The University of Dar es Salaam, which started in 1961 as a college of the University of London and became a full university in 1970, had 40,918 students in 2024/2025. In 2026/2027 it charges non-Tanzanian undergraduates TZS 9,275,000 a year for Computer Science and other ICT degrees, TZS 7,155,000 for degrees such as Diplomatic Studies and TZS 5,565,000 for most humanities degrees, plus other annual fees of TZS 351,300. Postgraduate tuition has three rates, for Tanzania, East African and SADC nationals, for the rest of Africa and for the rest of the world; the full-time MBA costs TZS 20,100,000 for students from outside Africa, and international postgraduates also pay an annual levy of TZS 750,000 for master's or TZS 1,000,000 for PhD study. Non-Tanzanian postgraduate applicants pay a TZS 125,000 application fee. For 2026/2027, the second undergraduate application window runs from 8 to 21 September 2026, and postgraduate applications close on 30 September 2026. The university states that all admitted students must find their own sponsorship. Admission letters for the undergraduate second window are released on 10 October 2026, and postgraduates from other African countries admitted to Kiswahili programmes pay the Tanzanian tuition rate.
The Immigration Department's visa guidelines describe a student visa for foreign nationals entering Tanzania for academic purposes, including prospective students who have obtained admission to registered institutions, as well as research, internships, volunteering and exchange programmes. The visa is grouped into two categories: programmes not exceeding 90 days, with a visa fee of USD 50, and programmes exceeding 90 days, with a fee of USD 250; visas for language courses do not exceed six months. Applicants submit a covering letter from the host institution detailing the course and its duration, together with their passport details and the fee. Applicants from countries whose nationals do not need a visa to enter Tanzania must apply for a student pass instead. The guidelines do not publish a funds requirement, rules on working while studying or post-study options.