Nelson Mandela University

Name

Nelson Mandela University

Legal name

Nelson Mandela University

Website

https://mandela.ac.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• University degree programs
• Postgraduate research
• Student accommodation
• Professional certifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Elizabeth

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Tuition fees calculated according to the number of modules elected or study programme. Varies by programme. International students pay additional application fees.
2. Residence/Accommodation Fees: Residence fees vary by room type (single or double), including down-payment, breakage deposit, and registration fees. Both self-catering and fully-catered options available.
3. Application Fees: No application fee for South African citizens; non-refundable application fee for international students covering administrative costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nelson Mandela University is a public higher education institution offering over 500 study programmes ranging from entry certificate level through doctoral research across seven campuses in Gqeberha and George, South Africa. Core services include undergraduate and postgraduate tuition, on-campus residence accommodation, research programmes through four SA Research Chairs, and student support services. The university also offers technology-driven student services including the myNMU mobile application and an AI-powered mental health support platform.

Product overview

Nelson Mandela University offers educational programs and services as its primary offering across six campuses in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole and one in George. The university's technology offerings include an official mobile application (myNMU) available on iOS and Android platforms, and an AI-powered mental health support platform for students developed through a strategic partnership. The institution also operates an official brand store for university merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Higher Education Degree Programmes (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) Over 500 study programmes ranging from entry certificate level through doctoral research across arts, business, health sciences, engineering, IT, and natural sciences for South African and international students.
• On-Campus Student Accommodation Residence accommodation options for students with both self-catering and fully-catered options; rooms available as single or double occupancy; fees include down-payment, breakage deposit, and registration fees; available for first-year to senior students.
• myNMU Mobile Application The official mobile application for Nelson Mandela University students and staff, available on both iOS and Android platforms, providing access to student portals, academic information, and university services.
• AI-Powered Mental Health Support Platform A regulated, institution-approved AI-powered mental health support system for students developed through partnership with Brand Engagement Network and Valio Technologies, operating within a secure closed-loop environment.
• Mandela University Official Brand Store Official university brand merchandise outlet launched at the Ocean Sciences Campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students from 34 African countries enrolled
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SustainalutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Memorandum of Understanding signed on February 2, 2026 to launch the first African university-led research and demonstration initiative focused on thermal hydrolysis process technology for converting sewage sludge into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. The university serves as the regional scientific anchor with researchers conducting local data collection, laboratory testing and modeling over 12 months.
• Cambi (Norway)majorTechnology or Integration · 2 February 2026Norwegian technology company supplying Cambi technology for the waste-to-energy project. Technology supplier for thermal hydrolysis process (THP) system that converts sewage sludge into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. Projections indicate small-scale system could generate 7 GWh electricity and 9,000 tonnes fertilizer annually.
• Brand Engagement Network (BEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Strategic partnership with Brand Engagement Network and Valio Technologies to pilot a regulated, institution-approved AI-powered mental health support system for students within a secure, closed-loop environment. This memorandum of understanding supports deployment of the AI-driven mental health support platform for students in South Africa.
• Valio TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Strategic AI licensing partnership with Valio Technologies worth $2.050 million establishing an exclusive framework for government and commercial markets across Africa. Deal grants Valio 25% common equity and 35% revenue share while BEN retains exclusive licensing rights in perpetuity with a board seat. As part of the expansion, a MoU was signed with Nelson Mandela University for AI mental health platform deployment.
• University of Oldenburg (Germany)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Prof Darelle van Greunen, Director of the Centre for Community Technologies, appointed Research Advisor for International Networking at University of Oldenburg. The appointment is expected to strengthen Africa-Europe collaboration, expand international research networks, and open pathways for postgraduate students and emerging researchers.
• Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Lead department for battery consortium initiative that included a study tour of China covering nearly 4,000 kilometres across five cities and engaging with 13 institutions including Tsinghua University. Delegation of 11 members led by Prof Ernst Ferg from Nelson Mandela University, aimed at building international partnerships in battery technology and new energy vehicles.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stellenbosch University: Stellenbosch is a comprehensive public research university with strong industry partnerships and a multi-campus footprint. Comparable to NMU in operating model, research-chair structure, and competition for postgraduate and international students across Africa.
• University of Cape Town (UCT): UCT is South Africa's leading comprehensive research-intensive public university with multiple campuses, broad multi-disciplinary faculties, and a strong postgraduate and international student base. Directly comparable to NMU as a comprehensive doctoral-granting public university competing for the same national pool of students and research funding.
• University of the Witwatersrand (Wits): Wits is a large research-intensive public university in Johannesburg offering multi-disciplinary undergraduate and doctoral programs across seven campuses, with substantial international postgraduate recruitment. Highly comparable to NMU in scale, structure, and competitive positioning for research chairs and African postgraduate students.
• University of Johannesburg (UJ): UJ is a large public comprehensive university formed through merger, operating multiple campuses with broad multi-disciplinary programmes and strong industry engagement. Directly comparable to NMU as a merger-formed multi-campus public university with a similar programme breadth.
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN): UKZN is another merger-formed comprehensive public university with five campuses, a broad programme catalogue, and notable health sciences and research output. Comparable to NMU in scale, multi-campus structure, and provincial relevance in the South African higher-education landscape.
• University of the Western Cape (UWC): UWC is a comprehensive public university with strong life sciences, dentistry, and community-engagement research, and a similar focus on serving diverse student populations. Comparable to NMU in mission, structure, and competition for research and postgraduate students.
• University of Pretoria (UP): UP is one of the largest comprehensive public research universities in South Africa with multiple campuses, broad programme portfolios, and notable research output in health, veterinary, and engineering sciences. Directly comparable to NMU in scope, model, and student market competition.

Regional players

• Rhodes University: Rhodes is a smaller, also Eastern Cape-based public university with strong postgraduate and research output, historically competing with NMU within the same province for students, faculty, and research grants. Comparable to NMU on regional market and academic positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mandelauni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/NelsonMandelaUniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/MandelaUni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nelson-mandela-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/mandelauniversity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nelson Mandela University