National University of Rwanda

About

The National University of Rwanda (NUR) was historically the largest and most comprehensive public university in Rwanda, established to provide higher education across a broad spectrum of disciplines. It was particularly renowned for its strong faculties in Medicine, Law, and Agriculture, playing a pivotal role in training the nation's professionals. For international students, NUR offered a diverse academic environment, with instruction primarily in French and increasingly in English, reflecting Rwanda's linguistic evolution. While specific dedicated international schools might not have existed, the university's international relations office facilitated exchange programs and supported foreign students. Its distinctive characteristic was its foundational role as Rwanda's premier national institution, serving as the bedrock of higher education before its integration into the University of Rwanda in 2013.

Background

The National University of Rwanda (NUR; Kinyarwanda: Kaminuza nkuru y’u Rwanda, French: Université nationale du Rwanda, UNR) was the largest university in Rwanda. It was located at 2°36′58″S 29°44′34″E in the city of Butare and was established in 1963 by the government in cooperation with the Congregation of the Dominicans from the Province of Quebec, Canada. Its founder and first rector was Father Georges-Henri Lévesque. When it was established, the NUR had three divisions (Faculties of Medicine and Social Sciences, and a Teacher Training College), 51 students and 16 lecturers. The university suffered badly during the genocide and had to close in 1994, reopening in April 1995. At that time English was introduced as a medium of instruction alongside French. In 2013, along with all public higher education institutions in Rwanda, it was merged into the newly created University of Rwanda.

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