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

Foreign students in Zambia need a study permit from the Department of Immigration for full-time or part-time study at a Zambian institution, with an acceptance letter, a medical report from a government facility and proof of the sponsor's finances. Issuing a study permit costs ZMW 9,090 and renewal ZMW 12,120, and permit holders may not take up paid work. At the University of Zambia, international undergraduates pay ZMW 51,363 to ZMW 77,943 a year, while SADC students pay the local rate.

Verified 15 Sep 2026 Sources

The University of Zambia (UNZA), established by Act of Parliament in 1965, teaches in English and takes undergraduate applications a year in advance: the deadline for its 2027 intake was 17 April 2026. Its fee page groups Zambians, refugees, students from SADC countries and resident permit holders together, paying ZMW 25,808 a year for arts-based and ZMW 31,878 for science-based or medicine-based programmes, while international students pay ZMW 51,363, ZMW 62,890 and ZMW 77,943. Tuition is paid in four instalments, and university accommodation costs ZMW 5,850 a year. The fee page does not state the academic year it covers, and postgraduate fees on the main site are not filled in. Non-Zambian applicants pay a USD 60 application fee, and every applicant needs credits in five O Level subjects including English Language. For 2026/2027, online registration opens on 2 November 2026 and first-year students arrive on 15 November 2026.

The Department of Immigration issues a study permit to foreign nationals who intend to study full time or part time at a Zambian educational institution. Applicants submit a covering letter to the Director General, a certified copy of their passport, a letter of acceptance from the institution, a medical report from a Zambian government medical facility, a letter from their sponsor with proof of the sponsor's status, and evidence of the sponsor's financial status. Renewals need a letter from the school and the latest results transcript or progress report. The permit is applied for through the Department of Immigration, which lists it among its permit types alongside separate duplicate and variation services for study permits, each priced at ZMW 9,090. Under the revised fees in force since August 2024, issuing a study permit costs ZMW 9,090 and renewing it ZMW 12,120, including the card administration fee.

Study permit holders must not engage for gain in any business, trade, employment or profession that is not specified in the permit, so paid work is not allowed while studying. The immigration pages do not publish a processing time, a minimum amount of funds or a post-study stay option.