Study in Zambia

RocApply invites you to study in Zambia one of the most urbanized with a rich cultural and historic background. At the center of Southern Africa, this country is filled with study opportunities for international students from all over the world. With a literacy rate of 81%,

Zambia is one of the most educated nations in Africa and a viable option to consider studying.

Several learning institutions give international students a good quality education, experience, and exposure that is much desired in the competitive corporate world.

Learning in Zambia is guaranteed to not let you walk away with a degree only, but to enhance your analytic and critical thinking skills in the greater more globalized world.

Most universities in Zambia have collaborative agreements with renowned Universities worldwide hence providing refined research with top-notch academic support.

With over 50 learning institutions that cover various academic programs ranging from Law, Medicine Agricultural Science, Mining,

Communication studies, Natural Sciences, and Commercial studies to mention a few; the universities have different levels ranging from certificates to PhDs.

International students are spoilt with a choice on programs to study whilst in Zambia. The institutions are guaranteed to offer high quality and well-researched up-to-date education from trained and well qualified academic staff.

English is the language of instructions at Zambian universities. This means that the ease of learning has opened up more reasons why international students have opted to study in Zambia.

Students from all over the world study in Zambia because of its warm and vibrant environment. The country boasts of international students at its institutions of study for exchange programs and also full-time studies.

With a wide array of scholarship opportunities for the international community, studying in Zambia has become a coveted option that has seen a boost in international students.

Study in Zambia with RocApply and apply for a Bachelor, Master’s, and Doctorate program available and taught at very high-quality educational facilities in the nation.

With the world becoming one community, a lot of international students are opting to study in African universities due to the latter’s competitive nature in academics.

Zambia has not been left behind in getting international students in its various institutions of higher learning. In case you were wondering why you should study in Zambia, RocApply compiled many reasons for you.

About Zambia

Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country that is bordered by Tanzania to the north-east, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Malawi to the east, Zimbabwe, and Botswana to the south, Namibia to the south-west, Mozambique to the south-west and Angola to the west.

Its capital, Lusaka is in the south of the country and accommodates the greater population of the citizens which together with the Copperbelt Province are the economic hubs of the country.

A former British colony commonly known as Northern Rhodesia at that time, the country attained its independence on the 24th of October in 1964 and this day in celebration every year since then.

The name Zambia is derived from the great river Zambezi (meaning the Grand River) that drains the greater part of the country. Zambia is a member of the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) and the Commonwealth of Nations. The first president of the country Zambia was Kenneth Kaunda with his United National Independence Party which maintained its rule until 1991.

With a population of more than 18.1 million people the country, Zambia ranks 66th in the world for the biggest population. The country is a diverse linguistic and tribal nation with over 73 ethnicities, most of which are Bantu-speaking tribes.

A large population belongs to the 9 main ethnic groups, Nyajna-Chewa, Bemba, Tonga, Tumbuka, Lunda, Luvale, Kaonde, Nkonya, and Lozi with a general collage of all tribes found in the cities. The country is home to an impressionable number of immigrants from Europe and the Indian subcontinent that came as laborers during the colonial days.

Tonga people are said to have been one of the first people to settle in Zambia from the east. The official language of instruction in Zambia is English.

The local language commonly used in urban areas are, Nyanja (Chewa) and Bemba; however you will find other local languages dotted across cities and these include Tonga, Lozi, Kaonde, Lunda and Luvale to mention a few. The number of indigenous languages that are spoken across the country amounts to 73 languages.

Religion is an important aspect of the nation with 85.5% of the citizens believing in Christianity. 11% of the people are rooted in traditional African religion, which is usually blended or interchangeably practiced with Christianity.

1.8% is Muslim, most of whom live in the metropolitan areas and play a pivotal economic role in the country. There is a smaller community of various other religions including non-believers.

Zambia has one of the largest Seventh-day Adventist populations per capita in the world, accounting for about 1 in 18 Zambians. Freedom of Worship is prevalent in Zambia making it a peace-loving nation that is accommodative to diversity.

Zambia is the 39th largest country in the world, with most of the country’s landscape made up of vast lands of National Parks. Many of these parks are home to some of Africa’s most-feted wild animals and extraordinary birdlife.

It is also home to the Victoria Falls one of the world’s 7 wonders (an argument that has gone for ages with Zimbabweans). The country is a complete covet for tourists looking for the renowned African experience.

Being a Savannah landscape, the country is riddled with anthills that can build up to the size of a small house. These are spectacle views as you drive through the plains.

Zambia has 5 lakes, 3 major rivers, 17 waterfalls, and numerous wetlands, making it one of the most water-rich countries in Africa. Lake Kariba is the world’s biggest man-made lake borders the country with Zimbabwe, supplying both countries with commercial fishing operations and electric hydropower.

Zambia is one of the most urbanized countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with most of the population living close to major transport routes ( known as the Line of Rail) while the rural areas are sparsely dispersed throughout the country.

The country is divided into ten provinces, which are also composed of subsectors of 117 districts, 156 constituencies, and 1,281 wards.

About Zambia Economy

Since the 2000s, Zambia’s economy has continuously stabilized, achieving real GDP growth, reducing interest rates, and growing its levels of trade with other international economic players. The country achieved a middle-income country status in 2011 after proof of an impressive economic growth which averaged 7.4% per year.

This comes after a long stretch of economic meltdown since independence. The economic improvements have been mainly attributed to foreign investment in mining and an increase in world copper prices.

Zambia has become one of Africa’s economic jewels as investor confidence continues being restored. Zambia was named one of the fasted growing economically reformed countries in 2010 by the World Bank.

To reduce poverty amongst its people, the country is engaged with international organizations on lending programs and donor aid; these organizations include the IMF.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has its headquarters in the capital city of Lusaka. In 2019 the country realized a GDP of $23.9 billion (nominal) a 1.5% growth from the previous year.

Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country’s economy has previously been heavily reliant on the copper mining industry which is its biggest export; however, the Zambian government has implemented reforms meant to diversify and explore other economic resources such as tourism, agriculture, and hydro-power.

The government has also approved licenses to prospect for other minerals within the country. This diversification program will allow the country to sail through another economic slump in case copper prices decline as they did in the 1970s.

The copper industry was privatized in 2002 leading to investor confidence and production boosts. Currently, Zambia averages between $7.5 billion and $8 billion of copper exports annually and covers 85% of the country's total exports.

Some of the country’s main export partners are China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, South Korea, and India.

Despite copper being the main economic player, agriculture is the backbone of the Zambian economy (although the sector represents only 2.6% of the country's GDP), as it employs 54% of the workforce in the country; more jobs than the mining industry combined.

Zambia's agricultural sector emphasizes mainly on crop-farming, namely maize, cotton, soybeans, tobacco, groundnuts, paprika, sorghum, wheat, rice, sunflower seed, and livestock production.

Other major economic contributors to the Zambian GDP are processing, construction, emerald mining, beverages, food, textiles, chemicals, fertilizer, and horticulture production. Zambia also boasts of being one of the biggest seed exporters in Africa.

Zambia shares most of its strategic economic and geographic elements with its neighboring country Zimbabwe. The two countries share the man-made Lake Kariba since its inception under the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

The Lake is pivotal for its hydroelectric capacity. The Zambezi River also borders the two countries and is a pivotal player in the fishing and tourism industry. One-third of the country is made up of national parks.

Both countries are home to the co-shared Victoria Falls and hold everything that there is to love about raw and untamed Africa. The Victoria Falls is an economic booster for both countries as tourists stream in throughout the year to visit the “Mosi oa Tunya”.

Zambia has one of the best wildlife and game reserves affording the country with abundant tourism revenue. The North Luangwa, South Luangwa, and Kafue National Parks are internationally renowned for impressive animal populations in Africa.

Monetary Unit

Zambian kwacha (K)

Why Study in Zambia

Wide Range of Programs

Zambian universities offer a wide range of programs that range from Humanities, & Social Sciences, Education, Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Medicine, Law, Arts, communication and Media Studies and Mining to mention a few. This opens up more prospective opportunities for students who are looking at studying in Zambia.

Research

Be involved in contributing to meaningful research. Institutions in Zambia are known to contribute to research and technological development in both the local and international communities. Most universities in Zambia have collaborative agreements with renowned Universities worldwide hence providing refined research with top-notch academic support.

7th Wonder

Who wouldn’t love studying right next to the 7th Wonder? Zambia is home to the majestic Victoria Falls. Taking a trip down south to unwind from academic pressure might come in handy one of the days and we are sure there is no better place to do that than at “Mosi oa Tunya”.

Medium of Instruction

The language of instruction in Zambian classrooms and business is English. This means that the students are afforded the ease of learning, and networking both in school and out of campus. Zambia is a peaceful country and boasts of a huge expatriate community. This means that international students can still be in contact with other communities from their country of origin whilst they are in Zambia.

Scholarships

International students facing any financial challenges in covering their tuition fees need to check with their university of choice if there are any scholarship positions it provides. Some universities issue out scholarships on behalf of trusts and companies.

After getting a place at your preferred university it is important to start searching for opportunities that will provide financial aid when you need it.

In case your university does not provide any scholarship options, there is no need to worry we at RocApply took the liberty to search online for scholarships that might allow you to study in Zambia.

Zambia Student Visa

To study in Zambia, all international students require a study visa. International students need to research visa application processes for their country of residence.

A Zambian study permit will only be issued out when the student has been accepted in the university they applied to and only if it is registered with the relevant ministry.

Please note that a study permit application must be made before the student entering Zambia. Study permits are exceptional to residents of the country and asylum seekers only.

The holder of a study permit may travel in and out of Zambia for the validity period of the study permit.