Paying for university in Burundi: loan-scholarship, banks and families
In Burundi, the main student loan is the state loan-scholarship, reserved for eligible school leavers at public institutions and repaid once they are in work; banks rarely offer genuine student loans, and families cover most private tuition.
From grant to loan-scholarship
Students at the University of Burundi and other public institutions used to receive a non-repayable grant. The system has been converted into a loan-scholarship, support paid during studies that the graduate later repays to the state.
Who qualifies for the loan-scholarship
Applicants must hold Burundian nationality, have passed the state examination, be admitted to an eligible public institution and not have already been funded for the same cycle. They sign a contract committing them to repay.
Repayment once graduates find work
Repayment begins when the graduate finds a job, in either the public or the private sector, through deductions from salary. The money is paid into an account opened at the Bank of the Republic of Burundi.
Where the scheme falls short
High unemployment among young graduates delays many repayments, and tracking private-sector employees remains difficult. For graduates without a job, the page on loans for the unemployed in Burundi presents the options that exist.
Private universities in Bujumbura and Ngozi
Students at private universities, of which there are many in Bujumbura and a few provincial towns, generally do not receive the loan-scholarship. Registration and tuition fees are then paid by the family, often in several instalments.
Bank loans to parents rather than students
Burundian banks rarely lend to a student with no income or collateral. Funding then comes through a salaried parent who takes out a personal loan or a school fee loan, repaid by deduction from their domiciled salary.
Studying in the region or in Europe
Going to Kampala, Nairobi, Kigali or Belgium involves costs in foreign currency, which is hard to obtain in Burundi. Families draw on savings, the diaspora and sometimes a bank loan, with exchange rate risk to plan for.
Foreign scholarships for Burundian master's and doctoral students
Scholarships offered by partner countries or international organisations fund master's degrees and doctorates abroad. They are non-repayable but highly selective, and calls for applications are published by the relevant ministries and embassies.
The cost of student life in Bujumbura
Beyond tuition, housing, transport and meals weigh on the budget, especially for a student arriving from Muyinga, Bururi or Cibitoke. The loan-scholarship covers part of these expenses, but rarely all of them.
From secondary to higher education
Families already borrowing for their younger children's schooling sometimes end up piling up repayments. The page on school fee loans in Burundi describes the ways to fund the costs of basic and post-basic education.
Fake scholarships paid via Lumicash
Adverts promise scholarships or study loans abroad in return for application fees paid by mobile money. Genuine official programmes never ask anyone to send a payment to a private individual through Lumicash or EcoCash.
Tanzania and its student loans agency
Tanzania runs a public agency dedicated to student loans, recovering them through deductions from graduates' salaries. The guide to student loans in Tanzania makes it possible to compare this model with the Burundian loan-scholarship.
Applying for the loan-scholarship in Burundi
- Pass the state examination and obtain admission to an eligible public higher education institution.
- Put together the file requested by the scholarship services of the Ministry of Higher Education.
- Sign the commitment to repay the loan-scholarship and keep a copy.
- Receive the payments during the study cycle and keep every supporting document.
- Once employed, report your situation so that repayment deductions can be set up.
Funding a Burundian university degree
| Source of funding | How it works | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| State loan-scholarship | Repaid after employment | Public institutions only, strict criteria |
| Parent's personal loan | Deducted from salary in BIF | Parent's repayment capacity |
| Family savings and diaspora | Interest-free | Irregular amounts |
| International scholarship | Non-repayable | Highly selective |
| University instalment plan | Fees paid in tranches | Institution's agreement |
Documents for the loan-scholarship and tuition fees
- Burundian national identity card
- Certificate of success in the state examination
- University admission or enrolment certificate
- Signed repayment commitment
- Payslips of the borrowing parent if a bank loan is used
Mistakes made by students and families
- Forgetting the commitment to repay the loan-scholarship, when some employers ask for proof of good standing before hiring.
- Enrolling at a private university while counting on the loan-scholarship, which is generally reserved for eligible public institutions.
- Paying fees to a fake foreign scholarship agent contacted on Facebook who promises guaranteed admission and funding.
- Underestimating the cost of studying abroad in foreign currency, to the point of dropping out for lack of dollars or euros.
Lenders to contact
- Banque de Crédit de Bujumbura (BCB): Bujumbura commercial bank linked to the Bank of Africa group, offering banking services and financing to Burundian individuals and businesses.
- Banque Commerciale du Burundi (Bancobu): Burundian commercial bank regularly publishing activity reports and financial statements, providing banking services and loans to its customers.
Loan-scholarship and higher education in Burundi
Must the loan-scholarship be repaid even without a job?
Repayment is triggered by finding employment. As long as the graduate has no salaried income, deductions do not apply, but the debt remains and becomes payable as soon as the graduate takes up a post.
Are private university students in Burundi entitled to the loan-scholarship?
As a rule no, the loan-scholarship targets students admitted to eligible public institutions. Private students rely on their family, scholarships from religious institutions or NGOs, or a loan taken out by a parent.
Will a Burundian bank lend directly to a student?
It is rare, for lack of income and collateral. The usual solution is a personal loan in the name of a salaried parent, whose pay is domiciled at the lending bank and who repays by deduction.
How can a Burundian student fund a master's degree abroad?
Possible routes include cooperation scholarships, family savings, support from the diaspora or a bank loan in a parent's name. Access to foreign currency must be planned ahead, as converting Burundian francs can take time.