The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is the oldest and, with around 20,000 students, the largest public university in Tanzania. Its campus facilities are spread across three different sites on the western side of the port city of Dar es Salaam (Mlimani Campus, Muhimbili and UCLAS University Colleges). The main campus is 13 km from the city centre and is easily accessible by city bus.

Before gaining independence in 1970, the University of Dar es Salaam was officially affiliated with the University of London. Together with Makerere University in Uganda and the University of Nairobi in Kenya, UDSM formed the University of East Africa.

The university campus is not clearly demarcated, as many staff and lecturers’ flats are located on campus. However, the main buildings – such as the Admin Building, Nkrumah Hall, the colleges and the cafeteria – are very close to one another and can be reached on foot within ten minutes. In addition to the range of courses on offer, students can make use of UDSM’s numerous facilities. These include a swimming pool, a gym and courts for basketball, football, volleyball and tennis.

At first glance, the range of courses on offer seems extensive, as you have the opportunity to choose from several Departments (including those outside your own field of study). However, there are also courses that are only offered in the summer semester or the winter semester. The language of instruction at UDSM is English. For everyday life outside university and for interacting with the local population – in other words, to get to know the ‘country and its people’ – a basic knowledge of Kiswahili is, however, important and beneficial.

With over 2.5 million inhabitants, Dar es Salaam is the largest city in Tanzania and the economic centre as well as the Lutheran and Roman Catholic episcopal see. The capital Dodoma is just under 500 kilometres to the west.

The cost of living in Tanzania is generally much lower than in Germany.

A good overview of cultural, political and economic aspects of Tanzania can be found on the country page of the Federal Foreign Office.