Located between China and Russia, Mongolia has centuries of history and traditions that are known all around the world. Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire, Nomads, and communism are part of the most important elements of Mongolia’s past that have transformed the identity of the country. One of the elements that were also transformed throughout the years was education, including universities. Improvements in this area have made the country an attractive destination for international students. We will be looking at cheap universities in Mongolia for international students.
Higher education institutions appeared in Mongolia during the 1920s under the communist government. After democracy was established in the country in the late 20th century, the model started to change slowly and there have been many efforts to improve it.
Mongolia’s higher education system is divided into colleges, universities, and institutes. Colleges focus on undergraduate programs, offering bachelor’s degrees, and universities focus on undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate education.
Bachelor’s degree programs usually take between three to five years to complete (120 credits). The only exception is for programs related to the health field, which take from five to six years. Master’s degree programs take two years and Ph.D. programs last for three years. There are other degrees like the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Science which require a lot of work, research, and the writing of a dissertation to be obtained.
Affordable Schools in Mongolia for International Students
1. National University of Mongolia
The National University of Mongolia is often considered the best in the country. This affordable university in Mongolia has three campuses, two in the provinces of Zavkhan and Orkhon Aimags, and one in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar. There are 12 faculties where more than 21,000 students are enrolled.
The application process doesn’t include any exams or interviews. Their one-year language program Mongolian costs 9.187.500 MNT. Tuition fees for bachelor’s degree programs are 10.500.000 MNT, while graduate tuition ranges from 11.200.000 MNT to 10.360.000 MNT.
2. Mongolian University of Science and Technology
The Mongolian University of Science and Technology is one of the top public universities in Mongolia. It has 13 schools that specialize in the science, engineering, and technological fields. Around 20,000 students study in one of the campuses that MUST have in the cities and provinces of Ulaanbaatar City, Erdenet, Darkhan, Sukhbaatar, and Uvurkhangai. The university also has over 30 research and experimental institutes and centers.
Tuition fees are calculated according to the cost of credits. Depending on the career and the campus, credits go from 64,000 MNT to 78,900 MNT. So, the cost of taking 30 credits per year would be between 1,920,000 MNT to 2,367,000 MNT.
3. Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
The Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) has six colleges of dentistry, nursing, public health, medicine, bio-medicine, and pharmacy. This cheap university in Mongolia also has three medical colleges.
MNUMS has three campuses in the provinces of Sainshand, Darkhan-Uul, and Gobi-Altai. Learn more about admissions applications by clicking here.
4. University of Finance and Economics
Established in 1924, the University of Finance and Economics is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Mongolia. The university is located in the city of Ulaanbaatar. It has several departments and institutes that offer undergraduate and graduate programs.
They have a program of scholarships for the best students. Depending on their GPA, they can get a tuition discount that goes from 25% to 100%.
5. Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture
For those who are more creative and love expressing themselves through the arts, the Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture (MSUAC) is one of Mongolia’s top higher education institutions.
Originally founded in 1945 with less than 30 students and only two classes, they now receive more than 4,000 students in their programs. There are 26 bachelor’s degree programs, 34 master’s degree programs, and two doctorate degree programs.
This cheap university in Mongolia has six schools, a college of dance, an institute of foreign languages, and a research institute. They have modern facilities available for all the programs.
6. Mongolia International University
Mongolia International University (MIU) is relatively new because it was founded in 2002. However, it is already considered one of the best universities in Mongolia. It has around 800 students and 34% of them are international students.
This private university offers various academic programs to its prospective students. There are also dual degree options with universities in the U.S. and all of the programs are taught in English.
MIU has student residences available. It is actually mandatory for first-year students. There’s one complex on the campus and another one off-campus. It also has a bus service.
Admissions here consist of submitting a list of documents, doing an interview (online), and taking an entrance exam (online). There’s an additional skill test for those who’d like to study Music Education, Media, and Communication, or English Education.
7. Ider University
Opened over 29 years ago, in 1995, Ider University is another private university with great opportunities for international students because its programs are available in English.
This cheap university in Mongolia has three schools that offer 14-degree programs. Also, they offer a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, which are in high demand among international applicants.
As it happens with MIU, Ider University has dual degree programs in affiliation with universities in the U.S. They offer scholarships in case this option is too expensive for you.
As for admissions, the process only requires sending documents online. Online degree programs cost 15 USD per credit, except for the MBA which costs 150 USD. This means that tuition fees for each academic year would of around 3,000 USD.
8. Mandakh University
Mandakh University is a private institution that was established in 1992. The university has three departments: accounting, science and engineering, and economics and business. They offer a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in financial management, banking management, information systems, software information, engineering economics, and different specializations in accounting.
9. Otgontenger University
Named after the 4,000-meter mountain, Otgontenger University is a private institution that was established in 1991. This cheap university in Mongolia is also in the top 20 universities in Mongolia according to Webometrics.
It has three schools of humanities, law, and economic and business administration. These offer several bachelor’s degree programs that last for four years, master’s degree programs that last for 1.5 years, and doctorate degree programs that last for three years.
They offer joint programs in affiliation with universities in Korea, Taipei, and the U.S. There are many scholarships available for students that had excellent academic performance.
10. Enerel Institute
Founded more than 20 years ago, the Enerel Institute specializes in nursing and was the first private university in Mongolia to do so. This university has a great employability rate since 95% of those who graduate obtain a job at a hospital once they receive their licenses.
It has three bachelor programs (four years) in nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery. There’s only one doctorate degree program in Public Health. There are other degree programs that last for three years and specialize in nursing, beautician, midwifery, public health, and pharmacy technician. There are shorter degree programs that last for a year and specialize in family service work and nurse assistance.
Each year, the university hosts academic conferences where they present their research projects. Their campus includes student residences and simulation laboratories. They are partnered with over 20 hospitals for student practices.
FAQs: Studying in Mongolia
What is the Admission Process at Mongolian Universities?
The admission process for international students tends to be direct, so you’ll just have to submit certain documents and get a student visa. However, some universities may ask you to go to an interview and/or take an exam. This may include the National General Examinations.
What is the Language of Instruction at Mongolian Universities?
Most programs are usually available only in Mongolian, the official language of the country. Universities usually have intensive one-year language programs offered to international students before they start their programs.
There are certain universities that have a couple of programs or courses taught in English. Actually, you’ll notice that the majority of the younger population in Mongolia speaks English.
What are the Living Costs in Mongolia for an International Student?
Along with university fees, you’ll have to include other elements in your budget. Mongolia’s currency is the Mongolian Tugrik (MNT). 10,000 MNT is around $4.
Renting a small one-bedroom apartment would cost around $350 in the city center. It could cost $200in other areas. Also, many universities have student residences, so accommodation might be even cheaper.
Your monthly budget for transportation should be $15. Eating at a local inexpensive restaurant can cost 6,000 MNT ($2,2 approx.). A meal for two people at a mid-range place could cost 50,000 MNT ($18 approx.).
If you want to experience a totally different culture while obtaining a degree in a foreign country, then you should consider enrolling at a university in Mongolia. Tuition rates are relatively cheap especially if you’ll apply at one of these institutions.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Mongolia was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
