What Amref International University (AMIU) does

Amref International University (AMIU) is a chartered private university headquartered at Northlands, Thika Road, Ruiru, Nairobi, Kenya. It was founded in 2017 and is fully owned by Amref Health Africa, a non-profit organisation with more than 65 years of public and community health experience across Africa. AMIU is licensed by the Commission for University Education (Charter received 19 November 2025) and offers health-sciences programmes from certificate and TVET level through diploma, higher diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, delivered across the School of Medical Sciences (Nursing and Midwifery, Physiotherapy) and the School of Public Health (Community Health, Health Systems Management and Development). A sub-brand ecosystem comprising the Health Entrepreneurship Academy, the AMIU Language Academy (English, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili), the Amref International Training Centre (AITC), and the Open, Distance & eLearning (ODeL) platform extends the offering beyond degree programmes into multilingual professional preparation, short courses, professional certifications (CAPM, PMP, ICDL), and laboratory training.

AMIU's platform rests on three delivery modes — on-campus learning at Northlands, Open Distance & eLearning via the AMIU LMS, and a Simulation Laboratory funded by a $250,000 Health Carousel Foundation grant — and is supported by an in-house admissions portal (admissions.amref.ac.ke), a student portal, and HEF/HELB integration. Its technology stack is conventional educational infrastructure rather than AI-native.

The business model combines recurring tuition and fees across multiple programme tiers with one-time short-course and professional-certification fees, supplemented by philanthropic donations and endowment funding (Mastercard Foundation via the Africa Health Collaborative scholarship programme, Health Carousel Foundation, VvAA Netherlands, Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation, AECID, Mary Jane Potter, and others). Customer segments span postgraduate, undergraduate, diploma, TVET, and lifelong-learner cohorts, with primary recruitment across Kenya and 25+ African countries plus scholarship-funded international postgraduate cohorts. Tuition pricing is not publicly disclosed; financial aid and scholarships are used to broaden access.

Name

Amref International University (AMIU)

Legal name

Amref International University

Website

https://amref.ac.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Amref International University (AMIU) is a Kenya-based, CUE-chartered private health-sciences university, wholly owned by Amref Health Africa, delivering certificate through master's programmes across nursing, public health, and community health to 3,500+ students from 25+ African countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Health Sciences)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Institutes & Programs (EDAHAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

Keywords

• Health sciences education
• Nursing and midwifery
• Public health programs
• Medical training
• Higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition and Fees: AMIU generates revenue primarily through tuition and fees charged for its academic programmes including postgraduate, undergraduate, advanced/higher diploma, diploma, certificate, TVET, short courses, professional certification, executive programmes, and laboratory short courses. The university charges different fee structures across programme levels.
2. Short Course and Professional Training Fees: AMIU offers a wide range of short courses including language training (English, French, German, Mandarin, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili), professional certifications (CAPM, PMP, ICDL), and health-specific courses (Health Data Analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Procurement and Supply Chain Management). Revenue generated from course fees across the Language Academy and professional training offerings.
3. Donations and Endowment Funding: AMIU receives donations and endowment funding from partners including Health Carousel Foundation ($250,000 for Simulation Lab), Mary Jane Potter (scholarship and endowment fund), VvAA Netherlands (library support donation), and other international donors supporting scholarships and capital projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Amref International University (AMIU) is a chartered health sciences university that delivers academic programmes from certificate through master's level across nursing, midwifery, community health, public health, health systems management, and physiotherapy. It sells tuition-based higher education and training through on-campus instruction at its Northlands Campus, Open Distance & eLearning (ODeL) delivery, short courses, professional certifications, language training via the AMIU Language Academy, and entrepreneurship training via the Health Entrepreneurship Academy. AMIU is fully owned by Amref Health Africa and operates as Africa's Primary Health Care University.

Product overview

Amref International University (AMIU) is an accredited health sciences university offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic and professional programmes. The institution operates a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of core academic programmes (Postgraduate, Undergraduate, Advanced/Higher Diploma, TVET, Short Courses, Professional Certification, Executive Programmes) supported by specialized sub-brands including the AMIU Language Academy for multilingual training and the Health Entrepreneurship Academy for innovation and enterprise development. The university delivers programmes through multiple modes including traditional on-campus, Open Distance & eLearning (ODeL), and blended approaches. Its predecessor institution, Amref International Training Centre (AITC), provided over 40 years of health sciences training before AMIU's establishment in 2017.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Health Entrepreneurship Academy: Programs focused on building public health (social) enterprises and driving impact in primary healthcare.
• AMIU Language Academy
• Amref International Training Centre (AITC)

Products and services

• Postgraduate Programmes
• Undergraduate Programmes
• Advanced/Higher Diploma Programmes
• Diploma Programmes
• TVET Courses
• Short Courses
• Laboratory Short Courses
• Professional Certification
• Executive Programmes
• AMIU Language Academy
• Health Entrepreneurship Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• AMIU has produced nearly 1,500 graduates since 2021, including 600+ in the Class of 2026.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• County Government of KwalecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026AMIU Vice Chancellor Prof. Joachim Osur held discussions with Governor H.E. Fatuma Achani regarding a proposed MoU to support the county's health workforce through targeted education, professional development, and institutional support. Areas of collaboration include capacity building, specialised competencies, and health service delivery.
• University of AlcaláminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026AMIU participated in the Erasmus+ KA171 Mobility Days hosted by the University of Alcalá in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid from 18-22 May 2026. The programme convened higher education institutions from Europe, Africa, and the Americas to explore partnerships and mobility opportunities. AMIU staff members Dr. Edna Tallam-Kimaiyo, Jackie Mbuthia, and Fauziya Kassim represented the university.
• Reach AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026AMIU joined the Reach Alliance as its tenth university partner globally and third in Africa, working alongside University of Oxford, University of Toronto, Ashesi University, University of Cape Town, and others. The partnership creates opportunities for student-led and community-engaged research on climate, economic, and public health challenges.
• Wellcome Trust UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AMIU, led by Dr. Alice Lakati, hosted the Wellcome Trust UK team to advance impactful health research collaboration across Africa and beyond.
• Kenya Scouts AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AMIU signed an MoU with the Kenya Scouts Association on 26 September 2024 to empower youth through leadership development, career guidance, and project management. Scouts benefit from internships, career readiness programmes, and entrepreneurship skills training.
• UBC School of Population and Public Health (SPPH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025UBC SPPH and AMIU signed a Statement of Cooperation to address global health challenges through collaborative research and education, focusing on research collaboration, academic exchange, and community-engaged learning.
• Marie Stopes KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AMIU formed a fresh MoU with Marie Stopes Kenya to drive cooperation on training, research, and internships, developing practical experience for AMIU students in reproductive health.
• PfizerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A strategic meeting between Pfizer and Amref Health Africa addressed digital capacity development of health workers in oncology and AMR, with AMIU as a key implementation partner.
• Harleys LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AMIU held a roundtable with Harleys Limited to address internship programmes, student development, and collaboration for AMIU's upcoming hospital project.
• Standard Chartered BankminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025AMIU and Standard Chartered Bank provided financial education mentorship to learners covering financial planning, investing, and goal setting for professional achievement.
• University of VeronaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025A delegation from AMIU led by the Director of Research visited the University of Verona in Italy from May 4 to 9, 2025, as part of an ongoing faculty and student exchange programme in health education and research.
• British Council (IELTS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AMIU became an official IELTS registration, training, and testing centre in partnership with the British Council, expanding opportunities for students and professionals to access global English proficiency certification platforms.
• National Bank of KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AMIU partnered with National Bank of Kenya for a tree-planting initiative at the Northlands campus, promoting environmental sustainability and community engagement.
• KCB GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024AMIU partnered with KCB Group during Customer Service Week for a tree-planting event at the Northlands Campus, showcasing commitment to sustainability and community-driven initiatives.
• University of PretoriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joachim Osur and Advancement Director Edius N. Makono explored benchmarking and collaboration opportunities with Prof. Francis Petersen at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
• Africa Health Collaborative (AHC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Africa Health Collaborative is a multi-year partnership working to strengthen Primary Health Care systems across Africa through health workforce development, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. It brings together AMIU, Mastercard Foundation, Addis Ababa University, African Leadership University, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Ashesi University, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Moi University, University of Cape Town, and University of Toronto. AMIU assumed the chairmanship of AHC in October 2025.
• Kenyatta National HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Richard Lesiyampe, CEO of Kenyatta National Hospital, participated in the 7th Graduation Ceremony and challenged graduates to uphold professionalism and ethical practice. AMIU collaborates with KNH on healthcare workforce development and professional standards.
• University of BrightoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIU launched a new collaboration with the University of Brighton under the Regenerative Medicine and Devices Knowledge Exchange Network, unlocking new opportunities in physiotherapy, nursing, and interdisciplinary research.
• University of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIU is partnered with the University of Toronto through the Reach Alliance and Africa Health Collaborative. The University of Toronto founded the Reach Alliance in 2015. Faculty and student exchanges and collaborative research are conducted under these partnerships.
• University of Cape TowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIU is partnered with the University of Cape Town through the Africa Health Collaborative, participating in joint programmes for health workforce development, innovation, and entrepreneurship across Africa.
• Global Amref Alumni and Associates NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Ravi Ram, CEO of the Global Amref Alumni and Associates Network, participated in the 7th Graduation Ceremony welcoming graduates into a worldwide network of professionals committed to advancing health through collaboration, mentorship, and lifelong learning.
• Amref Health AfricaflagshipOthersAMIU is fully owned by Amref Health Africa, which is reputed with over 65 years of quality and innovative public and community health interventions. AMIU builds on Amref's legacy and operates as a chartered university within the Amref family. Amref Health Africa provides institutional support, brand recognition, and programmatic collaboration across all operations.
• Amref Health Africa USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert Kelty, CEO of Amref Health Africa USA, participated in the 7th Graduation Ceremony, reinforcing the connection between AMIU and the global Amref network.
• Amref Health Africa in UgandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Patrick Kagurusi, Country Director of Amref Health Africa in Uganda, joined the 7th Graduation Ceremony virtually, representing the wider Amref Health Africa family and encouraging graduates to embrace collaboration.
• University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIU hosted representatives from The University of Manchester for strategic meetings on collaborative opportunities to bolster healthcare education, research, and community outreach efforts across Africa.
• Amref Salud ÁfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmref Salud África collaborated with AMIU on the #Conversextion project and funded the construction of an ablution block at Nairobi West Men's Prison, demonstrating cross-organisational collaboration within the Amref network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• University of Nairobi (College of Health Sciences): Kenya's flagship public university and the dominant health sciences degree-granting institution in the country. Comparable as the primary domestic competitor for health sciences students and clinical placement capacity in Kenya.
• Mount Kenya University: A large Kenyan private chartered university offering health sciences programmes and competing directly with AMIU for Kenyan private-sector students. Comparable as a domestic private-university peer on tuition model, accreditation pathway, and health sciences portfolio.
• African Leadership University (ALU): A pan-African private university model with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda, and former chair of the Africa Health Collaborative before AMIU. Comparable as a peer private, pan-African, mission-driven institution using scholarship funding and consortium partnerships to scale across Africa.
• Makerere University (College of Health Sciences): Uganda's flagship public university with a prominent health sciences college and a long track record of training East African health professionals. Comparable as a regional competitor for health sciences students across East Africa and a benchmark for THE rankings.
• Aga Khan University: A private, not-for-profit health sciences university with campuses in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) and Pakistan. Directly comparable as a privately chartered, Africa-focused health sciences institution with international student recruitment and a development-oriented mission similar to AMIU.
• University of Cape Town (Faculty of Health Sciences): A leading African research university with a major health sciences faculty and a fellow Africa Health Collaborative partner. Comparable in targeting health workforce development and engaging in pan-African health education partnerships under the AHC framework.
• Moi University (School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences): A Kenyan public university with strong health sciences programmes and a fellow AHC partner. Comparable as a domestic competitor for Kenyan health sciences students and as an AHC consortium peer pursuing similar primary healthcare workforce objectives.
• Kenyatta University (School of Medicine & Health Sciences): A major Kenyan public university with a dedicated medical and health sciences school that competes with AMIU for the same Kenyan undergraduate health sciences pool. Highly comparable as a domestic peer on curriculum, employer relationships, and THE ranking competition.

Broad incumbents

• University of Toronto (Dalla Lana School of Public Health): A globally ranked research university and a core AHC/Reach Alliance partner of AMIU. Comparable not as a direct competitor but as an elite institutional collaborator and benchmark for global health sciences standards that AMIU aspires to.

Regional players

• Strathmore University: A leading Kenyan private university with strong professional programmes and a similar tuition-based private-chartered model. Comparable as a domestic private university peer, although its core focus is business, law, and ICT rather than health sciences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC90hSh3qI-YmrUIo80-EUFw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Amref-International-University-606970779650115
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amref-international-university-amiu
• Instagraminstagram.com/amrefuniversity

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Amref International University (AMIU)