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Bahir Dar University brand identity

Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia • Founded 2000

Updated May 2026 · Source: bdu.edu.et

Overview

English Name: Bahir Dar University
Local Name: ባህር ዳር ዩኒቨርስቲ
Acronyms: BDU
Founded: 2000
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Public
Entity Type: Non-profit
Religious Affiliation: None
Rankings:
CWTS Leiden 2025 #1086 SCImago 2026 #2434
Bahir Dar University institutional facilities
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Established in 2001, the Bahir Dar University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the small city of Bahir Dar (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Amhara Region.

Officially recognized by the Ministry of Education of Ethiopia, Bahir Dar University (BDU) is a coeducational Ethiopian higher education institution. Bahir Dar University (BDU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study.

BDU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, sports facilities, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Below are Bahir Dar University's address, location, and primary contact channels.

Address: Peda, Kebele 08
Postal Code: 79
Other Sites: Wisdom Tower
Phone: +251 (58) 220 0137
Fax: +251 (58) 220 2025
Email: bduinfo@bdu.edu.et
Social Media:

Academic Details

Enrolment, faculty headcount, and accreditation data for Bahir Dar University are listed below.

Academic Year: September to June (September-December; January-March; April-June)
Recognition: Ministry of Education of Ethiopia
Accrediting Agency: Ministry of Science and Higher Education;Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA)
Admission Requirements: Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate (ESLCE) or equivalent
Total Students: 30,000
Full-Time Academic Staff: 2,000
Academic Staff with Doctorate: 172

Academic Structures

The academic units of Bahir Dar University are listed below.

Unit 4 items
  • Faculty of Education
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Natural Business and Economics

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Ministry of Education of Ethiopia.

Maritime Academy (Academy) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Marine Engineering
Sport (Academy) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Sports
Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (College) 12 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agricultural Management
  • Agriculture
  • Botany
  • Development Studies
  • Environmental Management
  • Fishery
  • Natural Resources
  • Rural Planning
  • Water Management
  • Water Science
  • Wildlife
  • Zoology
Business and Economics (College) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Economics
  • Information Technology
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Transport Management
Educational and Behavioural Sciences (College) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Adult Education
  • Curriculum
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Psychology
  • Special Education
  • Teacher Training
Health and Medical Sciences (College) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Health Sciences
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Public Health
Science (College) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Industrial Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Sports
  • Statistics
Humanities (Faculty) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • African Languages
  • Communication Studies
  • English
  • Folklore
  • Journalism
  • Literature
Social Sciences (Faculty) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Anthropology
  • Civics
  • Environmental Studies
  • Ethics
  • Geography
  • History
  • Political Sciences
  • Social Work
Disaster Risk Management and Food Security (Institute) Faculty details available

Specialisations & Subjects

No specified subjects listed.

Land Administration (Institute) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Rural Planning
Technology (Institute) 6 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Water Science
Textile and Fashion Technologies (Institute) 4 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Clothing and Sewing
  • Fashion Design
  • Textile Design
  • Textile Technology
Law (School) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law

Programs Offered

All active programmes at Bahir Dar University are listed by degree level.

101 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Ethiopia

Bachelor's Degree 22 programmes

BEd in Engineering Drawing and Design
Applied Design

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BEd in Information Technology Education
Education & Teaching

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Aerospace Engineering
General Engineering

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Automotive Engineering
Trades

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Chemical Engineering
Chemistry

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering & Construction

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Computer Engineering
Computer Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Computer Science
Computer Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Cyber Security
Cyber Security

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

BSc in Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 22.

Master's Degree 44 programmes

MSc in Agricultural Mechanization Engineering
Agriculture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Applied Human Nutrition
Nutrition & Dietetics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
Data Science & Analytics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Automotive Engineering
Trades

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Biotechnology

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical & Laboratory Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Communication System Engineering
Communication Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Computer Engineering (Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering)
AI & Machine Learning

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Computer Engineering (Computer Networks and Cyber Security)
Cyber Security

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

MSc in Computer Science
Computer Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 44.

Doctorate 35 programmes

PhD in Agricultural Machinery Engineering
Agriculture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Agricultural Mechanization Engineering
Agriculture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Biochemical Engineering
Chemistry

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Communication System Engineering
Communication Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Engineering (Architectures and High Performance Computing)
Architecture

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Engineering (Data Communication Networks and Security)
Communication Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Engineering (Intelligent and Adaptive Systems)
Computer Sciences

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence and Robotics)
AI & Machine Learning

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Science (Communication and Network Systems)
Communication Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

PhD in Computer Science (Cyber Security)
Cyber Security

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 35.

How to apply to Bahir Dar University

A five-step guide to applying to Bahir Dar University.

  1. 1
    Research programmes at Bahir Dar University

    Use the programme finder to browse Bahir Dar University's 101 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

  2. 2
    Review admissions criteria

    Programme-level requirements at Bahir Dar University typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.

  3. 3
    Gather supporting documents

    Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.

  4. 4
    Lodge your application

    Bahir Dar University processes applications through www.bdu.edu.et. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.

  5. 5
    Confirm receipt and track progress

    Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. You can reach the institution by email at bduinfo@bdu.edu.et or by phone at +251 (58) 220 0137. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bahir Dar University

Below are key facts about Bahir Dar University, drawn directly from institutional records.

How old is Bahir Dar University?

The institution opened in 2000 (approximately 26 years ago).

In which city is Bahir Dar University?

Bahir Dar University is based in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Is Bahir Dar University a public or private institution?

It is a public higher-education institution.

How many students study at Bahir Dar University?

Bahir Dar University has approximately 30,000 students.

What degrees does Bahir Dar University offer?

Bahir Dar University delivers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes across its academic units.

How is Bahir Dar University organised academically?

Bahir Dar University is organised into 4 academic units across its disciplines.

Is Bahir Dar University officially recognised?

Bahir Dar University is accredited by Ministry of Science and Higher Education;Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA).

What is Bahir Dar University's official website?

Bahir Dar University's official website is www.bdu.edu.et.

Top-Ranked Universities in Ethiopia

Some Ethiopia systems publish government rating frameworks (NIRF, QS Stars, regulatory grading) alongside rankings. These add independent signals beyond commercial ranking tables.

Faculties at nearby universities

Also in Bahir Dar: universities located close to Bahir Dar University.

Where Else to Study General Engineering

Universities in Ethiopia with General Engineering programmes appear below, alongside Bahir Dar University.

Universities Compared with Bahir Dar University

Universities of a similar scale and standing to Bahir Dar University are listed below.

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