How Higher Education Works in Myanmar: Universities, Degrees and Admission
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Mar 03, 2025 • Study in Southeast Asia
Myanmar's Ministry of Education runs most universities through its Department of Higher Education, but other ministries such as Health and Defence run their own specialist schools. Entry depends on your matriculation exam score, not a separate entrance test.
🎓 Around 66 universities sit under the Ministry of Education, and about 97 more sit under 12 other ministries
📩 University and major placement is based on your matriculation exam score
⏱️ Most bachelor's degrees take 4 years, with a 1-year Honours option before a master's
🏠 The Myanmar National Qualifications Framework sets standards from technical certificates to PhD level
Who runs higher education in Myanmar
The Ministry of Education controls most of Myanmar's public universities through its Department of Higher Education (DHE). The DHE splits into two branches, one covering Lower Myanmar and one covering Upper Myanmar, and each branch handles administration and coordination for the universities in its zone.
Not every university reports to the Ministry of Education. Around 66 universities sit directly under the ministry, while roughly 97 more sit under 12 other ministries, including Health (medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy), Defence, Agriculture and Irrigation, Livestock Breeding and Fisheries, Cooperatives, Religious Affairs, Border Affairs, and Transport. Higher education in Myanmar describes this split in more detail.
Types of institutions
Arts and science universities, such as the University of Yangon and University of Mandalay, offer the widest range of bachelor's and master's programs. Technological universities focus on engineering and applied science. Medical, dental, nursing, and pharmacy universities sit under the Ministry of Health and run their own separate application tracks. A smaller number of institutes cover specialised fields such as economics, foreign languages, computer studies, and cooperatives.
| Institution type | Governing ministry | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and science universities | Ministry of Education | University of Yangon, University of Mandalay |
| Technological universities | Ministry of Education | Yangon Technological University, Mandalay Technological University |
| Medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy | Ministry of Health | University of Medicine 1 Yangon, University of Medicine Mandalay |
| Specialised institutes | Other ministries (Cooperatives, Agriculture, Transport and more) | Cooperative degree colleges, agriculture universities |
Degree structure and how long it takes
Most bachelor's degrees run four years. Strong students add a one-year Honours course straight after, which opens the door to a master's degree, typically two to three further years. Medicine runs on a longer track: six years of coursework followed by a one-year internship. Engineering and other professional degrees often add an extra year on top of the standard four.
Accreditation and quality standards
Myanmar built the Myanmar National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) to set common standards across technical and vocational training and higher education, and to make Myanmar qualifications easier to compare against other ASEAN countries. Technical and vocational qualifications sit at Levels 1 to 6, while higher education degrees sit at Levels 7A and 7B. A National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee (NAQAC) was created alongside the framework to check that institutions meet these standards. The World Bank's summary of the MNQF lays out the level structure.
How admission works
Myanmar does not run a separate university entrance test. Your score on the matriculation exam, taken at the end of high school, decides which university and major will accept you. Higher scores open places in medicine, engineering, and other competitive fields. Lower scores route you toward arts, science, or education degrees at regional universities. A separate guide covers the matriculation exam and application steps in detail.
Recent disruption to be aware of
Campus life in Myanmar has not run smoothly every recent year. COVID-19 closed campuses for extended periods from 2020, and the political crisis that began in February 2021 disrupted in-person teaching at several public universities, with some periods of distance or self-study replacing normal classes. Check directly with your target university about its current teaching mode before you commit to a program.