University of Zambia

What University of Zambia does

The University of Zambia (UNZA) is Zambia's first and largest public university, established in 1965 two years after the country's independence, and headquartered at the Great East Road Campus in Lusaka. It serves approximately 31,000 students through 13 schools and over 160 degree programmes spanning Agricultural Sciences, Education, Engineering, Graduate School of Business, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Mines, Natural and Applied Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Public Health, and Veterinary Medicine. Operations are supported by 2,700 employees (of whom 810 are academic staff), with 3,736 on-campus accommodation beds across the Great East Road and Ridgeway campuses.

The institution's core technology stack comprises multiple internally operated digital platforms: the Student Information System (SIS), Postgraduate Online (PGOnline) system, Moodle-based E-Learning platform, the Alumni Portal, GSB Online, IDE Online, the Integrated Research Information Management System (IRIMS), the UNZA Journals portal, and an Android mobile application (iOS in development). Research operations are anchored by the Directorate of Research and Development (DRD), the Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization (DITTC), and the Collaborative Research Hub for Multidisciplinary Advancement (CRHMA).

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition (annual tuition ranges from approximately K6,452 for part-time Zambian students to K77,943 for international medicine undergraduates, paid in four installments), supplemented by accommodation fees (K5,850/year), application fees (K150 local / USD 60 international), short-course fees across vocational programs, alumni donations via the alumni portal's "Buy A Brick" campaign, branded merchandise sales, and external research grants. Distribution is delivered through the two Lusaka campuses, the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) operating across 10 provincial centers countrywide, an E-Campus online platform, and international exchange agreements under memoranda of understanding.

Name

University of Zambia

Legal name

University of Zambia

Website

https://unza.zm

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The University of Zambia is Zambia's first and largest public university, established in 1965, serving approximately 31,000 students across 13 schools with over 160 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes delivered through two Lusaka campuses and ten provincial centers.

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

Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Schools of Public Health (EDAHAGAD), Veterinary Medicine Universities (EDAHAGAG), Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate degree programs
• Distance learning programs
• Academic research

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Tuition fees charged to Zambian, SADC, and international students for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Fees vary by program type (art-based, science-based, medicine-based) and student nationality. International students pay approximately double the Zambian rate.
2. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fees of K150 for Zambians and USD 60 for non-Zambians for undergraduate admissions. Postgraduate application fees paid to separate bank accounts.
3. Accommodation Fees: On-campus accommodation provided at K5,850 per year for students with university housing. Separate accommodation available at private apartments for exchange students.
4. Alumni Donations and Campaigns: Alumni portal enables donations for various campaigns including 'Buy A Brick' campaign for campus development. Alumni Relations and Advancement Office manages fundraising activities.
5. Merchandise Sales: University sells branded merchandise including mugs (K50), chitenges (K150), and hoodies (K200) through the alumni store.
6. Short Course Fees: Revenue from various professional and vocational short courses including Small Ruminant Production, Aquaculture, Diabetes Educators, Food Safety Management, Dairy Technology, Farm Irrigation Systems, Environmental Impact Assessment, and engineering courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The University of Zambia is a comprehensive public university offering over 160 degree programmes across 13 schools, including Agricultural Sciences, Education, Engineering, Graduate School of Business, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Mines, Natural and Applied Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Public Health, and Veterinary Medicine. It serves 31,000 students supported by 810 academic staff through Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programmes, plus distance learning via the Institute of Distance Education and applied research through DITTC, DRD, and CRHMA.

Product overview

The University of Zambia is a comprehensive public university offering over 160 degree programs across 13 schools including Agricultural Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Medicine, Mines, Natural and Applied Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, and Graduate School of Business. The institution operates through multiple academic units including the Institute of Distance Education (IDE) for flexible learning and the Confucius Institute for Chinese language and cultural studies. Research and innovation are driven by the Directorate of Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Commercialization (DITTC), the Directorate of Research and Development (DRD), and the Collaborative Research Hub for Multidisciplinary Advancement (CRHMA). Digital services include a Student Information System (SIS), E-Learning platform (Moodle), Alumni Portal, mobile application, and online journals portal. The university has 31,000 students, 2,700 employees (including 810 academic staff), and over 40,000 alumni globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNZA: Common abbreviation for University of Zambia used across communications and branding

Products and services

• School of Agricultural Sciences Offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in agriculture, crop sciences, animal sciences, soil sciences, food science and nutrition, and agricultural economics for degree-seeking students.
• School of Education Provides teacher education programmes, educational psychology, and various teaching qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Graduate School of Business Offers MBA programmes and graduate degrees in business administration, accounting, finance, and management for postgraduate students and working professionals.
• School of Engineering Provides engineering programmes in civil, electrical, mechanical, environmental, and other specialized engineering disciplines at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• School of Health Sciences Offers health-related programmes including nursing, pharmacy, biomedical sciences, and various medical specializations.
• School of Veterinary Medicine Provides veterinary medicine education including undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary sciences.
• School of Public Health Offers training in bioethics, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics, family medicine, health policy, and health promotion.
• School of Nursing Sciences Provides nursing and midwifery education from diploma to doctorate levels for students pursuing nursing careers.
• Institute of Distance Education (IDE) Offers distance learning programmes since 1966, providing opportunities for working professionals and others unable to enrol in full-time programmes through flexible online learning modes across undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Confucius Institute Established July 2010 in partnership with Hebei University of Economics and Business; offers Chinese language teaching as short courses to students, lecturers, and the general public.
• Short Courses and Continuing Education Professional and vocational short courses including Small Ruminant Production, Aquaculture, Diabetes Educators, Food Safety Management, Dairy Technology, Farm Irrigation Systems, Environmental Impact Assessment, and engineering courses for working professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31,000 students enrolled; 4,500 students graduate annually; 40,000+ alumni globally

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mintek (South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Mintek, South Africa's national mineral research organisation, has established research collaborations with the University of Zambia under the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative. The partnership focuses on transforming Africa from raw ore exporter to hub for high-value mineral processing through advanced technology deployment.
• Copperbelt UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Research collaboration under the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative, working together with Mintek to build collective institutional capacity for Africa's industrial sovereignty.
• GhanaminorOthers · 25 May 2026Mintek deployed its Floatstar and Cynoprobe technologies to Ghana as part of African mineral processing research collaborations.
• Democratic Republic of CongominorOthers · 25 May 2026Mintek deployed its Floatstar and Cynoprobe technologies to DRC as part of African mineral processing research collaborations.
• Côte d'IvoireminorOthers · 25 May 2026Mintek deployed its Floatstar and Cynoprobe technologies to Côte d'Ivoire as part of African mineral processing research collaborations.
• TanzaniaminorOthers · 25 May 2026Mintek deployed its Floatstar and Cynoprobe technologies to Tanzania as part of African mineral processing research collaborations.
• BotswanaminorOthers · 25 May 2026Foundry projects spanning from Botswana to Egypt include Zambia with UNZA involvement.
• EgyptminorOthers · 25 May 2026Foundry projects spanning from Botswana to Egypt include Zambia with UNZA involvement.
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026FAO collaborated with the Government of Zambia to officially launch the Zambia Soil Partnership and Global Soil Doctors Programme under the SoilFER programme. A soil moisture monitoring station was inaugurated at UNZA.
• United States GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Partner in the SoilFER programme supporting Zambia Soil Partnership and Global Soil Doctors Programme.
• Japan GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026Partner supporting the SoilFER programme for soil science data and agricultural productivity improvements.
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Collaborative initiative focusing on climate-resilient agriculture and building research capacity among young scientists in Zambia. Students gain field-based experience in sustainable legume-cereal systems.
• IITA-CGIARcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026Partnership under the EU-funded LEG4DEV programme training young scientists in climate-smart agricultural techniques using both high- and low-tech data collection methods.
• UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Collaboration on student sensitization activities covering sanitation, hygiene, rules and regulations, drug abuse, and security topics.
• George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Collaboration under Fogarty International Center NIH-funded US-Zambia Risk-NCD programme addressing non-communicable disease risk factors through postgraduate fellowship training.
• UNITARcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2025Consortium partner in the FACE-NDC (Facility for Climate Empowerment to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions) project that awarded scholarships to 10 doctoral candidates at UNZA.
• Hebei University of Economics and BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2010Confucius Institute established at UNZA under direct leadership of Hanban with Hebei University. The institute teaches Chinese language as short courses to students, lecturers, and the general public.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• University of Nairobi: Kenya's oldest and largest public university with comparable multi-school structure (engineering, medicine, agriculture, business, education) and significant distance education programs - comparable in mission and operating model to UNZA.
• Midlands State University: Large Zimbabwean public university with broad multi-faculty structure (agriculture, science, education, commerce); comparable to UNZA as a Southern African public university seeking to expand research output and international collaborations.
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: Ghana's premier science and technology university; comparable public research university with engineering, agriculture, health sciences, and mines-focused schools that directly mirror UNZA's School of Engineering and School of Mines.
• Makerere University: Uganda's flagship public research university and the leading higher education institution in East Africa; analogous to UNZA in scale, comprehensive schools, and role as the primary degree-granting public university in its country.
• University of Cape Town: Leading African public research university with 13+ academic faculties, large research output and international partnerships; comparable to UNZA's aspiration of comprehensive research-led status, though materially larger.
• University of Malawi: Malawi's main public university with multiple constituent colleges including Bunda College (agriculture) and Kamuzu College of Nursing - closely aligned with UNZA's agricultural and health sciences mandates across Southern Africa.
• Eduardo Mondlane University: Mozambique's oldest and largest public university offering comprehensive programs across agriculture, medicine, engineering, and sciences; comparable to UNZA's national flagship role in Lusophone vs Anglophone Southern Africa.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University: Pan-African private university with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda offering engineering, business, and global health programs; competing with UNZA for Africa-region international students seeking English-language higher education.

Direct peers

• Mulungushi University: Another Zambian public university operating in Central Province; competes directly for Zambian students from surrounding regions and offers comparable agriculture, education, and natural sciences programs.
• Copperbelt University: Zambia's second public university, located in Kitwe; competes head-to-head with UNZA for Zambian undergraduate applicants and even collaborates with UNZA on research under the OR Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@universityofzambiaunza
• Facebookfacebook.com/universityofzambiaunza
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/university-of-zambia
• Xx.com/unza_zm

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Zambia