Our Story

The University of Rwanda (UR) is a public Higher Learning Institution established by the law n° 71/2013 of 10/09/2013. In 2013, the National University of Rwanda (NUR) founded in 1963 together with other six public higher learning institutions were merged to form the University of Rwanda (UR). UR is governed by the Board of Governors and an Academic Senate, with staff and student representation, along with the Vice Chancellor who is the University’s Chief Executive Officer. UR is organized under a collegiate model with 6 Colleges.
UR provides opportunities for students to pursue a variety of programs - some that are quite specialized in nature, others that are multi-disciplinary and problem-based in focus - and to undertake their studies at different locations across the country, both through classes at designated campuses and through access to distance learning.
Our colleges:
. College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS)
. College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (CAVM)
. College of Business and Economics (CBE)
. College of Education (CE)
. College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS)
. College of Science and Technology (CST)

The Vice-Chancellor leads the University’s senior management team that will include 3 deputy Vice Chancellors and 6 College Principals. This ambitious project started in 2013 and has been guided by a Task Force led by key individuals in higher education nationally, regionally and internationally. The University is committed to graduating the next generation of leaders in Rwanda who are prepared and dedicated to building a more just and sustainable world. The University of Rwanda supports the development of Rwanda by discovering and advancing knowledge, by being committed to the highest standards of academic excellence, and by creating a place where students are prepared for lives of service, leadership and solutions.
The main purpose of creating this national institution is to enhance the quality of Rwanda’s higher education provision, while achieving economies of scale and efficiency in operation. It is expected to become a leading African university.
The University of Rwanda offers a wide range of academic programs – some that are quite specialized in nature, others that are more interdisciplinary and/or problem-based in focus – and its students undertake their studies at various locations across the country and abroad, both through classes offered at its several designated campuses and through access to distance learning opportunities.
It is intended that UR shall be known for its innovative approaches to teaching, learning, research and connections with the community and with the nation’s vision for development, and it shall be recognized as an exemplary employer. UR’s educational programs will feature student-centred learning, and its research mission will be central to the country’s and the region’s economic development. Its reputation for excellence and academic freedom will propel its positive recognition internationally, and its campuses will be prized in their respective locations. The University of Rwanda is a singular, multi-campus institution. It operates from departments and schools that make up Colleges. It is currently based in the new college of Business and Economics until the new headquarters are built adjacent to the College of Science and Technology.