Paying for higher education in South Sudan without a public student loan
South Sudan has no public student loan programme. Students pay for their studies at the University of Juba or elsewhere through family support, scholarships, a job or a personal loan taken out by a salaried parent.
No national student loan in South Sudan
We have found no public fund or bank product reserved for students. The Ministry of Higher Education mainly handles admissions and some scholarships, with no credit mechanism repayable after graduation for those who complete their degree.
Public universities in Juba, Bor and Wau
The University of Juba, Upper Nile University, the University of Bahr el Ghazal, Dr John Garang University in Bor and Rumbek University form the core of public provision. Fees there remain modest, but housing and transport weigh heavily.
Private institutions and fees in dollars
Several private institutions in Juba charge fees in dollars or in indexed amounts. For a family paid in South Sudanese pounds, depreciation can push up the cost of a year of study partway through the course.
Studying in Kampala or Nairobi
Many students leave for Kampala, Nairobi or Kigali. Tuition, visas and housing are paid in foreign currency, which means regular transfers from Juba with exchange and sending fees on top of each payment.
Government and foreign scholarships
The government and partner countries award study scholarships, notably for Egypt, China or India. Offers should be checked with the ministry or the embassy concerned, because fake announcements circulate widely on social media.
South Sudanese parents borrowing against their salary
Without a student loan, a salaried parent often applies for a salary-backed personal loan. The instalment is deducted from their pay, so the length of the course and the stability of their job must be assessed.
Uncles, cousins and the diaspora chip in
University costs are often shared among parents, uncles and members of the diaspora. Setting out these contributions, with amounts and dates, prevents the student from running out of money mid-year, far from family in Juba or abroad.
Evening classes and work in Juba
Teaching in private schools, translation, small trading or a job with an NGO allow some students to pay their way. Evening classes offered by several Juba institutions make it easier to combine work and study.
Vocational training centres
Training centres in mechanics, electrical work, IT or health cost less than a university degree. They lead to an income more quickly, which helps repay any family debt taken on to pay for the training.
Primary and secondary school: a different system
For primary and secondary school, the needs and programmes differ, notably with cash transfers to girls who attend regularly. Our page on school loans in South Sudan details these schemes, including the donor-funded GESS programme.
Paid scholarships: a sign of fraud
A genuine scholarship never asks for a fee to process an application. Messages promising guaranteed admission abroad in exchange for a mobile money payment are almost always scams and should simply be ignored.
Rwanda's student loan model
A student loan in Rwanda relies on a public scheme repaid once graduates start work. This model does not yet exist in South Sudan, where paying for studies rests on families and scholarships.
Putting together funding for a South Sudanese degree
- Compare the total cost of study, including fees, housing, transport and materials, in Juba or abroad.
- Look for scholarships announced by the Ministry of Higher Education or by embassies.
- Check every scholarship offer directly with the organisation named, without paying any fee.
- Organise the family funding plan, deciding who pays what and when.
- If a parent borrows, calculate the instalment over the full length of the course.
A year of study costs for a South Sudanese student
| Expense | What makes it vary | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| University fees | Public or private institution, subject | Indexed to the dollar at some private institutions |
| Housing | City and type of accommodation | High in Juba and abroad |
| Transport | Distance and season | Cut-off roads make journeys dearer |
| Transfers abroad | Channel and exchange rate | Fees on every transfer |
| Materials and connectivity | Subject and digital needs | Mobile data is expensive |
Documents for a South Sudanese study scholarship
- National ID card or nationality certificate
- Secondary school leaving certificate
- University admission letter
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of income of the borrowing parent
- Passport and visa for study abroad
Traps in paying for studies in South Sudan
- Paying fees to an agency promising a guaranteed scholarship in Kenya or Egypt without an official letter from the institution.
- Enrolling a student at a private university that charges in dollars without planning for the rising cost in pounds.
- Relying on family support with no schedule, then dropping out mid-year because a payment never arrives.
- Mistaking a partial scholarship for full funding and overlooking housing and transport costs.
Lenders to contact
- Equity Bank South Sudan: South Sudanese arm of Equity Group, a commercial bank offering loans including SME financing products, with offers aimed at the diaspora.
- KCB Bank South Sudan: South Sudanese subsidiary of Kenya's KCB Group, a commercial bank serving individuals and businesses, including a dedicated business club for entrepreneurs.
Studying without a student loan in South Sudan: answers
Is there a state-backed student loan in South Sudan?
No. As far as we know, no public or state-guaranteed student loan is offered in South Sudan. Students rely on scholarships, family, work or a personal loan taken out by a salaried relative.
How do you find a scholarship to study outside South Sudan?
Announcements come through the Ministry of Higher Education, embassies and partner universities. Consult these official sources and never pay a middleman who promises to get you selected for a place or an award.
Will a Juba bank lend directly to a student?
Rarely, because a South Sudanese student normally has no salary paid into an account. The bank lends instead to the salaried parent or guardian, who repays from their own salary over the agreed term.
Do South Sudanese universities accept payment in instalments?
Some universities, particularly private ones, agree to split fees by semester. Ask the institution's finance office for written agreement before enrolling, specifying the currency that will be used.