Study in Namibia

The Republic of Namibia is located in sub-Saharan Africa in the southwestern part. Namibia is one of the most fascinating and diverse countries in the world.

Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean and it shares its borders with Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa. Less than 200 metres of the Zambezi River separates Zimbabwe and Namibia. It has a population of about 2.1 million inhabitants and an area of about 824292 km².

According to UNESCO, Namibia has an adult literacy rate of 91.53% on average, with male literacy rate at 91.63% and 91.44% for females. Namibia has 3 major universities namely, Namibia University of Science and Technology, University of Namibia (UNAM), International University of Management (IUM). These offer Associate Diplomas, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate programs in the following: arts and humanities, Business and Social Sciences, Languages and Culture, Medicine and Health, Engineering, Science and Technology, Education, Training and Development, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture and Nature Conservation.

Namibia is a perfect education go-to for study abroad enthusiasts. One of the advantages of studying in Namibia is that the official language of the country is English, ideal for international students, though there is a variety of regional languages used as well.

Learning becomes easier as students can learn in a universal language that they most understand. Studying in Namibia could be the ideal choice for those who want a unique and completely different cultural viewpoint.

Namibia is taking strides in improving its education system to address a skill mismatch and boost human capital, the government is expanding higher education and technical and vocational education training facilities. This is a huge step in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goal 4: to provide quality education.

Namibia is a good study abroad place in Africa. Here are some of the reasons why Namibia is the best study abroad places tailor-made for you.

Safety and security

Namibia is one of the safest destinations you can find in Africa. It is an overwhelmingly peaceful and welcoming country. You will be relatively safe in your stay in Namibia.

Transport

World-renowned sites- Namibia is home to some world-renowned sights like the world’s highest dunes and the Etosha National Park, one of the world’s greatest conservation areas.

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About Namibia

Namibia, a country in southwest Sub-Saharan Africa distinctly known for the Namib Desert along the Atlantic Ocean coast. The capital city of Namibia is Windhoek with about 350.000 inhabitants.

The Republic of Namibia is located in sub-Saharan Africa in the southwestern part. Namibia is one of the most fascinating and diverse countries in the world. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean and it shares its borders with Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.

Less than 200 metres of the Zambezi River separates Zimbabwe and Namibia. It has a population of about 2.1 million inhabitants and an area of about 824 292 km². Namibia got its independence on the 21st of March 1990.

The currency used in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). The South African rand can still be used in Namibia, as the Namibian dollar is linked to the Rand and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis locally.

Namibia is one of the most fascinating and diverse countries in the world and a great travel destination. Namibia is famous for the high dunes in Sossusvlei, which are the highest in the world. Etosha National Park is one of the world’s greatest conservation areas.

English is the official language and all documents, notices and directional signs are in English. German and Afrikaans are also used throughout the country and there are numerous African languages and dialects which fall into two main groups: Bantu and Khoisan.

What to look forward to in Namibia?

Climb the world’s tallest dunes at Sossusvlei, Camping out in the open desert, Study at some of the best Universities in Africa, View wildlife that has adapted to the scorching heat and desert condition, Tracking black rhino on foot, Visit the oldest rock art sites in the world, Visit Etosha National Park, one of the world’s greatest conservation areas, Interact with the fascinating Himba people

Did you know?

⦁ It is home to the world’s oldest desert

⦁ About 30 languages are spoken in the country

⦁ It has some of the highest dunes in the world, rising to about 383 metres.

⦁ World’s most extensive meteorite shower

⦁ It contains one of the largest concentrations of rock art in Africa

⦁ It has the largest population of free-roaming cheetahs in the world

⦁ It is also home to the second-largest canyon in the world, the fish river canyon

⦁ The Fish River Canyon is also the oldest in the world, formed about 500 million years ago.

⦁ The Namibian dollar is used interchangeably with the South African Rand and is at par with the rand.

About Namibia Economy

Namibia has a mixed economic system and enjoys some level of freedom but combined with centralized planning and government regulation. Namibia is a full member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The currency used in Namibia is the Namibian Dollar (NAD). The South African rand can still be used in Namibia, as the Namibian dollar is linked to the Rand and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis locally. The exchange rate of the Namibian Dollar to the US$ is 1 USD to NAD = 16.8187 and the rand rate is at par.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Namibia was US$12.37 billion as of 2019, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of Namibia represents 0.01 percent of the world economy. GDP per capita was at US$5,931.45 as of 2018.

However, according to global macro models and analysts' expectations, GDP per capita in Namibia is expected to reach US$5200.00 by the end of the year 2020. In the long-term, the Namibia GDP per capita is projected to reach US$5350.00 by 2022. Namibia’s economic freedom score is 60.9 and is ranked 96th on the 2020 index of economic freedom.

Real GDP growth is projected to recover to 1.9% in 2020 and 2.4% in 2021, on the back of construction and manufacturing. The government is working flat out to improve the business environment, attract investment, and incentivize industrialization. Also approved is a policy to remove regulatory impediments to small and medium enterprises and improve their access to finance.

The major sectors are Mining, Fishing, Tourism & Agriculture. The agricultural and mining sectors in Namibia has grown significantly over the past years and contribute the most to employment in the nation. Mining includes diamonds, uranium, copper, lead, zinc, and marble.

The tourism industry is also making headway as one of the fastest-growing in Namibia over the recent years. Namibia is home to the world’s largest dunes and has a range of fascinating flora and fauna.

Namibia’s economy depends on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. The mining sector accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but it provides for more than 50% of foreign currency earnings. Namibia is very rich in alluvial diamond deposits which make it a primary source for quality diamonds.

Diamonds are mined both on land and from the sea. Namibia is one of the world’s largest uranium producers and also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper.

“In 2019, Namibia's overall trade (total of exports and imports) amounted to N$203,019 million, slightly lower (0.4%) than the 2018 level of N$203,744 million. The export revenue was N$91,766 million showing a 1.5 percent decline from last year. While, the imports bill stood at N$111,253 million, an increase of 0.7 percent from N$110,620 million last year”-Namibia Statistics Agency, Post Street Mall, Windhoek, Namibia.

Diamonds contribute 25% of total exports, its other exports are uranium, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, food and live animals, and manufactured products. Namibia's main exports partners are China, South Africa, Botswana, Belgium, Spain, Zambia, UAE, DRC, Italy, and the Netherlands, represented 80.7 percent of total exports Namibia's main imports include vehicles, machinery, and mechanical appliances, ores, food products; petroleum products, and fuel.

Namibia imports, machinery, and equipment, and chemicals. In terms of imports, the ten leading countries are South Africa, Zambia, China, Bulgaria, India, Botswana, USA, Peru, DRC, and Chile, which constituted 80.5 percent of total imports.

Why Study in Namibia

Affordable Tuition Fees in Namibia
Diversity of Programs
There are quite diverse programs on offer at Namibian Universities from which you can choose from. Study programs include arts and humanities, Business and Social Sciences, Languages and Culture, Medicine and Health, Engineering, Science and Technology, Education, Training and Development, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology, Agriculture and Nature Conservation, to name but a few.
Affordable Accomodation in Namibia
Transport
There are car hire services for your convenience. Universities like IUM has transport services in for transporting students between campuses, transporting students to and from home, picking them up from designated bus stops, and transporting students to identified destinations during holidays. Getting around town is easy through taxis and shared taxis. Those traveling long distances can take a coach.
International Environment in Namibia
Highly Ranked Universities
Namibia has 3 universities that are highly ranked in Africa. The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibian University of Science and Technology (NUST) are highly ranked in the top 50 best universities in Africa according to Unirank. Choose to study in Namibia and study with some of the best institutions.
Great Weather in Namibia
Scholarship Opportunities
Partial and full scholarships are available to assist students with their tuition. Scholarships can be from Government, private institutions, and companies. Scholarships can be offered to students based on need, excellence in sport, arts, and creativity, etc.

Scholarships in Namibia

If you wish to study in Namibia, there are various organizations and other nations or universities offering Merit-based scholarships, Need-based scholarships, Student specific scholarships, Career-specific scholarships, College-specific scholarships, Athletic Scholarships, and Creative contest scholarships as well.

Let’s take a brief look at some of the scholarships that can be of assistance with your tuition, both full and partial.

Leadership Essay Competition -This is a creative contest competition which offers Partial Funding for students who wish to conduct studies in any African trade. It is open to African citizens to study in any African country. Creative students can seize this opportunity and have their tuition paid.

Namibia Student Visa

A Namibian visa is required by all international students entering Namibia. It is prohibited for one to enter Namibia on a tourist visa in the hope of then applying for a Namibia study permit and visa. Visas and permits are not interchangeable and one has to apply for a visa and study permit even if they were already in Namibia.

Applications for a Namibian study permit and visa must be made before entering Namibia. Applications can be made via the Namibia Embassy. When a Namibian study permit and visa is issued the immigration officer may also authorize the accompanying of the holder by their spouse and dependents to accompany them and reside in Namibia with them.