Mandume ya Ndemufayo University (Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo, UMN) is a public university in Lubango, Huíla province. Its statute, approved by Presidential Decree 285/21 of 2 December 2021, names three faculties (Law, Economics, Medicine) and two polytechnic institutes, in Huíla and in Ondjiva (Cunene), plus research institutes.[1] A July 2026 report puts enrolment at 7,164 students and teaching staff at more than 200.[2]
We could not confirm a QS World University Rankings 2027 position. In the unirank Africa list of November 2021 UMN was 16th in Africa and the highest-placed Angolan university.[3] The university publishes no fee amounts in the sources we could read; its academic regulation says the Rector publishes the fee table each year.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo (UMN) |
| Location | Lubango, Huíla province (seat); a polytechnic institute in Ondjiva, Cunene province[5] |
| Type | Public institute (public-law legal person) with scientific, pedagogical and financial autonomy[1] |
| Founded | 2009; created from the Higher Institute of Educational Sciences (ISCED) of Lubango under Decree 7/09 of 12 May according to Wikipedia[6] |
| Statute | Presidential Decree 285/21 of 2 December 2021 (signed 15 November 2021)[1] |
| Organic units | Faculties of Law, Economics and Medicine; Huíla Polytechnic Institute; Ondjiva Polytechnic Institute; research institutes[1] |
| Degrees | Licenciatura, master’s, doctorate and specialist title[1] |
| Students | 7,164 enrolled in the academic year covered by a July 2026 report[2] |
| Teaching staff | More than 200[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed (no readable source lists UMN) |
| unirank Africa list, November 2021 | 16th in Africa; highest-placed Angolan institution[3] |
| Language | Portuguese (inferred: the regulation requires translation of foreign documents into Portuguese)[4] |
| Official website | umn.ed.ao (did not load when we checked on 8 November 2026) |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.
About Mandume ya Ndemufayo University
Wikipedia says the Lubango campus dates back to 1963, when classes began there as part of the General University Studies of Angola, and that UMN was created in 2008/2009 by Decree 7/09 of 12 May, by raising the Lubango Higher Institute of Educational Sciences (ISCED) to a university.[6] The 2020 network decree confirms that Decree 7/09 of 12 May reorganised the public higher-education network.[5] Wikipedia’s infobox gives a different establishment date, 10 June 1974; we use 2009.[6]
UMN is a public institute with its seat in Lubango.[1] The 2020 network decree gives it the faculties of Law, Economics and Medicine and an institute in Lubango, plus a polytechnic institute in Ondjiva that covers Cunene province.[5] A July 2026 report counts 7,164 students and more than 200 teaching staff, and says STEM courses are taught at the Huíla and Ondjiva polytechnic institutes.[2]
In January 2026 the Angolan press reported a plan for a new campus at Poiares in the Arimba commune on the outskirts of Lubango, over 350 hectares, at an estimated cost of US$120 million. The current facilities are described as adapted rather than purpose-built.[7]
How is Mandume ya Ndemufayo University ranked?
QS 2027: we could not confirm a position. The QS site blocks automated access and no readable source we found lists UMN, so we give no number.
unirank (November 2021): in a list of the 200 best-regarded and most popular universities in Africa published by unirank, UMN entered at 16th, the highest of the Angolan institutions, ahead of Universidade Independente de Angola (30th) and Agostinho Neto University (39th).[3] The list is over four years old and rests on accreditation and web popularity rather than research output. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Mandume ya Ndemufayo University?
The statute lists licenciatura, master’s and doctoral degrees.[1] Programmes confirmed in ministerial decrees and press reports:
- Faculty of Economics: master’s in Accounting and Corporate Finance.[8]
- Faculty of Law: master’s in Legal Sciences, 30 places in the decree.[9]
- Faculty of Medicine: a specialisation in medical microbiology and parasitology, funded by the EU, was under way in 2026.[2]
- Science and technology: more than 10 STEM-related courses taught at the Huíla and Ondjiva polytechnic institutes, and a master’s in Genetic Biodiversity and Conservation run with the University of Porto. A World Bank-backed project of US$3.5 million (July 2026) is to support STEM programmes.[2]
A course directory (angolaformativa.com, undated) lists many more licenciatura programmes, among them Medicine, Law, Economics, several engineering fields and tourism management.[10] Ask the university for the current list.
How much does Mandume ya Ndemufayo University cost?
We found no published fee amounts. The university’s academic regulation says that registration fees are set by the University Senate and that the Rector publishes the fee table each academic year; fees also apply to some services such as grade-improvement exams.[4] The regulation carries no date on the page we read. Because the official website did not load when we checked, we could not see the current table. Ask the university or the faculty for the current amounts, including any amount for international students.
How do you apply to Mandume ya Ndemufayo University?
Admission is through an access exam. Under the academic regulation:[4]
- Eligibility: completed pre-university or middle-level education or an equivalent.
- Documents: identity card (passport for foreigners), original certificate with grades for all subjects and years, an employer declaration for workers, a military-service status certificate copy, the registration form and two passport-style photos.
- Places: admission depends on the places each unit sets by course and speciality (numerus clausus); the top-ranked candidates are admitted, and a unit may set a minimum grade. An access exam is valid only for the academic year it covers.
The regulation does not state whether a separate route exists for international students, and we give no dates because they change every year. Contact the Reitoria or the faculty for the current exam notice.[4]
Which language do you need?
Portuguese, in all likelihood. The regulation does not name the language of instruction, but it requires foreign documents not written in Portuguese to be translated.[4] We found no English-taught programme and no stated language-certificate requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mandume ya Ndemufayo University public?
Yes. Its statute classes it as a public institute with its seat in Lubango.[1]
How many students does Mandume ya Ndemufayo University have?
A July 2026 report gives 7,164 enrolled students and more than 200 teaching staff.[2]
Is Mandume ya Ndemufayo University ranked by QS?
We could not confirm a QS 2027 position. In the unirank Africa list of November 2021 it was 16th, the highest-placed Angolan university.[3]
How much are the fees?
We found no published amounts. The regulation says the Rector publishes the fee table each year.[4]
Where is Mandume ya Ndemufayo University?
The seat is in Lubango, Huíla province; it also has a polytechnic institute in Ondjiva, Cunene province.[5]
More about studying in Angola
- Angola: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Angola
- Agostinho Neto University
- Catholic University of Angola
- Jean Piaget University of Angola
- Lusíada University of Angola
Sources
[1] lex.ao: Decreto Presidencial n.º 285/21, Estatuto Orgânico da Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo (published 2 Dec 2021, signed 15 Nov 2021)
[2] allAfrica: Angola: Mandume Ya Ndemufayo University secures funding to strengthen STEM programs (article of 7 Jul 2026)
[3] Ver Angola: UMN entra pela primeira vez no ranking africano (article of 12 Nov 2021 on the unirank Africa list)
[4] AngoLEX: Regime Académico da Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo (regulation text; page without a date)
[5] AngoLEX: Decreto Presidencial n.º 285/20, Reorganização da Rede de Instituições Públicas de Ensino Superior (decree issued 20 Oct 2020)
[6] Wikipedia: Mandume ya Ndemufayo University (history; secondary source with conflicting establishment dates)
[7] Ver Angola: Huíla, construction of UMN university campus will cost 120 million dollars (article of 7 Jan 2026)
[8] lex.ao: Decreto Executivo n.º 22/17, Mestrado em Contabilidade e Finanças Empresariais (published 19 Jan 2017)
[9] lex.ao: Decreto Executivo n.º 608/17, Mestrado em Ciências Jurídicas (published 6 Oct 2017)
[10] Angola Formativa: Universidade Mandume ya Ndemufayo (directory listing, page without a date; secondary source)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.