MUBAS Joins Public Universities in Tuition Fee Hike

Following tuition fee increases by Mzuzu University (MZUNI), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), the University of Malawi (UNIMA), and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) has also revised its tuition fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.

In a notice released on July 1, 2026, the university announced that annual tuition fees for generic students have increased from MK650,000 to MK1,300,000, while medical cover has been set at MK60,000 per year. The university says the adjustment is aimed at supporting and sustaining the quality of teaching and learning. Fees for other programmes will be communicated at a later date.

The announcement comes after many prospective students had already submitted applications for financial support through the Higher Education Students' Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB) using the previous annual tuition fee of MK650,000. It remains unclear whether the board will revise the loan amounts to reflect the new tuition fees, and students are awaiting further guidance

The announcement has already sparked mixed reactions online, with some students expressing concern over how they will manage the increased fees, while others questioned whether higher education is becoming less affordable.

On the MUBAS Students' Union Facebook page, many students described the 100% tuition fee increase as excessive, arguing that graduate salaries in many industries remain lower than even the previous annual tuition fee, making the adjustment unfair. Others also expressed concern for students supported by the Higher Education Students' Loans and Grants Board (HESLGB), saying first-year beneficiaries may spend many years repaying their education loans because of the increased cost of university education.

With MUBAS now joining MZUNI, LUANAR, UNIMA, and KUHeS in revising tuition fees, the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) remains the only public university yet to announce its tuition fees for the 2026/2027 academic year.