Mbarara University of Science & Technology

Overview

Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST) is Uganda’s second public university of its kind for science and technology education, established in 1989. It started as a medical-focused institution with its early cohort in the Faculty of Medicine, then expanded into science, technology, computing, business, and interdisciplinary training—built around practical learning that prepares graduates for real workplace needs.

Located in Mbarara city with a second site in Kihumuro, MUST operates a large campus footprint (including a 139-hectare campus) and prioritizes hands-on teaching through labs, field-based training, and community-facing projects. This mix of health sciences, engineering, agriculture, IT, and business programs is designed to help students contribute to local and national development.

2. General Information

Name	Mbarara University of Science & Technology
Established	1989
Type	Public
Location	Mbarara & Kihumuro, Uganda
Website	must.ac.ug

3. Fee Structure

Tuition fees can change by academic year and course. For the most current MUST fee schedule, confirm directly with the university using the official website.

Program	Tuition Fee (approx.)
Faculty of Applied Science & Technology	UGX 2,000,000/year
Faculty of Medicine	UGX 2,688,000/year
Business / Computing / Science	UGX 1,960,000–2,000,000/year

4. Academic Programs

MUST offers undergraduate and postgraduate options across health sciences, engineering, computing, business, and scientific disciplines. Below are commonly listed program areas (exact intake and course codes may vary by year):

Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
Nursing, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences
Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Petroleum)
Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering
Business Administration, Accounting, Economics
Agriculture, Gender & Community Development
Science (Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry)
Postgraduate diplomas, Master’s and PhD programmes

5. Facilities

Facilities at MUST support both academic learning and applied practice. In addition to teaching spaces, students typically benefit from laboratories, ICT resources, and supervised training environments tied to each faculty.

Main campus in Mbarara plus the newer 139 ha Kanumuri campus
Teaching hospital: Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital
Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation field campus
Research labs, lecture halls, libraries and ICT centers
Sports grounds and student activity spaces

6. Accommodation

MUST provides limited on-campus hostels, while many students choose private accommodation around the university. Hostel allocation is usually handled by the university, and priority is often given to students with special needs and early applicants.

Four university-run hostels (approximately 500 students total, about 10%)
Private accredited hostels inspected for safety and hygiene
Hostel allocation is first-come, first-served with preference for special needs

If you are comparing campus life across Uganda, you may also find these university guides useful: Kyambogo University campus overview and Gulu University student life and facilities.

7. Contact Information

Email: info@must.ac.ug
Phone: +256 780 199188
Address: P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda

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