Study in South Sudan

South Sudan has a recognized tertiary education system, but institutions, programs and national system data are not consistently documented in one stable public register. Public examples include the University of Juba, University of Bahr el Ghazal, Rumbek University of Science and Technology, Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology and Northern Bahr el Ghazal Polytechnic College for Health Sciences. Private examples include Catholic University of South Sudan, Saint Mary’s College, Starford International University College, Star International University College, South University for Medicine, Science and Technology, Nile Theological College, Africa Zeal University, Kuda University College, Emmanuel Christian College and The Episcopal University. The current status of an institution or program should be checked directly with the institution and MoHEST because published lists are not always consistent. Programs commonly cover medicine and surgery, nursing and midwifery, public and environmental health, veterinary medicine, agriculture, animal production, forestry, natural resources, science, engineering, architecture, computer science, information technology, education, economics, accounting, finance, business, public administration, social sciences, law, arts, humanities, journalism, communication, peace, security, diplomacy and theology. The University of Juba has the broadest documented portfolio, while regional public institutions often have more specialized offerings and private provision is concentrated mainly in Juba. Most undergraduate programs use semesters. A Diploma often takes about three years, a Bachelor Degree commonly takes four years or eight semesters, and a Bachelor Degree with Honors commonly takes five years or ten semesters. Medicine and Medicine and Surgery commonly take six years, while individual health, agriculture and engineering programs may take four to five years. At the University of Juba Graduate College, a postgraduate academic year has two semesters and a recess term; a semester usually lasts 17 to 18 weeks, including teaching, reading and examinations. Graduate options include a Graduate Diploma of about one year, a Master’s Degree commonly lasting two years and a Doctorate commonly lasting three years. The exact duration, credit requirements and research component depend on the institution and field. Regular full-time study is common, but institutions may also offer private or direct admission, evening or part-time study, distance learning, open education and postgraduate coursework or research. The University of Juba Open Education College has operated since 1 September 2024 with a mix of face-to-face learning, e-learning and research. It requires English proficiency and internet access. A standalone short course is not automatically higher education; it belongs within this study pathway only when it forms part of a recognized tertiary qualification. The regular undergraduate admission process usually follows publication of the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education results. Applicants use the prescribed annual form and pay the fee set by the Directorate of Admission, Evaluation and Authentication. Forms are submitted in Juba or at temporary designated centres at universities or in the states; postal applications are not accepted. Applicants normally provide an identity or nationality certificate or passport and the original certificate. A single application form is used, and choices generally cannot be changed after submission. Bachelor nomination considers eight subjects: Religion, English Language, Mathematics, Citizenship and four college-specific qualifying subjects. Diploma admission generally considers six subjects. Subject requirements depend on the program; medicine, nursing, veterinary medicine and public health commonly require science subjects, while engineering may require physics, chemistry, additional mathematics or computer science. Foreign certificates require verification and an equation by the South Sudan Examinations Secretariat. The process normally considers Mathematics, English and six college-defined subjects. The Directorate of Admission, Evaluation and Authentication handles nomination, evaluation and authentication functions. Private or direct admission is set by the individual university and, under the admission guide, may cover up to 25% of planned seats in a college. Distance admission into first year may require a certificate or equivalent obtained at least two years earlier. A mature-student pathway may be available from age 30 with at least ten years of work or field experience, a committee review, interview or test and Directorate approval; it is limited to 10% of places in a specialization. Transfer or admission above first year requires approval from the university and the Directorate. South Sudan has no reliably consolidated national tuition table. Private tuition is set by the institution and program. Universities may also charge registration, library, examination, identity-card, residence, guild, technology, administration, graduation and transcript fees. The University of Juba sets tuition and functional fees through its management and may require payment through a bank in SSP or USD. Postgraduate registration requires at least 50% of tuition plus all functional fees, with further payment and deregistration rules applying under institutional regulations. Confirm the complete fee schedule, payment currency, deadlines and refund conditions directly with the institution before accepting a place. Public higher education is financed through central government funding and student tuition, while private institutions do not receive public funds under the Higher Education Act 2012. The Act refers to at least 5% of the national annual budget for higher education, but current implementation of that target has not been verified. The Student Support Fund Bill 2023 had not been implemented by 2025 according to UNESCO reporting, so applicants should not assume a national loan or grant entitlement. Scholarships and exchanges may come from external or regional sources; for example, 644 scholarships for study in Ethiopia were announced for 2025. The University of Juba also publishes regional and international scholarship opportunities. Teaching commonly combines attendance, coursework, practical work, clinical or fieldwork and examinations. In the University of Juba Graduate College, the graduate pass mark is 50%. A student who scores below that level may retake a course, and a deferred examination may be available for a documented reason. Graduate rules allow a maximum of three retake courses at the same time. Undergraduate pass and classification rules are not consolidated nationally, so the institution’s regulations control those details. Student support may include registration services, identity cards, libraries, welfare services, cafeterias, social and cultural activities, security, accommodation coordination and student-union participation. The Deanship of Students and the Registrar are common institutional contacts. Conflict, displacement, economic pressure and limited learning materials or internet access can affect study continuity. Digital library initiatives, including UNESCO and RACHEL resources in at least 15 public institutions, may help where connectivity and local access permit. The University of Juba Inclusive Education Resource Centre is another documented support service in 2026. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has policy, accreditation and standards functions, while MoHEST provides national oversight. The Directorate of Accreditation of Private and Foreign Higher Institutions handles licensing and quality-assurance functions for relevant institutions. A degree or diploma issued by a higher education institution may require MoHEST authentication, especially when it will be used for employment, further study or official recognition. Graduates may enter employment, professional practice subject to field and employer rules, postgraduate study, scholarships or regional mobility; no national graduate employment guarantee or automatic job placement has been evidenced.