Suriname's higher-education system is nationally coordinated and regulated by the Ministerie van Onderwijs, Wetenschap en Cultuur (MinOWC). AdeKUS is the country's university and offers both HBO and WO through faculties for humanities, law, social sciences, medical sciences, technology, and mathematical and natural sciences. Other accredited institutions listed in the NOVA register include FHR Institute for Social Studies, University of Applied Science and Technology Suriname (UNASAT), Polytechnic College Suriname (PTC), Institute of Management & Information Technology (IMIT), Hogeschool ABC, Elsje Finck Sanichar College (COVAB), Netherlands Business Academy (NBA), Vanguard Community College, Janssen University of Applied Sciences and Instituut voor de Opleiding van Leraren (IOL). NOVA, the Nationaal Orgaan Voor Accreditatie, assesses and accredits higher-education programs; the accreditation status and period of validity should be checked for the specific program. Study fields include law, social sciences, medicine and health, engineering, geosciences, environment, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, humanities and education. AdeKUS awards qualifications such as BA, BA of Arts, BSc, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), medical Doctorandus or Artsexamen, MA, MSc, Master of Laws or Meester in de rechten, EMFC and Post Master. PTC offers a Bachelor of Applied Technology, while other institutions offer additional HBO bachelor's degrees. AdeKUS bachelor's programs usually last three years, medicine usually takes four years, and master's programs usually last two years, with medical master's study usually taking three years. Many programs use about 60 study points per year, although the length of part-time and program-specific study can differ. AdeKUS may structure a bachelor's program as B-I for one nominal year and B-II for two nominal years. General admission usually requires a recognized VWO diploma or an equivalent or higher qualification, together with program-specific requirements. AdeKUS may offer a Schakeljaar, a one-year bridging program, for applicants with HAVO, NATIN, IMEAO, MHS, Kweekschool AVF or BVF qualifications, or with deficiencies in a VWO qualification. A Colloquium Doctum can provide an alternative admission pathway for certain programs. For the 2026-27 Schakeljaar, available directions include agriculture, geosciences, electrical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, mechanical engineering, education, business administration, economics, psychology, public administration, sociology, law, medicine, physiotherapy, public health, history, language and communication, biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. For the 2026 admission cycle, nine AdeKUS programs have numerus fixus selection: medicine, physiotherapy, public health, business administration, psychology, biology, mathematics, chemistry and physics. The annual MinOWC decision determines the procedure, and admission follows selection or a lottery and the issue of an admission certificate. Published capacities include 30 places for medicine, 15 for physiotherapy, 30 for public health, 35 for business administration, 30 for psychology and 21 for biology. Affected procedures require Surinamese nationality or ministerial dispensation. Applications are submitted online through AdeKUS or Bureau Studentenzaken, commonly called StuZa. Typical uploads include identification, proof of nationality or a registration document, a birth certificate, a photograph, certified diplomas and grade lists or a Schakeljaar certificate, and proof of payment. Deadlines follow the relevant academic year. For the 2026-27 year, AdeKUS charges SRD 5,000 in registration fees. Bachelor's tuition is paid in two installments of SRD 2,500, with the second installment due by 31 January 2027. The Schakeljaar is paid in full and does not allow installments. An FSS application submitted during registration costs 10% of the registration fee, or SRD 500. A late installment adds a 10% administration charge, and payments are not refunded. Master's programs may charge additional tuition depending on the program. Family discounts reduce the first child's fee by 15% to SRD 4,250 and the second or third child's fee by 10% to SRD 4,500. The Fonds Studiefinanciering Suriname (FSS) has provided study loans since 2009 for Surinamese nationals enrolled in university or HBO study in Suriname. A special rule can cover someone born in Suriname who is resident and has a nationality application pending. Applications go to the Nationale Ontwikkelingsbank van Suriname (NOB) and generally require a guarantor or co-debtor together with an employer statement or payslip. A selection commission reviews the application before MinOWC approval, with a decision period of up to about two months. MinOWC also administers its own and international scholarships. Bureau Studentenzaken, student committees, student services, student housing, the library and program-level examination or education committees provide study support, while the institution manages admission, curricula, examinations and graduation.
Study in Suriname
Higher education in Suriname is post-secondary study in a recognized academic or professional program leading to a tertiary qualification. The system includes hoger beroepsonderwijs (HBO), applied professional education, and wetenschappelijk onderwijs (WO), academic education. Programs are offered by Anton de Kom Universiteit van Suriname (AdeKUS) and accredited higher-education institutions, with admission, costs, duration and selection depending on the program.
Tip
Choose the program by its recognized qualification, accreditation status, admission conditions, total cost and realistic completion time. Check selection limits and nationality conditions early, because meeting the academic requirements alone may not secure admission. Prepare funding and documents before submitting the online application.