The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) has proceeded to charge government-sponsored students standardised tuition fees of E26 000, beginning in the 2025/26 academic year, which commences next Monday.
This follows approval from the Ministry of Education and Training after the university requested the new fee structure. The approval ends the long-standing differential payment system between government-sponsored and privately funded students.
For the past decade, government-sponsored students paid E16 000 per year, while privately sponsored students paid E26 000. With the new system, all students will now pay the same tuition, regardless of sponsorship.
According to UNESWA Acting Registrar, Richard Masuku, the decision followed extensive consultations with the ministry and other stakeholders to promote fairness, transparency, and financial sustainability at the institution.
Masuku explained that government had been paying a flat E16 000 since 2016, despite the institution’s credit-based financial regulations. Under this system, students pursuing non-Science undergraduate degrees are charged E549 per credit, with a normal semester load being about 24.40 credits (equivalent to E13 176 per semester).
Students are expected to pay at least 40% of tuition fees at the beginning of each semester.
“The difference of E10 000 between the two categories was huge, especially considering that government sponsors about 60% of the university’s enrolment,” Masuku noted.
The ministry’s approval comes as a relief for the university, which has been battling financial constraints, including delayed government subventions and rising operational costs. The institution hopes that the uniform fee structure will simplify financial planning and strengthen accountability in the management of tuition funds.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Naniki Mnisi, confirmed receiving the communication. However, she noted that UNESWA and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security were better placed to comment. Ministry of Labour and Social Security Communications Officer Nompilo Mncina referred questions back to the education ministry.
