itself, such as the environment, earth sciences and biodiversity.

How university studies work

Malagasy universities use the licence-master-doctorate (LMD) system. According to MESUPRES, all studies are organised in teaching units (unités d'enseignement), and the units of one semester are worth 30 credits. 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. The doctorate follows the master's degree. Programmes are grouped into broad domains, each divided into mentions and then specialities.

Besides LMD degrees, institutions may offer:

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

The ministry approves the creation of institutions and departments and the opening of each degree programme, while universities keep relative autonomy in teaching matters. Requests for authorisation (habilitation), accreditation and equivalence of diplomas go through the ministry's online HAE platform. Distance learning attracts on average 9,444 students a year, 29% of them working people and professionals, according to the ministry.

Admission

Secondary school ends with the baccalauréat, which gives access to university, and MESUPRES publishes the baccalauréat results. Each university runs its own admission and enrolment procedures; there is no national online application for international students. Foreign applicants need a school-leaving certificate that gives access to higher education and a good command of French, and should contact the faculty or school directly well before the academic year starts.

Students who need a qualification recognised in Madagascar, or who want to check that an institution or programme is authorised, can use the ministry's HAE platform. Anyone planning to use a Malagasy degree in another country should also check the recognition rules there.

Costs and funding

We found no official national table of tuition or registration fees for international students. Fees are set by each institution, so ask the admissions or international relations office for the current amounts before applying, and budget separately for health insurance, housing and travel to and from the island. The ministry's scholarship platform is for Malagasy students going abroad, not for incoming students; international students should look for funding in their own country or through their home university's exchange agreements.

The Université de Fianarantsoa

The university listed on SpainExchange is the Université de Fianarantsoa, in the southern highlands. It grew out of the Centre Universitaire Régional de Fianarantsoa, which opened in 1977-78 with a first-year mathematics programme and 126 students, and became a university on 7 October 1988. According to the university, about 34,300 students are enrolled for 2023-2026, taught by 160 teacher-researchers in 11 units: five faculties, three higher schools and three institutes.

Examples of its units are the Faculty of Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine (created in 2014), the École Normale Supérieure (1980), the École Nationale d'Informatique (1981), the Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l'Environnement (1998) and a Confucius Institute (2011). It has three doctoral schools: modelling and computer science, geochemistry and medicinal chemistry, and governance and changing societies. An annex in Farafangana, in the south-east, opened in 2014. The university also runs a student housing service (SIUVE) and an American Space.

How to choose a university

• Language: check that you can follow courses in French, and ask whether any units are taught in English
• Recognition: confirm on the ministry's HAE platform that the institution and programme are authorised
• Location: Antananarivo has the largest university and the national institutes; regional universities are closer to fieldwork in coastal and rural areas
• Level: exchange semesters, full licence programmes and doctoral research have different requirements, so ask early
• Housing and health: ask about student housing and arrange health insurance before travelling

Frequently asked questions

In which language are university courses taught in Madagascar?

Mainly in French. Malagasy is widely spoken, and the ministry also runs a national centre for English-language teaching.

How long does a degree take in Madagascar?

Universities follow the LMD system, with 30 credits per semester: the licence requires 180 credits (three years) and the master's level a further 120 credits.

How can I check that a Malagasy university is recognised?

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research runs the HAE platform for authorisation, accreditation and equivalence of diplomas.

How many students does the Université de Fianarantsoa have?

According to the university, about 34,300 students are enrolled for 2023-2026, in five faculties, three higher schools and three institutes.