The inaugural Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, a significant milestone in the region’s higher education landscape, ranks the University of Mauritius 19th out of 88 institutions from 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. These include Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique. This ranking underscores the University of Mauritius’s academic prowess and its standing among its regional peers.
The ranking covers teaching, impact and research elements and was motivated by the need to address obstacles faced by higher education institutions in the region. Its methodology was developed with local university leaders. Ashesi University in Ghana led the project in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. At the same time, Times Higher Education independently managed data collection and calculations based on a survey among more than 20,000 students – also the first of its kind.
Approximately two-thirds of participating universities are public institutions; a quarter are private, not-for-profit organisations and roughly a tenth are private, for-profit organisations.
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Diverse, exciting educational landscape
Mauritius offers unique opportunities in niche fields such as fintech, cloud computing, robotics, maritime, renewable energy, high-tech engineering, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, nursing, and creative arts. These specialised institutions and university campuses, along with research centres and executive education institutions, provide a diverse and exciting educational landscape.
The government of Mauritius is deeply committed to positioning the country as the premier education hub in the region. This aligns with its vision of developing the island into an innovation-driven economy. The government’s dedication to this transformation, which necessitates a highly productive, skilled, and qualified workforce, is a testament to its commitment to education and the future of the country.
Moreover, advancing Mauritius as a regional centre for high-quality education and training in the knowledge industry will stimulate the diversification of the Mauritian economy and support both existing and emerging sectors.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) is championing this initiative by promoting a unique study-live-play lifestyle, state-of-the-art campuses, internationally recognised qualifications, and the Mauritius-Africa scholarship scheme. This scheme, a testament to Mauritius’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment, provides financial assistance to deserving students from Africa, making higher education in Mauritius more accessible and affordable.
Reasons to enrol in tertiary education in Mauritius
Affordable cost of education
High-quality living
Affordable accommodation
Free public transport for international students
International students in Mauritius may work up to 20 hours per week.
They can apply for a “Young Professional Occupational Permit” for three years after full-time studies in Mauritius. This permit allows students to gain valuable work experience in Mauritius, contributing to their professional development and potentially leading to long-term career opportunities in the country.
Robust academic and regulatory platform
Ideal platform for bilingual education – English and French
Robust academic and regulatory framework
Internationally recognised academic and professional qualifications
More than 600 programmes are on offer.
Subsidiary campuses of prestigious institutions
Cosmopolitan and multicultural environment
Political and social stability
Streamlined processing of student visas
A peaceful environment
Contemporary, growing infrastructure
Democratic government with high ratings in international surveys and regional indices
A strategic location that links Asia, Africa and Australia
Polytechnic education
Vocational and technical training
Specialised institutions
Research-focused universities
Conducive business environment
Multi-skilled multilingual workforce
A privileged study environment
Elizabeth Kitange of Tanzania shared her experience at the African Leadership University of Mauritius with the Economic Development Board (EDB): “I am privileged to be welcomed to live, intern, and study in such a diverse and welcoming country. My living and working in the education and training sector in Mauritius has helped me learn how to integrate with the Mauritian culture and people. I even wrote my final thesis on Mauritian higher education! I am constantly awed by the beauty of the country and its people. The Mauritian youth are some of the most talented I’ve met, and I’m excited to continue working with their learning development.”
Mauritius has 10 publicly funded and 31 private tertiary education institutions and 464 training institutions. International campuses on the island include the University of Middlesex, Curtin University in Australia, University Central Lancashire (UCLAN) – Mauritius, and l’Université Paris-Dauphine.
International university campuses
Middlesex University is in the UNICITI, a Smart City on the West Coast of Mauritius. The London-based institution opened its island branch in 2009, offering several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2023 place it between 101 and 150 of the best universities under 50 years old. Admission and fees are linked to the programme of your choice. It’s best to refer to the Middlesex University Mauritius website for up-to-date information.
The UNICITI also houses the Université Paris Panthéon-Assas, Ensa Nantes, Vatel, Amity Mauritius, and the MCB Institute of Finance.
Meanwhile, in Moka, Curtin Mauritius is established as the island branch of the Australian Curtin University. It is also highly rated among top universities in the world by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Curtin Mauritius offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees as well as dual degrees in partnership with Toulouse Business School. Visit Curtin Mauritius website to find out more about fee structures, admission procedures, and support services for international students.
Opportunities in education sector
Total employment in education is 26,413 (2022), and the sector contributes 4.7% to GDP (2022).
The number of international students in Mauritius increased from 3,300 in December 2020 to 4,032 of the total 50 566 enrolled in 2022, according to the EDB. The majority hail from India, Nigeria, Madagascar, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Students also come from Tanzania, South Africa, France, Rwanda, Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Seychelles and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Students are primarily enrolled in management, information technology, computer science, law, hospitality management and medical programmes.
According to BScholarly, the World Economic Forum rates Mauritius second best in the mathematics and science educational system globally and third best in Africa. Moreover, it is recognised for the high quality of vocational training for citizens.
Top five Mauritian higher-education institutions
Meanwhile, uniRank recently published its 2024 Mauritian University Ranking of five Mauritian higher-education institutions based on the following:
“being chartered, licensed or accredited by the appropriate Mauritian higher education-related organisation offering at least three-year bachelor’s degrees or postgraduate master’s or doctoral degrees delivering courses predominantly in a traditional, non-distance education format.”
uniRank’s non-academic listing of island-based institutions deduced from “valid, unbiased and non-influenceable web metrics provided by independent web intelligence sources rather than data submitted by the universities themselves” puts the University of Mauritius in Réduit in the top spot. The University of Technology, Mauritius, is second, followed by the Mauritius Institute of Education, both in Moka. Université des Mascareignes in Beau Bassin, Rose Hill, is fourth, followed by the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Moka.
Building on its reputation for providing a pleasant and safe living environment, globally recognised qualifications, and diverse programmes, Mauritius is emerging as an appealing and competitive destination for international students. These factors successfully contribute to the sector’s expansion and reflect Mauritius’s determination to create a vibrant knowledge-based economy.
Top five Mauritian higher-education institutions
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