Universities in Sudan

Universities in Sudan are overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي). According to the ministry's own figures for 2026, the country has 166 higher education institutions: 37 public universities, 26 private universities, 92 private colleges and a number of institutes and academies. Together they have about 827,000 students, including some 12,400 students from abroad.

For anyone thinking of studying in Sudan, the main fact is the war that began on 15 April 2023. The fighting has badly disrupted universities in Khartoum and other cities. In October 2026, the UK government (FCDO) advised against all travel to Sudan because of the ongoing military conflict, and the British Embassy in Khartoum was closed.

How Sudanese universities work

Most institutions are public universities, alongside private universities and a large number of private colleges. The ministry runs a central admission office, the General Directorate of Admission, which also handles the evaluation and authentication of certificates, and it offers services for international students.

Universities are organised in faculties and schools and offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Medicine, engineering, law and agriculture have a long tradition: the University of Khartoum opened Sudan's first medical school, the Kitchener School of Medicine, in 1924.

Admission for international students

Places for undergraduate studies are allocated centrally. At the University of Khartoum, admission is governed by the Board of Higher Education of Sudan, which sets minimum requirements according to the applicant's nationality (Sudanese or non-Sudanese) and the board that issued the secondary-school certificate. Postgraduate requirements are published by each university. Students with a foreign secondary-school certificate have it checked and matched by the ministry's admission office before they can be placed.

Studying during the war

Since April 2023, many universities have moved teaching and exams away from their campuses. The University of Khartoum, for example, held its exams between April 2023 and October 2025 in centres inside and outside Sudan, including Omdurman, Cairo, Riyadh and Sharjah. In 2026 it reported that several faculties were again holding exams on their own campuses, for the first time since the war began. In August 2026 the minister of higher education said that universities were regaining academic stability. Even so, students should confirm with the university where teaching actually takes place before making any plans.

Example: University of Khartoum

The University of Khartoum (UofK) is a public university and, according to the university, the largest and oldest in Sudan. It started as Gordon Memorial College in 1902, was affiliated with the University of London in 1947 and became a university on 24 July 1956, the year of independence. It has 23 faculties and schools, from medicine, pharmacy and dentistry to engineering, law, agriculture and the arts. Its library includes the Sudan Library, which serves as the national library.

How to choose

• Safety: check the current travel advice and where the university is actually teaching
• Language: ask in which language each programme is taught and whether any courses are available in English
• Recognition: check that the institution is on the ministry's list of universities and that the degree is recognised in the country where you plan to work
• Alternatives: some Sudanese universities run exam centres or teaching abroad, which may matter if you cannot travel to Sudan

Frequently asked questions

How many universities are there in Sudan?

According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, there are 37 public and 26 private universities, and 166 higher education institutions in total (2026).

Is it safe to study in Sudan?

In October 2026, the UK government advised against all travel to Sudan because of the military conflict. Check current advice from your own government before making plans.

What is the oldest university in Sudan?

The University of Khartoum, which began as Gordon Memorial College in 1902 and became a university in 1956.