Studying for a university degree in Senegal can be diverse and interesting, but it also comes with challenges. Senegal’s higher education system has roots in the French model, and French remains the main language of instruction at universities. The government has expanded access to public higher education across the country, but prospective students should still check current capacity, admissions procedures, and fees directly with each university before applying.
However, if you are looking for a higher education degree in Senegal, below are some affordable universities to consider. Admissions vary by institution and program: foreign baccalaureate holders are often admitted through a document-based application, while some selective programs may require entrance tests. Most public university programs are taught in French, and private or specialized schools may set their own language and admissions requirements.
Affordable Schools in Senegal for International Students
1. University of Dakar
The Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, commonly known in English as the University of Dakar, was created on February 24, 1957, officially inaugurated on December 9, 1959, and renamed Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar on March 30, 1987. It is one of Senegal’s main public universities and is funded and managed by the government. UCAD is a comprehensive institution with six faculties: Economic and Management Sciences; Letters and Human Sciences; Sciences and Techniques; Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontostomatology; Legal and Political Sciences; and Science and Technology of Education and Training. It also has schools, institutes, and doctoral schools.
This affordable university in Senegal is one of the country’s largest higher education institutions, so applicants should check the relevant faculty or institute for current admissions procedures and available places.
For Senegal’s public universities, annual registration fees are set in CFA francs. Senegalese students and assimilated foreign students generally pay 25,000 FCFA for a License, 50,000 FCFA for a Master’s degree, and 75,000 FCFA for a doctorate. Non-assimilated foreign students generally pay 200,000 FCFA for a License, 400,000 FCFA for a Master’s degree, and 1,000,000 FCFA for a doctorate. This is about €300, €610, and €1,520, respectively, for non-assimilated foreign students. Medicine and some institutes may have separate rates, so applicants should confirm the current amount with the relevant faculty before applying.
2. Gaston Berger University
This public university was created by law on January 2, 1990, admitted its first cohort in December 1990, received its definitive status in 1996, and was named Université Gaston Berger by decree in December 1996. It was inaugurated in February 1997 and is located about 12 kilometers from Saint-Louis. Its mission includes teaching, research, and service to Senegal’s development.
Gaston Berger University is organized into several training and research units and institutes, including Letters and Human Sciences; Applied Sciences and Technology; Legal and Political Sciences; Economic and Management Sciences; Health Sciences; Education, Training, and Sports; and Applied Agricultural Sciences, Aquaculture, and Food Technologies. Admissions requirements vary by program, and foreign baccalaureate holders can apply by submitting an admissions file.
For fees, the university differentiates between Senegalese students, assimilated foreign students, and non-assimilated foreign students. Senegalese and assimilated foreign students generally pay 25,000 FCFA for a License, 50,000 FCFA for a Master’s degree, and 75,000 FCFA for a doctorate. Non-assimilated foreign students generally pay 200,000 FCFA for a License, 400,000 FCFA for a Master’s degree, and 1,000,000 FCFA for a doctorate. This is about €300, €610, and €1,520, respectively, for non-assimilated foreign students.
3. Université du Sahel
This private university in Dakar describes itself as a recognized and accredited institution. It offers License, Master’s, and doctoral programs in fields such as economic and management sciences, legal and political sciences, human and social sciences, and languages, literature, and civilizations. Admissions are based on entrance examinations and academic records, depending on the program.
The university’s current published annual tuition for new post-baccalaureate students is 700,000 FCFA for each BTS year, 900,000 FCFA for the first year of License study, 1,000,000 FCFA for the second year, 1,100,000 FCFA for the third year, 1,200,000 FCFA for the first year of Master’s study, and 1,300,000 FCFA for the second year. These amounts are about €1,060, €1,370, €1,520, €1,670, €1,820, and €1,980, respectively. Students entering later in the program pay a different fee schedule, so applicants should check the current fees page before applying.
4. Ecole Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications
This telecommunications school in Dakar was created in 1981 by seven West African countries as part of a UNDP project, with support from the International Telecommunication Union and international cooperation partners. It trains students and professionals in telecommunications and digital technologies, including higher technician, professional License, engineering, Master’s, and specialized Master’s programs.
ESMT is a specialized institution rather than a low-cost general university. Its 2024-2025 internal rules list general academic fees of 55,000 FCFA due at registration, plus tuition that varies by program. Applicants should review the current fee sheet for their chosen program. Some advanced programs are much more expensive; for example, the Doctorate in Digital Science and Technology lists annual additional pedagogical fees of 1,500,000 FCFA for private candidates and 2,170,000 FCFA for externally subsidized theses, in addition to annual UCAD registration fees.
We hope that this article on affordable universities in Senegal was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
