Midlands State University
Gweru, Zimbabwe • Founded 1999 • World Rank #4349
Updated May 2026
Overview
Established in 2000, the Midlands State University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Gweru (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), Midlands.
Officially recognized by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University (MSU) is a large-sized coeducational Zimbabwean higher education institution. Midlands State University (MSU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in several areas of study.
This 24-year-old Zimbabwean higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.
MSU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, financial aids and/or scholarships, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Need to get in touch with Midlands State University or find your way to campus? Address, phone, email, and online links are below. These reflect what the institution publishes on its official channels.
Academic Details
Midlands State 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 Structures
Midlands State University's teaching organisation from faculties down to institutes. Faculty websites typically list their own programme catalogue, faculty bios, and contact information separately from the central site.
Unit 6 items
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Commerce
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Natural Resources Management and Agriculture
- Faculty of Science and Technology
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Degrees
Also MBA; Executive MBA; Dual Degrees
Bachelor's 72 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Accountancy
- African Languages
- African Studies
- Agricultural Economics
- Agronomy
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Art Education
- Art Management
- Artificial Intelligence
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Business Education
- Business and Commerce
- Chemistry
- Communication Arts
- Communication Studies
- Crop Production
- Cultural Studies
- Demography and Population
- Development Studies
- Education
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Film
- Finance
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Foreign Languages Education
- French
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Government
- Graphic Design
- Heritage Preservation
- Horticulture
- Hotel and Restaurant
- Human Resources
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Information Technology
- Journalism
- Law
- Leadership
- Management
- Marketing
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media Studies
- Medicine
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Multimedia
- Museum Studies
- Natural Sciences
- Nutrition
- Peace and Disarmament
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Political Sciences
- Preschool Education
- Primary Education
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Religious Education
- Social Policy
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Surgery
- Surveying and Mapping
- Theatre
- Tourism
Master's 55 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Accountancy
- African Languages
- African Studies
- Agronomy
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Business and Commerce
- Chemistry
- Commercial Law
- Communication Studies
- Constitutional Law
- Crop Production
- Cultural Studies
- Demography and Population
- Development Studies
- Education
- Educational Psychology
- Film
- Finance
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Foreign Languages Education
- Gender Studies
- Government
- Heritage Preservation
- Horticulture
- Hotel and Restaurant
- Human Rights
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Information Technology
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Journalism
- Leadership
- Management
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Media Studies
- Museum Studies
- Music
- Musicology
- Natural Sciences
- Nutrition
- Peace and Disarmament
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Protective Services
- Public Administration
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
- Social Policy
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Theatre
- Tourism
- Welfare and Protective Services
Doctoral 18 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Agriculture
- Agronomy
- Archaeology
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Cultural Studies
- Development Studies
- Government
- Heritage Preservation
- Hotel and Restaurant
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Leadership
- Management
- Museum Studies
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Tourism
Diploma & Certificate 2 programs
Diploma and certificate routes deliver focused, applied training for fast entry into skilled occupations.
- Law
- Social Work
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development of Zimbabwe.
Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Management (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Economics
- Agriculture
- Agronomy
- Animal Husbandry
- Horticulture
- Natural Resources
- Soil Management
- Water Management
- Wildlife
Common Career Paths
- Operations Manager
- Project Manager
- HR Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Arts and Humanities (Faculty) 13 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- African Languages
- African Studies
- Archaeology
- Communication Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Development Studies
- English
- Film
- Heritage Preservation
- History
- Museum Studies
- Religious Studies
- Theatre
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Editor
- Cultural Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Business Sciences (Faculty) 12 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Hotel and Restaurant
- Information Sciences
- Insurance
- Leisure Studies
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Tourism
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Education (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Art Education
- Business Education
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Pedagogy
- Primary Education
- Science Education
- Technology Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Engineering and Geosciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Energy Engineering
- Geology
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law (Faculty) 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.
Medicine and Health Sciences (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Medicine
- Physiology
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Surgery
Common Career Paths
- Physician
- Medical Researcher
- Clinical Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Science and Technology (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Food Science
- Nutrition
- Statistics
- Surveying and Mapping
- Telecommunications Engineering
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Social Sciences (Faculty) 15 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Environmental Studies
- Geography (Human)
- Government
- Human Resources
- Music
- Musicology
- Peace and Disarmament
- Protective Services
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Social and Community Services
- Social Sciences
- Social Studies
- Social Work
- Sustainable Development
Common Career Paths
- Researcher
- Policy Analyst
- Social Worker
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Business Leadership (Graduate School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Search and filter Midlands State University's available programmes by degree level. The list reflects the institution's current catalogue and may not include programmes that are paused or pending approval.
255 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Zimbabwe
Bachelor's Degree 135 programmes
Showing 10 of 135.
Master's Degree 101 programmes
Showing 10 of 101.
Doctorate 2 programmes
Diploma 16 programmes
Showing 10 of 16.
How to apply to Midlands State University
Step-by-step guidance for applying to Midlands State University, covering the typical sequence from programme selection to admissions follow-up.
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1
Research programmes at Midlands State University
Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Midlands State University offers 255 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.
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2
Review admissions criteria
Each programme at Midlands State University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.
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3
Gather supporting documents
Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.
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4
Lodge your application
Apply directly via Midlands State University's online portal at ww5.msu.ac.zw. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.
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5
Confirm receipt and track progress
After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. You can reach the institution by email at [email protected] or by phone at +263 (54) 260404. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Midlands State University
Frequently asked questions about Midlands State University, covering the institutional basics most prospective applicants want to confirm first.
When was Midlands State University founded?
Midlands State University was established in 1999 (approximately 27 years ago).
Where can I find Midlands State University?
The institution is located in Gweru, Zimbabwe.
Is Midlands State University a public or private institution?
Midlands State University operates as a public institution.
How many students does Midlands State University have?
The institution has a student body of 10,000-14,999.
How is Midlands State University ranked?
Midlands State University holds rank #4349 globally and #3 in Zimbabwe.
What programmes are available at Midlands State University?
Programmes at Midlands State University cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How many faculties does Midlands State University have?
The institution comprises 6 academic units.
Is Midlands State University accredited?
Midlands State University is accredited by Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE).
Where can I learn more about Midlands State University?
The institution's website is ww5.msu.ac.zw.
Members of Association of African Universities (AAU)
Joint research grants among Association of African Universities (AAU) members create funded collaborations that often extend to graduate-student opportunities. The network listed below collaborates regularly with Midlands State University.
Where Else to Study Business & Management
Looking for Business & Management programmes beyond Midlands State University? Other universities in Zimbabwe cover the same discipline. Cross-comparing modules, assessment styles, and faculty profiles is the fastest way to find the right fit.
Universities Compared with Midlands State University
Peer universities to Midlands State University by academic scale and prestige are listed below. These often share comparable faculty depth, research output, and graduate outcomes, making the comparison more meaningful than ranking alone.
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