University of Rwanda graduating class almost halves as courses move to four years

The number of students graduating from the University of Rwanda has almost halved this year as curriculum reforms extend some undergraduate programmes from three years to four.

The university will graduate 4,953 students on Friday, 23 October, at Rukara Campus, down 48% from 9,526 in 2025.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Raymond Ndikumana said the decline is linked to a government decision introduced in the 2022–2023 academic year to standardise undergraduate programmes at four years.

Before the reform, some undergraduate programmes lasted three years, while others took four. The change increased the required duration of programmes that previously lasted three years.

Dr Ndikumana said this year's graduating class largely comprises students from colleges whose programmes already lasted four years, as well as those enrolled in programmes whose duration was not changed by the reform.

The new four-year structure is expected to be reflected in graduation numbers as students admitted to the revised programmes complete their studies.

Bigger classes expected in 2027

The university expects graduation numbers to rise next year as students enrolled in the revised four-year programmes complete their studies.

“Next year, those in the new four-year programmes will graduate, and the numbers are expected to exceed what we have normally seen in previous years,” Dr Ndikumana said.

He added that some programmes, including medicine, already lasted more than four years and were therefore not affected by the reform in the same way as courses that previously took three years.

The expected increase will depend on students completing their academic requirements and qualifying for graduation.

Who is graduating?

Of the 4,953 graduates, 3,783 will receive undergraduate qualifications and 1,170 postgraduate qualifications. Women account for 1,917 graduates, while men make up 3,036.

The undergraduate group includes 3,480 bachelor's degree recipients, 302 advanced diploma recipients and one diploma recipient.

Among postgraduate graduates, 1,086 will receive master's degrees, 49 PhDs, 21 postgraduate certificates, 11 subspecialty certificates and three postgraduate diplomas.

The number of PhD graduates has risen from 35 in 2025 to 49 this year, an increase of 40%.

Dr Ndikumana said postgraduate graduation numbers remained within the range recorded last year, although the number of doctoral graduates had increased.

The university expects the effects of the curriculum changes to become clearer in the coming years as successive cohorts complete their programmes.

By Elisa UWINEZA