Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country in mainland Southeast Asia. Its higher education system operates in a challenging environment: the military seized power on February 1, 2021, and current press-freedom assessments rank Myanmar near the bottom globally. Because conditions and university operations can change, international students should verify admissions, visa, and fee information directly with each university before applying.
The country’s official English name changed from Burma to Myanmar in 1989, and Rangoon became Yangon in the same year. Yangon was the national capital from 1948 to 2006, and Nay Pyi Taw was proclaimed the capital in 2006. Myanmar is the largest country by area in mainland Southeast Asia and has coasts on the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, so it is not landlocked. Available sector reports count Myanmar’s higher education institutions in the hundreds, although current public data can be difficult to verify. The list below highlights six affordable universities and colleges in Myanmar that international students may wish to contact.
Affordable Schools in Myanmar for International Students
1. Yangon University
Yangon University is one of Myanmar’s historic public universities. Its official admissions page states that first-degree programs normally last four years, except for law, which lasts five years. Master’s degrees must be completed within three years, and doctoral programs normally last five years.
The university offers programs through arts and science departments, including fields such as Botany, Computer Studies, Industrial Chemistry, and other disciplines. Students should check the current admissions page before applying, as program availability and intake procedures can change.
2. Yezin Agricultural University
Yezin Agricultural University is a major center for agricultural education in Myanmar. It is located in Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw, and focuses on agricultural sciences and related fields.
The institution traces its history to 1924, moved to Yezin in 1973, and was renamed Yezin Agricultural University in 1998. Its official pages list a master’s program that usually takes two to three years full-time or three to five years part-time, as well as doctoral study that normally takes three to four years for regular students and up to five years for part-time students.
3. Yangon Technological University
Yangon Technological University is one of Myanmar’s leading engineering universities. Its official history traces the institution to the Faculty of Engineering under Rangoon University in 1924. It became Yangon Institute of Technology in 1990 and Yangon Technological University in 1998.
Today, Yangon Technological University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, architecture, and related fields. Its official information lists six-year B.E. and B.Arch. programs, two-year master’s programs, and Ph.D. programs that usually take three to five years.
4. Myanmar Imperial University
Myanmar Imperial University, also described by some current partner pages as Myanmar Imperial College, is the only private higher education provider on this list. It was founded in 2004 and focuses mainly on business, management, tourism, and related professional fields.
5. Technological University, Kyaukse
Technological University, Kyaukse was established in 1998 as Government Technical Institute, Kyaukse. It became Government Technological College, Kyaukse in 2001 and was upgraded to Technological University, Kyaukse on January 20, 2007.
The university is fully government-funded and offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and science fields. Its admissions page states that students are allocated to disciplines based on high school grades and their preferences, with about 40 candidates in each discipline.
6. University of Medicine 1 Yangon
University of Medicine 1, Yangon is a public medical university in Myanmar. Its official history traces the institution to the Government Medical School in Myanmar in 1907, with MBBS teaching introduced in the 1923-1924 academic year.
The official MBBS program page states that the course extends over seven years, including one year of house officer training. The university also offers postgraduate medical courses, including diploma, certificate, master’s, Ph.D., and DrMedSc programs.
We hope that this article on cheap universities in Myanmar was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
