The Great Red Island, as Madagascar is often known, is an island country in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. It is one of the world’s largest islands and is known for its landscapes, biodiversity, and cultural diversity. The Malagasy people and language reflect a long history of African and Southeast Asian influences. Malagasy and French are the country’s official languages, so students should expect to encounter both languages in daily life and university settings.
In terms of education, Madagascar has a public university system that developed from the former University of Madagascar and its regional university centers. Academic calendars vary by institution, so applicants should check the current calendar, admission notices, and fee schedule directly with their chosen university. Tuition and registration fees are usually published by faculty, school, institute, or specific program rather than in one central international tuition table. The figures below are therefore based on available published notices and should be verified directly with the relevant university before applying.
Here are the affordable universities in Madagascar for international students.
Affordable Schools in Madagascar for International Students
1. University of Antananarivo
- Tuition Fees: Published FOAD Management fee notices list foreign-student administrative and school-contribution charges of about Ar 172,500 to Ar 226,250 per year before any separate training fee, or approximately $41 to $54.
As a major public university in Madagascar, the University of Antananarivo is one of the country’s best-known institutions of higher education. The university traces its origins to the Institut des Hautes Études, founded in 1955, and to earlier schools of medicine and law. It became the Université de Madagascar in 1960 and later acquired its present status as an independent university.
The university is based in Antananarivo, with other sites listed in Antsirabe and Soavinandriana. Its academic structure includes faculties and schools covering arts and humanities, economics, management and sociology, law and political sciences, medicine, science, agronomy, education, and polytechnic studies. Its academic year is listed as March to December, and admission generally requires a secondary school certificate, such as the baccalauréat or equivalent, and an entrance examination. Living costs in Antananarivo vary by lifestyle and housing, so students should budget carefully and verify current local costs before arrival.
2. University of Toamasina
- Tuition Fees: Course-specific figures found online range from about Ar 370,000 to Ar 1,020,000 per year, or approximately $88 to $242.
The University of Toamasina is a public university located at Barikadimy in Toamasina. It began in 1977 as a regional university center of the University of Madagascar and later became an autonomous university. It is recognized by Madagascar’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The university offers programs through divisions such as arts and humanities, law, economics and management, medicine, and science and technology. Its academic year is listed as October to June, and admission generally requires a secondary school certificate, such as the baccalauréat or equivalent, and an entrance examination. French and Malagasy are listed as languages used by the university.
3. University of Fianarantsoa
- Tuition Fees: Published fees for the National School of Computer Science list Ar 1,050,000 per year for foreign students or certain special officer candidates, or approximately $112 to $249. Other faculties and professional programs may have different fee schedules.
Another public university in Madagascar is the University of Fianarantsoa. It began as the Regional University Center of Fianarantsoa during the 1977/1978 academic year, starting with a first-year mathematics program and 126 students. The university’s official history says it became the University of Fianarantsoa on October 7, 1988.
The university’s current official page reports about 34,300 students for 2023–2026, with five faculties, three higher schools, and three institutes. Its fields include arts and humanities, law, economics, management and social sciences, medicine, sciences, computing, and professional studies. Admission generally requires a secondary school certificate, such as the baccalauréat or equivalent, and an entrance examination, and Malagasy and French are listed as languages used by the institution.
4. University of Antsiranana
- Tuition Fees: Published notices found online include Ar 300,000 for foreign students in a Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences registration or re-registration notice, or about $59 to $71. A doctoral-school notice listed doctoral registration at Ar 1,000,000 per year, or about $237.
The University of Antsiranana is a public university in northern Madagascar. It grew from the Regional University Center of Antsiranana, installed in Diego-Suarez in 1976, and became a full university in 1988. Its current official name is Université d’Antsiranana rather than Regional University Centre of Antsiranana.
Its academic offerings include the École Supérieure Polytechnique, École Normale Supérieure for Technical Education, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Law, Economics, Management and Political Sciences, Institute of Business Administration, and School of Agronomy and Environment. Applicants should confirm current language, admissions, and fee requirements with the university before applying.
We hope that this article on affordable universities in Madagascar was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
