Universities in Niger: Admission, Costs and How to Apply
By Muntasir • Published Jun 17, 2026 • Updated Sep 27, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, Africa Admissions & Exams
Niger runs eight public universities, led by Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, plus a handful of private and faith-based institutions, and public tuition stays cheap for Nigerien and UEMOA students.
🎓 License-level tuition at Abdou Moumouni University costs 10,000 FCFA a year for nationals and UEMOA students, and 50,000 FCFA for master's and doctoral students.
📩 Apply with a signed request to the Rector listing three program choices, plus your Baccalauréat, birth certificate, nationality certificate and transcripts.
💵 Non-UEMOA international students pay 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA a year depending on faculty and level.
Regional public universities in Zinder and Maradi were formally created in 2010, alongside Tahoua the same year, spreading access beyond Niamey.
Niger's public university system
Niger runs eight public universities, built up over five decades to spread higher education access beyond the capital. Each one operates under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) and follows the CAMES accreditation framework shared across francophone West and Central Africa.
Université Abdou Moumouni (Niamey): founded in 1974 as the University of Niamey, renamed in 1994 after physicist Abdou Moumouni. Niger's oldest and largest public university, with roughly 25,000 students across faculties of agronomy, arts and science, education, law and economics, health sciences, and engineering.
Université André-Salifou de Zinder (formerly Université de Zinder): created in 2010, renamed in 2022 to honor Professor André Salifou.
Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi: its IUT predecessor opened in 2008, but the university itself was created in 2010 and took its current name in 2014.
Université Djibo Hamani de Tahoua: opened in 2010.
Universités de Dosso, Diffa, Agadez and Tillabéri (Université Boubacar Ba de Tillabéri): newer public universities the government announced in 2014 to extend coverage to these regions, each running a narrower set of faculties tied to local needs.
Abdou Moumouni University also operates Institutes of University Technology (IUT) in Tahoua, Maradi and Zinder, awarding two-year DUT diplomas in fields including business studies, mechanical engineering, agribusiness and civil engineering. (background)
Private and faith-based universities
A smaller set of private and faith-based universities operates alongside the public system, including the Islamic University of Niger in Say and Maryam Abacha American University of Niger, which teaches in English rather than French. Private institutions need MESRI accreditation to award recognized degrees. Confirm a private university's accreditation status directly with the ministry before you enroll or pay any fees.
Admission requirements
Entry to a Nigerien public university requires the Baccalauréat or a certified equivalent diploma. If you hold a foreign qualification, get it certified as equivalent before you apply, since universities check this during registration. Some faculties add requirements on top of the BAC: the health sciences faculty (FSS) at Abdou Moumouni University, for example, asks for a medical certificate at registration.
How to apply
At Abdou Moumouni University, you apply with a signed request addressed to the Rector listing three program preferences, plus a birth certificate (or supplementary judgment), a nationality certificate, a certified copy of your diploma, academic transcripts and two identification photos. Registration runs online through the university's registration portal , and it happens in two steps: administrative registration, then pedagogical registration for your specific program and faculty.
Regional universities such as Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi and Université André-Salifou de Zinder run their own registration pages with a similar set of required documents. Deadlines and intake dates vary by faculty and academic year, so confirm the current schedule on your target university's site before the application window opens.
Tuition and fees
Public university tuition in Niger stays low for Nigerien nationals and for students from UEMOA member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Togo). At Abdou Moumouni University, license-level students in this group pay 10,000 FCFA a year, and master's or doctoral students pay 50,000 FCFA. (UAM)
| Student category | Level | Annual fee (FCFA) |
|---|---|---|
| Niger national / UEMOA | License | 10,000 |
| Niger national / UEMOA | Master / Doctorate | 50,000 |
| Non-UEMOA international | License, FA and FAST faculties | 250,000 |
| Non-UEMOA international | License, FLSH, ENS, FSEG, FSJP | 150,000 |
| Non-UEMOA international | Master / Doctorate | 250,000 |
| Non-UEMOA international | Health sciences (FSS), years 1-6 | 200,000 |
| Non-UEMOA international | Health sciences (FSS), year 7 | 400,000 |
These figures cover registration fees only. Housing, food, books and transport add up to more than tuition for most students, so build your budget around living costs rather than fees.
Language of instruction
French is the language of instruction at all of Niger's public universities. Maryam Abacha American University of Niger is a notable exception, teaching in English. If your BAC or prior schooling ran in a different language, factor in the French proficiency you need to follow lectures and coursework from day one.
Degree recognition across the region
Niger's public universities operate under CAMES (Conseil Africain et Malgache pour l'Enseignement Supérieur), the accreditation body covering higher education across francophone West and Central Africa. A CAMES-recognized degree from a Nigerien university transfers for further study or employment recognition in other member countries, which matters if you plan to work or continue studying elsewhere in the region after graduating. (CAMES)
Choosing where to study
Niamey offers the widest range of faculties and the largest student community, but housing and space stay tightest there too. Regional universities in Zinder, Maradi, Tahoua, Dosso and Diffa run smaller class sizes and lower living costs, with programs concentrated around fields tied to regional needs such as agriculture, health and teacher training. Match your intended program to the faculties each campus runs before you apply, since not every university teaches every subject.