Kenyan parents are paying up to four times more for a medical degree at the University of Nairobi (UoN) compared to Makerere University in Uganda.
A Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at UoN costs approximately Ksh600,000 per year, while the same course at Makerere University costs about Ksh160,000 per year.
Makerere University, which is ranked the top university in Eastern Africa and seventh in Africa, is also the only university in the region listed among the top 1,000 globally.
A direct comparison between Makerere University and the University of Nairobi (UoN) for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree reveals a big tuition difference.
At Makerere, students from East Africa pay approximately UGX 2,044,056 per semester, which converts to about Ksh73,238. Per year, it adds to about Ksh160,000.
On the other hand, the same medical course at UoN costs Ksh 600,000 per year. This means Kenyan students studying medicine at Makerere could save over Ksh 400,000 every year and more than Ksh 2.4 million over the course of the five-year program.
Also Read: The University of Nairobi: Courses Offered, Fees, Location and Campuses
Does Fees Equal Quality at UoN and Makerere
For Makerere University, the lower cost does not reflect lower quality.
In fact, Makerere University is ranked as the number one university in East Africa, seventh in Africa, and 819th globally, according to the Edurank 2024 ranking.
On the other hand, the University of Nairobi was ranked 1 in Kenya, 8 in Africa, and 824 in the world, coming right after Makerere in the African ranking.
Makerere blends academic excellence with regional accessibility, making it a standout choice for students seeking internationally recognized qualifications at a fraction of the cost.
Also Read: University of Nairobi Drops in 2026 World Rankings
Kenyan Students can Still Get HELB
Also, Kenyan students studying in Uganda are still eligible for HELB (Higher Education Loans Board) funding, helping to ease the burden of tuition and living expenses.
Additionally, as part of the East African Community, students benefit from subsidized fees that are often equal to or lower than those charged by public universities in Kenya.
Other courses in the health sciences at Makerere, such as Pharmacy, Nursing, and Dental Surgery, also offer similar cost advantages, giving Kenyan students a range of financially viable and high-quality options.
According to a 2023 report from HELB, the number of Kenyan students in universities within the East African Community receiving funding had dropped to less than 100.
The number is a big drop from 15,000 some six years earlier. HELB indicated that the statistics could reflect the struggles of learners outside the country.
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Makerere University is the only premier University in Africa with affordable tuition fees. Other top ranked universities in Africa like the University of Nairobi, universities in South Africa and Egypt are generally very expensive. Of course, many people are usually surprised by the fact that tuition at Makerere University is low yet it’s among the top ranked and most competitive universities in the African continent. Take for example, students only pay about $1200 US dollars for the whole academic year to study Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery at Makerere University, something that’s very rare in the rest of other universities in her league! This news from Kenyan newspaper will persuade Kenyan students to consider studying at Makerere University; the only challenge they’ll face is the “low acceptance rate” at this hill since Makerere doesn’t accept senior four certificates from any country.