Study in Botswana: Admission, Cost, Visa and Scholarships (2027)

Foreign students in Botswana apply for a study visa, which requires a letter of acceptance, a study or research permit and proof of sponsorship and is processed in seven to fourteen days, and for a residence permit costing P1,500 and completed in thirty working days. At the University of Botswana, students from any African country pay the resident rate, from BWP 28,200 a year for a bachelor's degree, while non-resident students pay BWP 56,100 to BWP 82,500.

Verified 15 Sep 2026 Sources

The University of Botswana, established as a separate national university on 1 July 1982 and formally inaugurated on 23 October 1982, teaches in English. Its 2026/27 fee schedule places students in two groups: resident and African students, and non-resident students from outside Africa. Bachelor's degrees in science and engineering cost BWP 37,200 a year for the first group and BWP 74,700 for the second, degrees in other faculties BWP 28,200 and BWP 56,100, and the School of Medicine BWP 41,400 and BWP 82,500; an MBA costs BWP 37,920 or BWP 57,120. The application fee is BWP 250 for all applicants. For August 2026 entry, undergraduate applications closed on 6 August and graduate applications on 16 August 2026. Undergraduates need English Language at grade C or better for non-science programmes and grade D for science programmes at BGCSE level or equivalent, and graduate applicants who apply for two programmes pay a separate fee for each application.

The Government of Botswana's study visa requires the applicant to hold a valid study or research permit. Applicants provide a certified copy of the first two pages of a passport valid for at least six months, two recent colour photographs, a covering letter giving the reasons for the visit, a flight itinerary and accommodation booking or residential address in Botswana, a re-entry permit to their home country where that country requires one, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution, the study or research permit and proof of sponsorship. The study visa is processed in seven to fourteen days.

For the residence permit, a student adds a letter of support or sponsorship with all particulars, an admission letter stating the programme and duration of the course, and a certified copy of the receipt for school fees. The fee for a student is P1,500, and the application takes thirty working days to complete. The government's pages do not publish a minimum amount of funds, rules on working while studying or options to stay after graduation.