Overview
Haramaya University is one of Ethiopia’s oldest and most respected higher education institutions, originally established in 1954 as the Imperial College of Agricultural and Mechanical Arts. Located in the eastern part of Ethiopia, about 510 km from Addis Ababa, the university has grown into a comprehensive institution with strong programs in agriculture, health sciences, and natural sciences.
For prospective students, Haramaya is especially known for its hands-on learning model through research and extension services. The university maintains one of the largest agricultural experiment stations in Africa, giving students and researchers a real-world setting for field-based studies. With its main campus spread across a 350-hectare site, Haramaya offers a focused environment for teaching, practical training, and research.
If you are comparing options across the country, you may also want to review similar university profiles such as Addis Ababa University and University of Gondar to understand how different campuses match your academic interests.
2. General Information
| Name | Haramaya University |
| Established | 1954 |
| Type | Public Research University |
| Location | Haramaya, Oromia Region, Ethiopia |
| Website | www.haramaya.edu.et |
| Student Population | Over 32,000 (2023) |
| Academic Staff | 1,600+ |
| Campuses | Main Campus, Harar Health Science Campus, Dire Dawa Campus |
3. Fee Structure
Tuition fees can vary by program level, course type, and updated institutional policies. The figures below provide a general idea of the typical annual tuition ranges reported for undergraduate and graduate study at the university.
| Program | Annual Tuition (ETB) |
| Agriculture | 12,000 |
| Health Sciences | 18,000 |
| Natural Sciences | 13,000 |
| Social Sciences | 10,000 |
| Engineering | 15,000 |
| Graduate Programs | 20,000-35,000 |
Because costs may be higher for certain graduate tracks, applicants should also check current requirements and potential fee updates during the admissions cycle, then compare with other agriculture- and health-focused institutions like Jimma University and Hawassa University.
4. Academic Programs
Haramaya University is organized into colleges and a graduate school, with programs that reflect both Ethiopia’s development priorities and the university’s research strengths.
- College of Agriculture
- Plant Science
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Food Science
- Natural Resource Management
- College of Health and Medical Sciences
- Medicine
- Public Health
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- College of Natural and Computational Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- College of Social Sciences and Humanities
- Economics
- Business Administration
- Geography
- Languages
- School of Graduate Studies
- MSc in various agricultural fields
- PhD in selected disciplines
5. Facilities
- Haramaya University Teaching Hospital
- Agricultural Research Center with 1,000+ hectares
- Modern science and engineering laboratories
- Comprehensive library with digital resources
- ICT centers with high-speed internet
- Student union and recreational facilities
- Agricultural demonstration farms
For applicants specifically looking at health sciences or research-heavy environments, it can be helpful to compare how facilities are structured across universities such as Mekelle University, especially if you are deciding between campuses with different specializations and regional focuses.
6. Accommodation
Haramaya University provides on-campus housing for a large share of its regular students. The university offers separate dormitories for male and female students, along with multiple housing options depending on availability and program requirements.
- On-campus dormitories: ETB 1,200-2,500 per semester
- Graduate student housing
- International student housing
- Campus dining services
- 24-hour campus security
If you want additional comparisons for campus life and student support resources, you can review other Ethiopian university guides such as Bahir Dar University to see how student services and facilities are commonly presented.
7. Contact Information
- Email: info@haramaya.edu.et
- Phone: +251 255 530 003
- Address: P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
More Universities in Ethiopia
- Addis Ababa University
- University of Gondar
- Jimma University
- Bahir Dar University
- Mekelle University
- Hawassa University
- Arba Minch University
- Adama Science & Technology University
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