Public Institutions of Higher Learning have admitted a total of 5, 216 students for the 2011 academic year in a selection that was made basing on the students’ performance in their final secondary school exams. 

According to data from the Rwanda National Examinations Council (RNEC), the National University of Rwanda (UNR) admitted the biggest number of students totalling 1,453.
NUR is the biggest University in the country with a population of 11,000 students.

There are sixteen public higher institutions of learning in the country.

Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) admitted 444 mainly in the faculties of Engineering, Science and the Faculty of Architecture and Environmental Design.

Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) admitted 828 students and these were drawn from almost all the combinations, while Kigali Health Institute admitted 219 students and the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) took in 207.

The Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE) has  admitted 408 while Umutara Polytechnic University admitted 534 students.

Other colleges include; the Kavumu College of Education, Tumba College of Technology, Kicukiro College of Technology, Rukara College of Education, Byumba School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kabgayi School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nyagatare School of Nursing and Midwifery and Rwamagana School of Nursing and Midwifery, they all admitted a total of 1,100 students.

However, this number does not include those admitted on private arrangements in these public institutions.

According to John Rutayisire, the Executive Secretary of RNEC, all the above students are eligible to apply for government sponsorship through criteria set by the Student Financing Agency of Rwanda (SFAR).

Normally SFAR takes the students who have applied through what they call the ‘means testing’ scheme which determines if the student is able to pay for their university education or not through filling of forms.

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