The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is a public university on the Mlimani campus in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. It describes itself as Tanzania’s oldest and largest public university.[1] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it entered the overall table in the 1201–1400 band.[2]
For 2026/27 the university’s admission booklet quotes tuition in Tanzanian shillings (TZS): TZS 1,000,000 to 1,800,000 for Tanzanian nationals and TZS 5,565,000 to 10,653,000 per full-time year for non-Tanzanian nationals in most bachelor’s programmes, rising to TZS 15,030,000 for medicine at the Mbeya college.[3] Applicants from abroad are billed admission fees upon arrival.[3]
Key facts
| Official name | University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM); Swahili: Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam[4] |
| Location | Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus on Observation Hill, 1,625 acres, 13 km from the city centre; postal address P.O. Box 35091, Dar es Salaam[3] |
| Type | Public university[1] |
| Founded | 1961 as University College of Dar es Salaam, an affiliate of the University of London; university established 1 July 1970 by Act No. 12 of 1970[3] |
| Students (university figures) | 39,619 undergraduate and 5,536 postgraduate students; the Vice Chancellor’s message on the same site says “more than 35,000”[1] |
| Programmes | 112 undergraduate and 150 postgraduate programmes[1] |
| Academic units | Three campuses, seven colleges, seven institutes and seven schools (university’s count)[3] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Band 1201–1400 (debut in the overall ranking)[2] |
| QS 2027 Employment Outcomes indicator | 131st globally among 1,504 universities (score 85.3)[5] |
| Tuition 2026/27, Tanzanian nationals | TZS 1,000,000 to 1,800,000 depending on programme[3] |
| Tuition 2026/27, non-Tanzanian nationals | TZS 5,565,000 to 15,030,000 per full-time year depending on programme[3] |
| Application route | Online admission system (UDSM-OLAS); international applicants apply directly to the university[3] |
| Official website | udsm.ac.tz |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 8 November 2026.
About the University of Dar es Salaam
The University of Dar es Salaam started in 1961 as the University College of Dar es Salaam, an affiliate college of the University of London with one faculty (Law) and 14 students. In 1963 it became a constituent college of the University of East Africa. It was established as a university in its own right on 1 July 1970 by Act No. 12 of 1970 of the Parliament.[3] The university’s own home page gives 25 October 1961 as its date of establishment.[1]
The main campus, the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Mlimani Campus, lies on Observation Hill on the western side of Dar es Salaam, about 13 km from the city centre. The booklet lists two further campuses: the Dar es Salaam University College of Education (also in Dar es Salaam) and Mkwawa University College of Education in Iringa.[3]
Student numbers differ by source. The university’s home page gives 39,619 undergraduate and 5,536 postgraduate students, while the Vice Chancellor’s message on the same site speaks of more than 35,000 students, about 5,000 of them postgraduates and about 300 international students.[1] The aggregator xuanxiao.org reports 37,557 full-time-equivalent students from Times Higher Education 2027 data.[6]
How is the University of Dar es Salaam ranked?
In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, UDSM is placed in the 1201–1400 band. The university’s own news item of 16 July 2026 describes this as its debut in the overall QS ranking.[2] Tanzanian press gives the same band, and the aggregator xuanxiao.org lists it too.[7][6] QS does not publish single positions within this band, so no individual rank can be given.
UDSM does better on one indicator. In the QS Employment Outcomes indicator it scored 85.3 and ranked 131st globally among 1,504 universities.[5][7] The Daily News reports this as first in Tanzania. The two articles differ on the regional position: the Daily News calls UDSM first in the East African Community and fourth in Africa, while The Citizen says third in East Africa.[7][5] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Dar es Salaam?
The university states that it offers 112 undergraduate and 150 postgraduate programmes.[1] Undergraduate awards include bachelor’s degrees, diplomas and certificates.[3] The main academic units are:
- Colleges at Mlimani: Agriculture and Food Science Technology, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social Sciences.[3]
- Schools and business school: UDSM Business School, School of Economics, School of Law, School of Education, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, School of Mines and Geosciences, and School of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Technology.[3]
- Institutes: among them the Institute of Kiswahili Studies, the Institute of Development Studies, the Institute of Gender Studies and the Institute of Marine Sciences in Zanzibar.[3]
- Outside Mlimani: the Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences, which offers the Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Surgery.[3]
Visiting students can also join for a limited time. Short-term students are admitted to bachelor’s programmes for one academic year and occasional students for one semester; they apply through their own university, which sends a recommendation letter.[3]
How much does the University of Dar es Salaam cost in 2026/27?
| Programme | Tanzanian nationals (TZS) | Non-Tanzanian nationals (TZS, full-time year) |
|---|---|---|
| BA Psychology | 1,000,000 | 5,565,000 |
| BSc Civil Engineering | 1,300,000 | 7,155,000 |
| BSc Computer Science | 1,500,000 | 9,275,000 |
| Bachelor of Laws (LLB) | 1,500,000 | 9,831,500 |
| BSc Physics (Medical Physics) | 1,800,000 | 10,653,000 |
| Doctor of Medicine (Mbeya college) | 1,800,000 | 15,030,000 |
These examples come from Table 5 of the 2026/2027 undergraduate admission booklet, which lists tuition for every bachelor’s programme in TZS. Across that table Tanzanian nationals pay TZS 1,000,000 to 1,800,000 and non-Tanzanian nationals TZS 5,565,000 to 15,030,000.[3] The booklet quotes no US dollar amounts and does not separate students from East African Community countries from other non-Tanzanians.
Every student must also pay approved direct university costs on top of tuition, whatever the sponsorship. Graduation charges, for example, are TZS 80,000 for Tanzanian nationals and TZS 106,000 for non-Tanzanians.[3] Fees are due before the start of the first semester, are not refundable, and the university reserves the right to revise them.[3] Foreign applicants should confirm the exact amount for their programme with the university before travelling. For living costs, see our Tanzania guide.
Postgraduate programmes
We could not read a current postgraduate fee schedule, so we give no postgraduate amounts. Check the postgraduate pages of the university website.[1]
How do you apply to the University of Dar es Salaam?
Undergraduate applications are made through the UDSM Online Admission System (UDSM-OLAS), linked from the university website.[3][1] You register with an email address, create a password and then complete the application. You must choose at least three and at most fifteen programmes.[3]
- International applicants: Tanzania’s regulator reminded the public in July 2026 that international applicants apply directly to their chosen universities, which assess foreign qualifications.[8] The booklet says international applicants must meet the general minimum entry requirements and the programme-specific requirements as advertised.[3]
- 8-4-4 systems: applicants from countries that follow an 8-4-4 education system must first complete at least one year of study at a university in their own country.[3]
- Minimum for direct entry: all direct applicants must meet the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) minimum of two principal passes with at least 4.0 points from two A-level subjects.[3]
- Application fee: TZS 10,000 (non-refundable) for Tanzanians; candidates applying from abroad are billed admission fees upon arrival.[3]
- Residence permit: admitted foreign students must apply for a residence permit at the nearest Tanzanian embassy before they leave for Tanzania.[3]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year. Check the current advertisement on the university website.
Which language level do you need?
The booklet does not state the language of instruction and names no language test for international applicants. It is written in English, and several programmes list a pass in English at O-level among their entry requirements.[3] We found no official statement on the teaching language in the sources we could read, so confirm it with your programme before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Dar es Salaam cost for international students?
For 2026/27 the admission booklet lists tuition for non-Tanzanian nationals between TZS 5,565,000 and TZS 15,030,000 per full-time year, depending on the programme. Tanzanian nationals pay TZS 1,000,000 to 1,800,000.[3]
What is the University of Dar es Salaam’s QS ranking?
It is in the 1201–1400 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027, its debut in the overall table.[2] QS gives no single position within that band.
Is the University of Dar es Salaam the same as MUHAS?
No. Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences was a college of UDSM until 2007 and then became an independent university, now MUHAS.[3] The two have separate admissions.
How do I apply from abroad?
Can I study at the University of Dar es Salaam for just one year or one semester?
Yes, as a short-term student (one academic year) or an occasional student (one semester). You apply through your home university, which sends a recommendation letter.[3]
More about studying in Tanzania
- Tanzania: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Tanzania
- Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
- Sokoine University of Agriculture
- University of Dodoma
Sources
[1] University of Dar es Salaam: Home page (page without a date)
[2] University of Dar es Salaam: News item on the QS World University Rankings 2027 (item dated 16 Jul 2026; QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access)
[3] University of Dar es Salaam: Undergraduate Programmes and Admission Procedures 2026/2027 (admission booklet) (booklet for the 2026/2027 academic year)
[4] Wikipedia: University of Dar es Salaam (Swahili name; secondary source)
[5] The Citizen: University of Dar es Salaam ranks 3rd in East Africa for graduate employability (article of 16 Jul 2026)
[6] xuanxiao.org: University of Dar es Salaam (aggregator, QS 2027 band and student figure) (page without a date)
[7] Daily News: UDSM tops East Africa in graduate employability (article of 17 Jul 2026)
[8] Daily News: TCU opens first 2026/27 admission window (article of 11 Jul 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.