Mbeya University

Overview & History

• Type & Location: Public university situated in southern Tanzania’s city of Mbeya, with campuses in Mbeya and Rukwa.

• Origins: Founded as Mbeya Technical College in 1986; became Mbeya Institute of Science and Technology (2005); finally elevated to a university in 2012–13.

• Leadership:

  • Chancellor: Prof. Mark Mwandosya

  • Vice-Chancellor: Aloyce (Aloys) Mvuma

Academic Structure & Programmes

• Colleges:

  • Engineering & Technology

  • Science & Technical Education

  • Humanities & Business

  • Architecture & Construction Tech

  • ICT

  • Agriculture & Science

  • Health Sciences & Technology

  • Programmes Offered:

  • Diplomas (Engineering, ICT, Business, Agribusiness, Laboratory Technology)

  • Certificates in Agribusiness and Business Administration

  • Bachelor degrees including BSc in Biotechnology, among others

Campus Life & Facilities

• Student Services:

  • Organized through the Students’ Organization (MUSTSO), including leadership through elections, a student parliament, and judicial organ.

  • Dean of Students’ office supports campus governance, events, and activities .

• Accommodation: On-campus housing for over 2,100 students; cooking not allowed inside rooms.

• Health & Medical: Campus Health Centre and nearby facilities; NHIF accepted.

• Library & ICT: Extensive services, e-resources, VLE (Moodle), SIMS .

• Sports & Recreation: Facilities for football, volleyball, tennis, basketball, netball, athletics, badminton .

Research & Innovation

• Research Focus: Published MUST Journal of Research & Development; participates in engineering and technology studies.

• HEET Project: Beneficiary of a US $31.5 million World Bank initiative (2021–2026) targeting infrastructure, curriculum development, online learning, and applied research

• IP & Tech Support: WIPO-designated Technology & Innovation Support Centre (TISC) offering patent and technical database access.

Accreditation & Affiliations

• Accredited and Chartered by Tanzania Commission for Universities.

• Affiliated with the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) .

Location & Access

• Coordinates: Approx. 8°56′S, 33°24′E, located ~10 km southwest of Mbeya city centre, near the TAZARA railway.

• Contact:

  • Postal: P.O. Box 131, Mbeya

  • Phone: +255 25 295 7544 / 7542

  • Email: must@must.ac.tz

Recent Developments

• Laid foundation stone for new facilities at Rukwa campus by the President (July 2024).

• Launched UNESCO-CFIT collaboration and hosted various public lectures and partnerships .

• Announced admission windows for postgraduate programmes and updated exam timetables (June 2025) .

In Summary

MUST is a dynamic, growing public university focused on science, technology, engineering, and innovation. With strong research initiatives, international funding under HEET, rich campus life, modern learning systems, and active student governance, it’s positioned as a regional hub of excellence.