Malawi’s Public Universities Hike Tuition Fees by Up to 100%
Published on July 1, 2026 at 9:40 AM by Evance Kapito
Public universities in Malawi have announced significant increases in tuition fees for the 2026/2027 academic year, with the decision drawing criticism from many Malawians on social media.
The University of Malawi (UNIMA) has doubled its annual tuition fees from K650,000 to K1.3 million, representing a 100 percent increase.
The Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has also revised its tuition fees for generic students, increasing them from K650,000 to K1.3 million per academic year. The university has also introduced an annual medical cover fee of K60,000. According to the Registrar, the adjustment is aimed at supporting and sustaining the quality of teaching and learning at the institution, while fees for other programmes will be announced later.
Similarly, Mzuzu University (MZUNI) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) have increased annual tuition fees from K650,000 to K1.3 million for both new and continuing generic undergraduate students.
MZUNI said the increase was approved by the University Council during its 57th Extraordinary Meeting and attributed the adjustment to the rising cost of delivering quality higher education since tuition fees were last reviewed in 2023. The university has also announced that it will introduce an annual 10 percent tuition fee adjustment going forward, as well as a separate medical fee, with more details to be communicated later.
Meanwhile, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) has increased its annual tuition fees from K1 million to K2 million, making it one of the most expensive public universities in the country.
The fee hikes have sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Malawians expressing concern that the increases will make higher education unaffordable for many students and families already struggling with the rising cost of living.
The universities, however, maintain that the adjustments are necessary to meet the increasing costs of delivering quality education amid inflation and other economic challenges.
