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Study in Somalia: costs, visa, scholarships and universities

Costs, visa process, work rights, scholarships and university options for studying in Somalia.

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Overview

Somalia has a small, fragmented higher-education sector. Somali National University (SNU) describes itself as the only public, non-profit higher-education institution in the country; the other institutions found on official websites (for example SIMAD University, Mogadishu University, University of Hargeisa) are private or non-profit institutions with limited published admissions information.

Security is the dominant factor. As of 26 October 2026 the governments of Canada (avoid all travel, updated 15 Oct 2026), the United Kingdom (advises against all travel except essential travel to Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, updated 4 Jun 2026) and Germany (formal travel warning, Reisewarnung, stand 26 Oct 2026) all advise against travel to Somalia, and the US State Department lists Level 4, Do Not Travel (excerpt dated 21 May 2026). Germany, Canada and the UK state they have no or severely limited consular presence in the country.

SNU publishes that undergraduate programmes are tuition-free, with per-semester administrative charges of US$50-125 depending on faculty, a compulsory English for Academic Purposes foundation programme (US$350 for five levels, unless exempted), and a US$55 registration and ID-card fee for international applicants. Entry requires an electronic visa applied for online; the Somali immigration agency states that from 1 September 2025 all foreign visitors must apply online before travelling. Student-specific visa rules, fees, processing times, work rights, post-study stay and language-test scores were not found on any official page.

This record does not assess whether anyone should travel. Applicants and families should read the official travel advice of their own government (links in travelAdvisories) and confirm every requirement with the university and the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency. Several values below are null because no official source was reachable.

Public university tuition
Somali National University (SNU), the public university: all undergraduate programmes are tuition-free; students pay per-semester administrative charges (US$50-125 depending on faculty) plus a one-off compulsory English for Academic Purposes foundation programme fee of US$350 (5 levels), unless exempted by placement policy. Application fee US$30; registration and ID-card fee US$50 (postgraduate) or US$55 (international applicants).Source
Monthly living cost
Not yet verified
Visa processing time
text: null; nullReason: Processing times not stated on any official page retrieved.Source
Work rights
summary: null; fullDays: null; halfDays: null; nullReason: No official source on student work rights in Somalia found.; postStudy: text: null; nullReason: No official post-study stay rules found.
Intakes and deadlines
summary: null; winter: null; summer: null; nullReason: SNU's academic calendar page lists the types of dates (application periods, registration, semester start) but the 2025-2026 calendar content was not available as text; no dates retrieved.Source
Language requirement
SNU lists 'English language proficiency where required' for international applicants and requires all undergraduates to complete a 5-level English for Academic Purposes foundation programme (US$350) unless exempted by placement policy. No minimum IELTS/TOEFL scores published on the pages read. Language of instruction is not stated on the pages read.Source

Tuition and living costs

Public university tuition
Somali National University (SNU), the public university: all undergraduate programmes are tuition-free; students pay per-semester administrative charges (US$50-125 depending on faculty) plus a one-off compulsory English for Academic Purposes foundation programme fee of US$350 (5 levels), unless exempted by placement policy. Application fee US$30; registration and ID-card fee US$50 (postgraduate) or US$55 (international applicants).Source
Private university tuition
Not yet verified
Monthly living cost
Not yet verified

Accommodation

text: null; nullReason: No official student-accommodation information found.

When planning the total budget, separate one-off and monthly items. Budget planning guide

Visa and residence permit

Per the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency, from 1 September 2025 all foreign visitors must apply online before travelling (official e-visa portal etas.gov.so, which returned HTTP 403 to automated access, so category list, fees and processing times could not be read). Canada's advice states an electronic visa is required for tourist, business and student travel and warns it may not be recognised in Somaliland or Puntland; Germany states Somaliland requires a separate entry permit.

Visa processing time
text: null; nullReason: Processing times not stated on any official page retrieved.Source
Proof of funds
text: null; nullReason: No official financial-proof requirement found.Source
Health insurance
text: null; nullReason: No official requirement found. Germany and the UK/Canada advice note limited medical care and recommend insurance covering medical evacuation (Germany).Source

Application steps

  1. Check the current requirements and apply online via the official e-visa portal named by the Somali Immigration and Citizenship Agency (etas.gov.so) before travel (immigration.gov.so).
  2. Confirm student-visa documents, fees and validity with the agency ([email protected], +252 61 0555001 per the agency site) and with the university's International Office.
  3. Confirm separately whether Somaliland or Puntland authorities require their own entry permit (Germany: Somaliland requires a separate entry permit).

Travel advisories, sanctions and payments

As of 2026-10-26: US State Department (page read): Level 4: Do not travel, date issued 2026-05-21; reasons listed: crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, health, landmines, piracy and other listed risks; US government personnel restricted to the Mogadishu airport complex. Other authorities (UK, Germany, Canada, Turkiye MFA) not covered in this entry; see official pages.

Fees
text: null; nullReason: Visa fees not stated on the agency homepage; e-visa portal inaccessible to automated fetch.Source

Nationality-specific notes: turkiye: text: null; nullReason: No nationality-specific Somali visa rules found on accessible official pages.; russia: text: null; nullReason: No nationality-specific Somali visa rules found on accessible official pages.; kazakhstan: text: null; nullReason: No nationality-specific Somali visa rules found on accessible official pages.; ukraine: text: null; nullReason: No nationality-specific Somali visa rules found on accessible official pages.; azerbaijan: text: null; nullReason: No nationality-specific Somali visa rules found on accessible official pages.

Our visa consulting

Work rights and after graduation

summary: null; fullDays: null; halfDays: null; nullReason: No official source on student work rights in Somalia found.; postStudy: text: null; nullReason: No official post-study stay rules found.

After graduation: text: null; nullReason: No official source.

Language requirements and intakes

Language requirement
SNU lists 'English language proficiency where required' for international applicants and requires all undergraduates to complete a 5-level English for Academic Purposes foundation programme (US$350) unless exempted by placement policy. No minimum IELTS/TOEFL scores published on the pages read. Language of instruction is not stated on the pages read.Source
Intakes and deadlines
summary: null; winter: null; summer: null; nullReason: SNU's academic calendar page lists the types of dates (application periods, registration, semester start) but the 2025-2026 calendar content was not available as text; no dates retrieved.Source

Language and exam preparation

Scholarships

associate / bachelor / master / PhD / researchDirect application

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)

Republic of Türkiye (YTB)

Coverage
Per the official page: monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, language course, flight ticket (tuition not explicitly named on the page).
Deadline
General application period 10 January - 20 February (per official application calendar); other tracks have separate periods.
Eligibility
Page does not list eligible nationalities; eligibility of Somali nationals not confirmed from the page. Applications online and free via tbbs.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.
Source
not specifiedVia the university

SNU scholarships (general statement)

Somali National University

Eligibility
SNU states scholarships may be offered through government programmes, development partners, UN agencies, international universities, NGOs, private sector, research grants and merit awards, and that opportunities vary through the year; no named programme, amount or international-student eligibility is published on the page.
Source

Cities

Mogadishu

Hargeisa

Universities

Somali National University (SNU)

Mogadishu · Public

Undergraduate programmes tuition-free; semester administrative charges US$50-125 by faculty; compulsory EAP foundation US$350; international registration and ID-card fee US$55; application fee US$30.

SIMAD University

Mogadishu · Private

Mogadishu University

Mogadishu · Private

University of Hargeisa

Hargeisa · Public

Jazeera University

Mogadishu · Private

Jamhuriya University of Science and Technology (JUST)

Mogadishu · Private

Zamzam University of Science and Technology (ZUST)

Mogadishu · Private

Hormuud University

Mogadishu · Private

Nile University of Science and Technology (NUST)

Mogadishu · Private

Benadir University

Mogadishu · Private

University of Somalia (UNISO)

Mogadishu · Private

Hope University

Mogadishu · Private

Imam University

Mogadishu · Private

Qudus University

Mogadishu · Private

Almaas University

Mogadishu · Private

Horseed International University (HIU)

Mogadishu · Private

Hano Technical University

Mogadishu · Private

Afro Asian University

Mogadishu · Private

Gollis University

Hargeisa · Private

Puntland State University (PSU)

Garowe · Public

East Africa University

Bosaso · Private

University of Bosaso

Bosaso · Private

Red Sea University (RSU)

Bosaso · Private

CITYCOT University

Bosaso · Private

University of Health Sciences (UOHS)

Bosaso · Private

Sahal University

Bosaso · Private

University of Northeastern Somalia (UNS)

Garowe · Private

Frontier University

Mogadishu · Private

Global Science University (GSU)

Galkayo · Private

Green Hope University (GHU)

Mogadishu · Private

Nugaal University

Las Anod · Private

Ilays National University

Las Anod · Private

Hiiraan University

Beledweyne · Private

Central University for Science and Technology (CUST)

Beledweyne · Private

Kismayo University

Kismayo · Private

Amoud University

Borama · Public

University of Burao

Burao · Public

Barwaaqo University

Baliga Cas · Private

All universities

Official resources

Frequently asked questions

Information on this page is compiled from official sources and was verified on the date shown. Fees, dates and visa rules change often; check official sources before applying. Empty fields have not been verified yet; ask our advisor for the current information.

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