Niger

Why study a Bachelor or Master in Niger

Find all the study programs in Niger

  • About
  • Study
  • Living
  • Universities
  • Student Visa
  • How to Apply
  • Scholarship

About Niger

Niger, not to be confused with Nigeria, is a country located in West Africa. It’s named “Niger” after the Niger River and is considered one of the hottest countries in the world. It’s even come to be known as the “frying pan of the world”. That means it’s the perfect place to study for anyone who loves hot summer weather. 

 

Another fun fact about the country is that a dinosaur was discovered there. Scientists say that it lived there from 115 to 105 million years ago. They called it Nigersauraus, because of the place where it was found. 

 

If you’re interested to study in Niger, let’s get started! You’ll learn about the different universities there and how to apply to them, as well as how to apply for the Niger study visa. 

Languages

The official language spoken in Niger is French. The language has been inherited from colonial period and is the main language that administrative work is done in. The country also has eight other national languages. 

 

Currency 

The official currency used in Niger is the West African CFA franc. One West African CFA franc equals 0.0016 USD dollars, if you want to convert them and see the value. 

Geographical information

Niger is split into seven areas, with a principal area being the capital of Niamey. It shares borders with seven countries: Libya to the North East, Chad to the East, Nigeria and Benin to the South and South West, Senegal and Mali to the West and Algeria to the North West.

Religion

On a religious basis, more than 98 per cent of the population in Niger is Muslim. The majority of them are Sunni muslims, with less than 1 per cent being Shia muslims. Other religions like Roman Catholics, Protestants, and people of other religions make up less than 2 per cent of people in Niger. 

Political stance

The political system in Niger is considered a semi-presidential representative democratic republic. In this republic, the President of Niger is considered the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government, which has a multi-party system. The government exercises Executive power. 

 

Tourism 

Though it’s not a typical touristic destination, Niger has some charming touristic sites to visit. Zinder is one of these destinations and is made up of tight-knit streets and a Sultan’s palace with great architecture. Another touristic destination is the capital city of Niamey, with more than 1.3 million people living there. The city is full of open air markets and a great nightlife scene. There are also many exciting restaurants with foods from different cultures mixed with spicy African food. The Grand mosque is also a great destination to visit, which has many spectacular blue domes. 

Food 

Top foods in Niger include Jollof rice, which is a typical dish in the country. It’s made of long grained rice, which is cooked with vegetables like tomatoes, onions and garlic. Some people also top it with chicken, beef or goat meat. Another popular food in Niger is palm nut soup, which is made out of palm fruit. The dish is made with smoked fish, spinach and palm fruit, among other ingredients that are added to the soup. This soup is well-loved among African tribes so it’s a must try for international students who study in Ni

Study in Niger

There are several reasons why you should study in Niger, including the unique experiences you will get to experience. Read on to find out why you should study in Niger and how much it will cost you to do so. 

Why should you study in Niger? 

Some of the reasons why international students choose to study in Niger include the following: 

  • Beautiful and diverse sites to visit, with Niger split into three zones. These zones are the desert zone, intermediate zone to raise cattle and the final zone being the cultivating zone. 
  • Providing rich, new experiences in West Africa that offers students a new viewpoint that they wouldn’t have been able to experience otherwise. 

How much does it cost?

If you want to study in Niger, you might be interested in how much it will cost you to do so. In general, it will cost you a range between 350 dollars to 2500 dollars per semester, depending on the degree level and study program. 

 

Living in Niger

In general, when it comes to costs of living, you’ll need about 150 euros per month, besides accommodation costs when studying in Niger. Read on to learn how much it’ll cost to study in Niger and exactly how much the costs of living are. 

 

Accommodation

Here are the different kinds of accomodation that international students choose to stay in during the course of their studies:

  • Student dormitories: Several universities in Niger have limited rooms in the dorms housing for their students. This helps them find accommodation, at a better cost than other types of housing. Examples of these universities include the Abdou Moumouni University. There are also meals offered for students if they want them, though they can also opt for making their own food. Costs of this accomodation type vary based on size and the services offered to the students along with the room. It typically ranges from 65 to 125 euros a month.  
  • Private rentals: there are several options for apartment rental in Niger for students who would prefer to have their own place. You’ll pay an average of 400 dollars for your rental a month, based on the location of the apartment, whether it’s in the city centre or not, and the other amenities available. 
  • Room rentals: Another affordable option is renting out a single room in some areas in Niger. Landlords give rooms to students for an agreed-upon rental cost per month.
  • Homestays: a final accommodation option that students who study in Niger choose are Homestays. This type of housing is a great way to experience the culture and learn about the country on a personal basis. It’s also pretty affordable, with the cost decided on beforehand with the owner, depending on what you’ll be offered along with your room. Some offer free food and internet, as well as laundry rooms while others make you pay for the service.

Other costs of living

Other costs of living there to take into consideration are transport costs and food costs. Transport will cost you around 18 euros a month while you’ll pay around 75 dollars a month for food. Utilities will cost you around 400 dollars while the internet service will cost you around 15 dollars a month.  

Universities in Niger

When it comes to universities in Niger, there are several options there, with different degree programs offered to students. Read on to learn more about the degrees available and the top ranked universities in Niger. 

Degrees available

There are several degree types available for students who want to study in Niger. There are programs available for Bachelors, Masters’s, and Doctoral studies. Degree programs there are studies in the area of business management, finance, e-commerce, insurance, business formation, Mechanical engineering, information engineering and more. 

 

Top-ranked universities

Here are some of the top ranked universities international students who decide to study in Niger opt for: 

Abdou Moumouni University

Location: Niamey 

Founded in the year 1971 as the Higher Education center of Niamey, the Abdou Moumoni University received its name in 1992. Before being named Abdo Moumouni University, it waas called University of Niamey from the year 1973 till 1992. It’s named after Abdou Moumouni, a great professor of physics who worked in the institution from the years 1979 to 1983. 

 

Abdo Moumoni University has six schools: Faculty of Science and Technology(FAST), Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences (FLSH), Faculty of Agronomy (FA), Faculty of Economics and Management (FSEG), Faculty of Law and Political Sciences (FSJP) and Faculty of Health Sciences (FSS). It also has three technological institutes: the Institute for Social Science Research (IRSH), the Institute for Research in Mathematical Education (IREM), the Institute of Radioisotopes (IRI) and the institute of engineering and administration. 

Maryam Abacha American University of Niger

Location: Maradi City 

 

Maryam Abacha American University of Niger was founded in the yeaer 2013 and is the first English university in Niger. It’s a private university that has a big range of programs, at all degree levels. It offers courses in the areas of Applied and Basic sciences, Liberal Arts and Social and Management sciences. The university is a big university with more than 10,000 undergraduate students and 5,000 postgraduate students. 

Student Visa - Niger

When it comes to study visas, most international students will need a visa to study in Niger. Visa processing takes about three days if the forms are completed correctly and all documents are handed in. Students should keep that in mind as filling the forms incorrectly or sending the application with missing documents can cause a delay in visa issuance. Read on to learn about the required documents that you’ll need to hand in for your study visa. 

 

Visa Eligibility Information

Students can typically obtain a visa upon arrival except students coming from Kosovo, Macao, and Yemen. If you come from one of the following countries, you also won’t need av visa to study in Niger: Benin, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Hong Kong, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Tunisia.

Required Documents

In order to apply for a Niger study visa, the following documents are required: 

  • 3 Filled out application forms, signed
  • A valid passport
  • 3 passport sized photos, taken within the last year
  • International vaccination certificates for yellow fever and cholera, if coming from countries with the diseases 
  • 2 copies of travel itniery or round trip tickets, to prove students will go back after their course of study to their home countries
  • Proof that the student will be able to support themselves financially, in the form of two copies of a bank letter proving that there is more than 500 dollars in the bank account
  • Proof of acceptance into a Nigeran university 
  • Personal contact details and contact details for next of kin.  

How to apply - Niger

In order to apply to study in Niger, you’ll apply on the website of the university of choice, as there’s no central portal. The process is typically simple and straightforward, if you have all the necessary documents ready.

 

In order to study in Niger, you’ll need to hand in the following documents: 

  • Copy of a passport valid for at least six months after arriving at Niger
  • 2 passport size photos, recent and taken within 3 months of time 
  • Proof of study visa acquired or proof that they have started the process
  • Proof of English language proficiency, as is required by the university
  • Contacts and contacts of a close relative in case of emergency 
  • All previous academic certificates and transcripts needed by the program 
  • CV or portfolio (if applicable)
  • Letters of recommendation from trustable recommenders (if applicable: for Masters and PhD students)
  • Research proposal (for PhD students)
  • Proof of previous work experience in the area they intend to study in (if applicable: for Masters and PhD students) 
  • Letter of motivation, talking about themselves and why they should be accepted to the university and university program 
  • Medical and life insurance

Scholarship in Niger

If you want to study in Niger, there are options available for financial aid and scholarships. These may be offered by well wishers, universities or other countries to help encourage education in Niger for students there. Read on to learn more about this topic. 

Types of scholarships available

The different categories of scholarships available are: Academic scholarships, career-specific scholarships, scholarships based on Merit and Need-based scholarships. There are also scholarships awarded after students win creative contests and ones specific to certain universities. There are also scholarships to reward skills like athletic, artistic or leadership skills. 

Examples of Scholarships

Here are some of the best scholarships to apply to if you want to study in Niger:

 

  • The West African Research Association (WARA) –Aimed at students who want to study in West African countries. It offers financial aid to Master’s and doctorate, students who want to complete giving them a maximum of $2500 and $3500 dollars.
  • Leadership Essay Competition: this type of financial aid is a creative contest scholarship, awarding a Partial scholarship to students who wish to study a subject relating to African trade. 
  • Fulbright mtvU Scholarships: this scholarship offers funds for those who want to study how music works or functions as a medium of cultural exchange. Requirements are fluency in French, with scholarship proposals submitted in the language. 
  • The KDS scholarship: this is a scholarship awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence. In their applications, students should mention the breakthrough moment that made them decide to study a graduate degree.