Universities in Botswana

Botswana's university sector is regulated through a national qualifications framework. The Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) registers and accredits education and training providers, registers qualifications on the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF) and accredits the learning programmes that lead to them. According to the BQA, 69 higher education providers and 130 technical and vocational providers are currently registered and accredited, and all of them are audited against its quality standards.

The best-known institution is the University of Botswana (UB) in Gaborone, the capital, which is the university listed in our directory. All its undergraduate and graduate programmes are accredited or registered by the BQA on the NCQF.

How it works

Universities award undergraduate degrees, master's degrees and research degrees (MPhil and PhD). At UB, teaching is organised in faculties that include Medicine and Health Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, Business, Economics and Law, Engineering and the Built Environment, and Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. The academic year starts in August, and UB's graduation ceremonies take place in October.

English is the language international students need: exchange applicants must be proficient in English and present a transcript in English. UB also encourages international students to learn some Setswana before they arrive, which helps with daily life outside the campus.

Admission

Undergraduate applicants apply online with a certified copy of their senior secondary school certificate or results, their passport and the receipt for the non-refundable application fee. Admission is on academic merit and depends on available places, so meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place; UB publishes competitive cut-off points each year. For the August 2026 intake, undergraduate applications for local and international students closed on 6 August 2026 and graduate applications on 16 August 2026.

Graduate applicants need certified degree certificates and transcripts, two references and a personal statement for a master's, or a research proposal for an MPhil or PhD. Each applicant can submit two applications, each with its own fee.

Students who want to spend one or two semesters at UB without taking a full degree can come as exchange or free mover students. They must have completed at least two semesters at their home university, be proficient in English and have a transcript in English with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.7. The deadlines are 15 July for the first semester and 10 December for the second.

Costs, visa and study permit

UB publishes its tuition in a yearly fee schedule (Financial Procedures 2026/27) and offers a tuition fee payment plan; check the amount for your programme before applying.

Citizens of most Commonwealth countries and of many other states, including Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, do not need a visa to enter Botswana; citizens of Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka do. A visa takes 7 to 14 working days to process. After registration, full-degree students and exchange students staying more than five months apply for a residence permit for the whole study period, which costs P1,500 at the immigration office; exchange students staying up to six months apply for a residence waiver instead. UB's International Office helps with both.

How to choose

• Accreditation: check that the programme is registered on the NCQF by the BQA
• Full degree or exchange: a degree needs a study permit; a short stay a residence waiver
• Deadlines: the main intake is in August, with applications closing in early to mid August
• Entry: look at the competitive cut-off points for your programme
• Budget: check the yearly fee schedule and the payment plan

Frequently asked questions

Do I need English to study in Botswana?

Yes. Exchange students at the University of Botswana must be proficient in English and have a transcript in English.

Do I need a visa to study in Botswana?

It depends on your nationality: citizens of most Commonwealth countries and many others, such as Spain and Mexico, do not. All degree students need a residence permit for the study period, which costs P1,500.

When does the academic year start in Botswana?

At the University of Botswana the main intake is in August. For 2026, undergraduate applications closed on 6 August and graduate applications on 16 August.

Can I study one semester in Botswana?

Yes. The University of Botswana accepts exchange and free mover students who have completed at least two semesters at home and have a GPA of at least 2.7.