Universities in Mauritania: Admission, Costs and How to Apply
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, Africa Admissions & Exams
Mauritania's main public university is Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya (UNA), formed in 2016 when the University of Nouakchott merged with the University of Science, Technology and Medicine. Entry runs on the Mauritanian Baccalauréat through a national placement process, and public tuition costs far less than private institutes.
🎓 UNA is the largest public university, teaching law, economics, science, technology and medicine.
📩 Apply with your Baccalauréat results through the Ministry of Higher Education's national orientation process.
💵 Public university fees stay low. Private institutes and specialized schools charge more.
🏠 Most higher education sits in Nouakchott, with technical institutes also in Rosso, Néma and Atar.
How higher education is organized in Mauritania
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) oversees universities, institutes and student funding in Mauritania. Public higher education centers on one comprehensive university plus a set of smaller specialized public schools, alongside a growing private sector. Almost all major institutions sit in Nouakchott, the capital, though a handful of technical institutes operate in regional towns.
Degrees follow the LMD system (Licence, Master, Doctorat) used across Francophone Africa, which lines up Mauritanian qualifications with those from neighboring countries and eases transfer between institutions in the region.
Université de Nouakchott Al Aasriya (UNA)
UNA is Mauritania's largest and oldest public university. It traces back to the University of Nouakchott, founded in 1981, which merged with the University of Science, Technology and Medicine in July 2016 to form UNA as it now stands. The university teaches across faculties of law and economics, science and technology, medicine, and arts and humanities, and remains the default choice for most Mauritanian Baccalauréat holders staying in the country.
Other public institutions
Outside UNA, several specialized public schools train students for specific professions:
Institut Supérieur d'Enseignement Technologique (ISET) branches in Rosso, Néma and Atar, which run technical and vocational diplomas outside the capital.
École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Nouakchott, which trains secondary school teachers.
Institut Supérieur de Comptabilité et d'Administration des Entreprises (ISCAE), for accounting and business administration.
École Nationale d'Administration, de Journalisme et de Magistrature (ENAJM), which prepares students for public administration, journalism and judicial careers.
Institut Supérieur des Études et Recherches Islamiques, for Islamic studies taught in Arabic.
Private universities and institutes
A private higher education sector has grown alongside the public system, mostly concentrated in Nouakchott. Private institutes tend to focus on business, IT, health sciences and languages, and they set their own tuition, which runs well above what public institutions charge. Check accreditation status with MESRS before enrolling in a private program, since not every private school holds full state recognition for every degree it offers.
Admission requirements and how to apply
The Mauritanian Baccalauréat (or a recognized foreign equivalent) is the standard entry qualification for undergraduate study. Placement into public university programs runs through a national orientation process managed by MESRS: you register your Baccalauréat series and results, and the ministry allocates places based on your score and program capacity. Competitive programs, medicine in particular, set higher score thresholds than general faculties like law or humanities.
Instruction at UNA runs mostly in French for science, technology, medicine, law and economics, while Arabic is the language of instruction for Islamic studies and some humanities tracks. Students planning to study in French-taught programs benefit from strong French literacy before starting, since secondary schooling in Mauritania mixes Arabic and French depending on the track.
Master's-level admission requires a relevant Licence and depends on the specific faculty's entry criteria, which can include an entrance exam or file review.
What it costs
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Public university tuition (UNA and other state schools) | Government-subsidized, well below private-sector fees |
| Private university and institute tuition | Set by each institution, notably higher than public fees |
| General cost of living in Nouakchott | Cost-of-living data collected in late 2025 put a single person's monthly costs at around 41,800 MRU, covering rent, food, transport and utilities; students sharing housing or living with family typically spend less Expatistan |
Academic calendar
The academic year generally runs from October to June, similar to other Francophone African systems. Universities adjust class schedules and exam timing around Ramadan, when teaching hours often shorten.
Getting started
Confirm your Baccalauréat series and results.
Register through the MESRS national orientation process for public university placement.
Check French or Arabic language readiness for your target faculty.
If considering a private institute, verify its MESRS accreditation for the specific degree.
Budget separately for tuition (if private) and living costs in Nouakchott.