Universities in Eswatini: Admission, Costs and How to Apply
By Muntasir • Published Apr 24, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, Africa Admissions & Exams
Eswatini has one public university, UNESWA, plus a handful of private institutions covering creative technology, health sciences, and theology. You apply directly on each university's own portal using your EGCSE results, and total cost depends heavily on your programme and where you live.
🎓 UNESWA runs three campuses: Kwaluseni, Luyengo, and Mbabane
📩 Apply through the UNESWA online portal well before the closing date, which falls the year before you start
💵 Tuition is billed in Lilangeni (SZL), which trades 1:1 with the South African Rand
🏠 Private options like Limkokwing and SANU give you a route in if you miss UNESWA's cutoff
The universities you can choose from
Eswatini's higher education system is small compared to its neighbors, so most students end up choosing between a short list of institutions rather than dozens. The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) is the country's only public university and by far the largest, spread across three campuses. Around it sit a small group of private universities, each with a distinct focus.
| University | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| University of Eswatini (UNESWA) | Public | Full range of degrees, diplomas, and certificates across science, humanities, agriculture, and commerce |
| Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Eswatini | Private | Design, IT, media, and business programmes |
| Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU) | Private, church-affiliated | Business, education, theology, and health-related fields |
| Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) | Private | Nursing and other health science training |
| Springfield Research University | Private | Smaller institution with a research focus |
UNESWA's three campuses each specialize: Kwaluseni (near Manzini) hosts most humanities, commerce, and science faculties, Luyengo covers agriculture, and Mbabane focuses on health sciences and nursing.
Entry requirements
Local applicants need the Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE), or an equivalent qualification such as the Cambridge O-Level, with credit passes in core subjects including English. Each programme sets its own minimum grade combination, and competitive programmes such as medicine, law, or engineering ask for stronger passes in relevant science and math subjects than a general arts degree does.
Applicants from outside Eswatini need a qualification recognized as equivalent by Eswatini's higher education regulator before a university can admit you. Check equivalency with the university's admissions office early, since this step can take longer than the standard application review.
How to apply
UNESWA runs its admissions through an online applications portal . You submit your EGCSE or equivalent results, pay an application fee, and upload certified copies of your certificates and identification. Closing dates for local applicants fall in the year before you plan to start studying, so start your application roughly a year ahead rather than waiting until your final exam results arrive.
Limkokwing, SANU, and EMCU each run their own application process directly through their institutional websites, generally with rolling admissions and multiple intakes across the year. This makes them a practical fallback if you miss a UNESWA deadline or do not meet a specific programme's points requirement.
What it costs
Tuition varies by programme and changes from year to year, so check the official UNESWA fee schedule for the year you plan to apply rather than relying on a fixed figure. On top of tuition, budget for accommodation, food, textbooks, and transport, since these add substantially to your total cost of study. Fees at Eswatini's universities are billed in Lilangeni (SZL). The Lilangeni is pegged 1:1 to the South African Rand (ZAR), and both currencies circulate as legal tender in the country, which makes cross-border cost comparisons with South Africa straightforward.
Funding your studies
Most local students who cannot self-fund apply for the Eswatini government's tertiary scholarship , which combines a discounted study loan with a separate assistance loan for living costs. UNESWA also runs its own foundation scholarship fund for enrolled students. Both routes are covered in detail in a separate guide to scholarships and student funding in Eswatini.