University of Rwanda

University of Rwanda (UR) is a public research university located in Kigali, Rwanda.

The University of Rwanda (UR) is a public research university located in Kigali, Rwanda. It is the country's oldest and largest university.

The university was founded in 1963 as the National University of Rwanda (NUR). NUR was established with the assistance of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The university's first rector was the Belgian scholar Marcel G. Van der Elste. NUR was initially composed of three academic units: the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the Teacher Training College (ENS). At that time, it had 51 students and 16 lecturers.

In 1966, the National Institute of Education (NIE) was created within NUR. The NIE aimed at training and improving elementary secondary school teachers' skills. In 1971, the National Polytechnic Institute of Butare (INPRB) was created. The INPRB aimed at training middle-level technicians in various fields, such as agriculture, engineering, and business. In 1980, the Institute of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (IARMV) was created within NUR. The IARMV aimed at training agricultural and veterinary professionals. In 1990, the Institute of Natural Sciences (INS) was created within NUR. The INS aimed at training scientists in various fields, such as biology, chemistry, and physics. In 1992, the Institute of Languages and Literature (ILL) was created within NUR. The ILL aimed at training linguists and literary scholars. In 1995, the Institute of Law (IDNL) was created within NUR. The IDNL aimed at training lawyers. In 1998, the Institute of Management and Economics (IME) was created within NUR. The IME aimed at training business managers and economists.

In 2003, NUR was divided into four campuses: the College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (CAAVM); the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS); the College of Business and Economics (CBE); and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS).

In 2013, NUR was merged with the other public higher education institutions in Rwanda to create the University of Rwanda (UR). UR is now the largest educational institution in Rwanda.

UR is committed to providing high-quality education and research that will help to develop Rwanda's economy and society. The university is also committed to international cooperation and partnership.

University of Rwanda is ranked as the #1 top university in Rwanda during 2024. This is the same rank as last year.