Africa University institutional logo

Africa University

Mutare, Zimbabwe Founded 1992

Updated May 2026

Overview

English Name: Africa University
Acronyms: AU
Founded: 1992
Institution Type: University
Control Type: Private
Entity Type: Non-profit
Religious Affiliation: Christian-Methodist
Motto: Investing in Africa's Future
Colours: Red, black and white
Africa University institutional logo

Established in 1992, the Africa University is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the small city of Mutare (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Manicaland.

This institution also has a branch campus in Harare. Officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe, Africa University (AU) is a very small-sized coeducational Zimbabwean higher education institution formally affiliated with the Christian-Methodist religion.

Africa University (AU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 31-year-old Zimbabwean higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations.

The acceptance rate range is 30-39% making this Zimbabwean higher education organization a very selective institution.

International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment. AU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Africa University's on-the-ground location and digital channels to engage with the institution. Library access for prospective students is often arranged separately through the main library team.

Address: Nyanga Road, PO Box 1320
Map:
Phone: +263 (20) 61611
Fax: +263 (20) 61785
Social Media:

Academic Details

Africa University's key academic numbers — student body size, faculty composition, and accreditation context. Numbers reflect the most recent figures published by the institution and recognised bodies.

Academic Year: August to May (August-December; January-May)
Recognition: Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe
Accrediting Agency: Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE)
Admission Requirements: General Certificate of Education (GCE) with passes at Advanced ('A') level in relevant subjects and passes in 5 subjects at Ordinary ('O') level
Student Enrollment: 1
Academic Staff Range: 500-599
Campus Setting: Suburban
Memberships & Networks
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Association of African Universities (AAU) Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) International Association of Methodist Related Schools, Colleges and Universities (IAMSCU) Africa Association of Methodist Institutions of Higher Education (AAMIHE)

Academic Structures

Below is the academic-unit breakdown for Africa University. Inter-faculty credit transfer rules vary; check whether modules outside your home faculty count toward your degree before enrolling.

Unit 3 items
  • College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance
  • College of Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences
  • College of Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education

Degrees

Also Post-Basic Bachelor of Science Honours in Nursing in 2 yrs; Postgraduate Certificate in Theological and Religious Research; Executive MBA

Bachelor's 42 programs

Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.

  • Accountancy
  • Administration
  • Agricultural Business
  • Agricultural Management
  • Agriculture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Biomedicine
  • Business Administration
  • Business and Commerce
  • Communication Studies
  • Community Development
  • Community Health
  • Computer Science
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Education
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Health Administration
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Journalism
  • Laboratory Techniques
  • Labour and Industrial Relations
  • Law
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Media Studies
  • Natural Resources
  • Preschool Education
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration
  • Religion
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Software Engineering
  • Translation and Interpretation
Master's 27 programs

Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.

  • Accountancy
  • Agricultural Business
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Business Administration
  • Child Care and Development
  • Computer Science
  • Crop Production
  • Development Studies
  • Education
  • Educational Administration
  • Educational Technology
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Government
  • Human Rights
  • Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Law
  • Leadership
  • Natural Resources
  • Peace and Disarmament
  • Private Law
  • Public Administration
  • Public Health
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Theology
  • Welfare and Protective Services
Doctoral 6 programs

Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.

  • Child Care and Development
  • Government
  • Law
  • Leadership
  • Peace and Disarmament
  • Public Health

Faculties & Divisions

All faculties operate under Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe.

Harare (Campus) 5 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Business Administration
  • Government
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Law
  • Leadership
Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (College) 8 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Accountancy
  • Business Administration
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Government
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Peace and Disarmament

Common Career Paths

  • Business Analyst
  • Operations Manager
  • Strategy Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Engineering and Applied Sciences (College) 1 subject offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Computer Engineering

Common Career Paths

  • Engineer
  • Project Manager
  • Technical Consultant

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Health, Agriculture and Natural Sciences (College) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Agriculture
  • Biomedicine
  • Environmental Studies
  • Laboratory Techniques
  • Natural Resources
  • Nursing
  • Public Health

Common Career Paths

  • Agricultural Scientist
  • Agronomist
  • Farm Manager

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education (College) 7 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Education
  • International Relations and Diplomacy
  • Religious Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Social Work
  • Theology

Common Career Paths

  • Teacher
  • Educational Administrator
  • Curriculum Specialist

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Law (School) 3 subjects offered

Specialisations & Subjects

  • Law
  • Private Law
  • Public Law

Common Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Legal Consultant
  • Compliance Officer

Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.

Programs Offered

Africa University's programmes, with filter and level-based grouping. The combination of search and tier view makes shortlisting faster across large catalogues.

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

Bachelor's Degree 34 programmes

Bachelor of Accounting Honours
Accounting

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in English and Communication Studies
Communication Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Gender and Cultural Studies
Art History

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Media and Journalism
Media Studies & Mass Media

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Religion and Community Health
Public Health

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Translation and Interpretation in Languages
Translation & Interpreting

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Arts Honours with Education (Multiple Specialisms)
Education & Teaching

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Business Studies Honours in Management
Business & Management

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Business Studies Honours in Marketing
Marketing

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Bachelor of Divinity Honours
Religious Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 34.

Master's Degree 23 programmes

Executive Master of Business Administration
Business Administration

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master in Human Rights, Peace & Development
Law

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master in Intellectual Property
Law

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master in Peace, Leadership and Governance
Politics & International Relations

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master in Public Policy and Governance
Public Policy

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master in Public Sector Management
Business & Management

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master of Arts in Religious Studies
Religious Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Management and Development
Business & Management

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master of Education in Educational Technology
Education & Teaching

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Master of Philosophy in Crop Production/Animal Science/Agribusiness and Natural Resources
Horticulture and Crop Science

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Showing 10 of 23.

Doctorate 4 programmes

Doctor of Philosophy in Child Rights and Childhood Studies
Philosophy & Ethics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Doctor of Philosophy in Intellectual Property
Law

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Doctor of Philosophy in Peace Leadership and Governance
Philosophy & Ethics

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health
Public Health

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Certificate 2 programmes

Postgraduate Certificate in Theological and Religious Research
Islamic & Quranic Studies

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Diploma 2 programmes

Post Graduate Diploma in Education
Education & Teaching

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

Post-Basic Bachelor of Science Honours in Nursing
Nursing

Programme website (opens in a new tab)

How to apply to Africa University

What applying to Africa University typically involves — research, eligibility check, document prep, submission, and follow-up.

  1. 1
    Identify the right programme

    Use the programme finder to browse Africa University's 65 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

  2. 2
    Check entry requirements

    Programme-level requirements at Africa 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
    Prepare your application 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
    Submit via the institution

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

  5. 5
    Get in touch with admissions

    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 [email protected] or by phone at +263 (20) 61611. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Africa University

Short Q&A on the institutional facts that matter most when shortlisting Africa University as a study destination.

When was Africa University founded?

Africa University was established in 1992 (approximately 34 years ago).

Where can I find Africa University?

The institution is located in Mutare, Zimbabwe.

Is Africa University a public or private institution?

Africa University operates as a private institution.

How many students does Africa University have?

The institution has a student body of 1,000-1,999.

What degrees does Africa University offer?

Africa University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.

What is Africa University's religious tradition?

Yes, Africa University is affiliated with Christian-Methodist.

How is Africa University organised academically?

The institution comprises 3 academic units.

Who recognises Africa University?

Yes, Africa University is recognised by Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE).

What is Africa University's official website?

Africa University's official website is www.africau.edu.

Top-Ranked Universities in Zimbabwe

International student mix at Zimbabwe's top universities tends to be higher than at lower-ranked institutions. This affects campus culture and the value of student networks for international students.

Members of Association of African Universities (AAU)

The universities below share Africa University's Association of African Universities (AAU) membership, often coordinating on academic standards. Coordination simplifies credit transfer and joint-programme delivery between member institutions.

Other Zimbabwean Universities Affiliated with Christian-Methodist

Beyond Africa University, several other universities affiliated with Christian-Methodist operate with similar values, campus life, and pastoral support — useful comparisons if faith identity is part of your decision. Pastoral support varies meaningfully between affiliated institutions.

Where Else to Study Business & Management

Other universities in Zimbabwe that teach Business & Management appear below — useful for comparing programme depth against Africa University. Programme structures differ even within the same country, so detailed comparison is worth the effort.

Universities Compared with Africa University

Rankings methodologies differ across peer institutions to Africa University. National, subject-specific, and international rankings can all tell different stories about the same set of universities.

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