Cavendish University Zambia (CUZ) is a private university in Lusaka, established in 2004 and described by the university as the first private university in Zambia.[1] It has four schools: Medicine, Law, Business and Information Technology, and Arts, Education and Social Sciences.[1] We found no ranking for it in the sources we could read, and no QS World University Rankings 2027 position.[2]
CUZ publishes a 2026 tuition schedule in Zambian kwacha for local students and in US dollars for international students. For a Bachelor of Business Administration (day) it lists ZMW 8,844 and USD 1,385; for the Bachelor of Laws ZMW 10,016 and USD 1,695.[3] The schedule does not say whether these amounts cover a semester or a year. International students need a study permit.[4]
Key facts
| Official name | Cavendish University Zambia (CUZ) |
| Location | Lusaka, Zambia (head office Cavendish House, Villa Elizabetha, Washama Road; postal address P.O. Box 34625, Lusaka)[5] |
| Type | Private university[1] |
| Established | 2004; registered under the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013[1] |
| Campuses | Great North Campus (Business and IT, Arts, Education and Social Sciences) and Longacres Campus (Medicine and Law)[6] |
| Schools | Medicine; Law; Business and Information Technology; Arts, Education and Social Sciences[1] |
| Students | More than 5,500 according to Wikipedia; the university pages we read give no figure[7] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | Not confirmed (not listed on xuanxiao.org)[2] |
| Tuition 2026, Business Administration (day), local | ZMW 8,844 (period not stated)[3] |
| Tuition 2026, Business Administration (day), international | USD 1,385 (period not stated)[3] |
| Tuition 2026, Bachelor of Laws (day) | ZMW 10,016 local · USD 1,695 international (period not stated)[3] |
| Registration fee, per semester | ZMW 350 local · USD 75 international[3] |
| Minimum entry (Business and IT, Law, Arts) | Grade 12 certificate with five credits or better including English; Mathematics for Business and IT[8] |
| Official website | cavendishza.org |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 10 November 2026.
About Cavendish University Zambia
Cavendish University Zambia says it is the first private university in Zambia and was established in 2004. It is registered under the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013 and offers programmes in four schools: Medicine, Law, Business and Information Technology, and Arts, Education and Social Sciences.[1] Distance learning is offered as well.[1]
Wikipedia adds that it opened as a subsidiary of Cavendish College London, that it is now run by the Maarifa Education Trust, and that it has about 5,500 students.[7] The university’s own pages that we read do not describe that background.
Classes for the Business and IT and the Arts, Education and Social Sciences schools are held at the Great North Campus, those for Medicine and Law at the Longacres Campus, and buses connect the two.[6] The university’s application form gives its head office as Cavendish House, Villa Elizabetha, Washama Road, in Lusaka.[5] More universities in Zambia.
Is Cavendish University Zambia ranked?
We could not confirm any ranking. The university does not appear with a QS or Times Higher Education rank on the aggregator page we read, which lists only research metrics.[2] topuniversities.com, where QS publishes the World University Rankings 2027, blocks automated access, so we give no QS number. Rankings differ by publisher and year. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at Cavendish University Zambia?
The 2026 fee schedule lists these groups of programmes:[3]
- Business and Information Technology: bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Economics, Computing, Accounting, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management and Project Management, each four years; master’s programmes including the MBA and Project Management.[3]
- Arts, Education and Social Sciences: Social Work, Development Studies, Mass Communication and Public Relations, Politics and International Relations, and two Bachelor of Education degrees; master’s programmes in social work, development studies and international relations.[3]
- Law: Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws (two specialisations) and a PhD in Law.[3]
- Medicine: Medicine and Surgery (MBChB), Clinical Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, a Diploma in Nursing and a Master of Public Health.[3]
The schedule also lists short courses, among them Robotics and English as a Second Language.[3]
How much does Cavendish University Zambia cost in 2026?
| Programme (day) | Local students (ZMW) | International students (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 8,844 | 1,385 |
| Bachelor of Education (Mathematics and ICT) | 7,005 | 1,080 |
| Bachelor of Social Work | 8,844 | 500 |
| Bachelor of Laws | 10,016 | 1,695 |
| MBA (generic), 18 months | 11,666 | 2,222 |
These are the figures in the “2026 Tuition Fee Schedule”, which has separate tables for local students (kwacha) and international students (US dollars).[3] The schedule does not label the tuition lines as per semester or per year; only the medicine tables are split into semester columns, so ask the university what the amounts cover before you plan a budget.[3] The international table shows USD 500 for Social Work against USD 1,385 for most other bachelor’s degrees.[3]
Medicine and other charges
The first-semester amount for Medicine and Surgery is ZMW 16,649 for local students and USD 2,563 for international students.[3] The two tables disagree on its length: the local table says six years (12 semesters) and the international table four years (8 semesters).[3]
Other mandatory charges for international students include an application form fee of USD 25, registration of USD 75 per semester and a user fee of USD 85 per semester (USD 120 for Medicine); the local equivalents are ZMW 120, ZMW 350 and ZMW 470 (ZMW 650 for Medicine).[3] The university says scholarships go to new Zambian students with 10 points or fewer who pass its aptitude tests.[6]
How do you apply to Cavendish University Zambia?
Fill in the online application form, or download the admission form and drop it off at the registrar’s office.[8] Master’s and postgraduate diploma applicants need a degree relevant to the programme or an equivalent certified qualification.[8]
Admitted international students must apply for a study permit before travelling to Zambia. The university estimates the permit cost at K9,090, requires medical examinations at a public hospital in Zambia, and says full-time students cannot enter on a visitor’s visa; it describes a business visa at the port of entry, valid for 30 days, as a way to complete the permit process.[4] Check the immigration authority’s current guide, which the university links, before you travel. We give no deadlines here because they change every year.
Which language level do you need?
Bachelor’s applicants to the Business and IT, Law, and Arts, Education and Social Sciences schools need a full Grade 12 certificate with five credits or better including Mathematics and English, or an equivalent certified qualification; Medicine adds Biology and Chemistry.[8] The fee schedule lists English alone as mandatory for several Arts and Law programmes and English and Mathematics for Business and IT, so the exact subject list depends on the programme.[3]
The pages we read name no English test for international applicants. CUZ offers a three-month “English as a Second Language” short course, listed at ZMW 7,000 for local students and USD 300 for international students.[3] Ask the admissions office what proof of English it accepts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Cavendish University Zambia cost for international students?
International tuition is quoted in US dollars; for a Bachelor of Business Administration (day) the 2026 schedule lists USD 1,385 and for the Bachelor of Laws USD 1,695.[3] The schedule does not say whether this covers a semester or a year, so confirm before you budget.
Is Cavendish University Zambia a private university?
Yes. The university describes itself as the first private university in Zambia, established in 2004.[1]
Is Cavendish University Zambia ranked?
We could not confirm a ranking, including a QS 2027 position.[2]
Do international students need a study permit?
Yes. Admitted international students apply for a study permit; the university lists the documents and estimates the cost at K9,090.[4]
What are the entry requirements?
For most bachelor’s degrees, a Grade 12 certificate with five credits or better including English (and Mathematics for Business and IT); Medicine also needs Biology and Chemistry.[8]
More about studying in Zambia
- Zambia: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Zambia
Sources
[1] Cavendish University Zambia: About us (page without a date; footer 2026)
[2] xuanxiao.org: Cavendish University Zambia (aggregator; QS publishes its ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (page without a date; no QS or THE rank listed)
[3] Cavendish University Zambia: Tuition fee schedule (2026, local and international) (page headed 2026 Tuition Fee Schedule; billing period not stated)
[4] Cavendish University Zambia: International students (page without a date; footer 2026)
[5] Cavendish University Zambia: Application form (PDF) (uploaded February 2025; the printed fee terms refer to 2016)
[6] Cavendish University Zambia: FAQs (page without a date; footer 2026)
[7] Wikipedia: Cavendish University Zambia (history, ownership and student numbers)
[8] Cavendish University Zambia: Application requirements (page without a date; footer 2026)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.