University of Lubumbashi

The University of Lubumbashi, also known by the acronym UNILU, is one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The history of the University of Lubumbashi (UNILU) can be traced back to 1955, when it was founded as the Official University of the Congo and Ruanda-Urundi by the University of Liège. The university opened its doors to students in 1956, and at the time it was the only university in the Belgian Congo. UNILU was initially a small institution, with only a few hundred students. However, it quickly grew in size and stature, and by the time of Congolese independence in 1960, it was one of the leading universities in Africa. In the early years of independence, UNILU played an important role in the development of the new Congolese nation. The university produced many of the country's early leaders, including politicians, economists, and scientists. However, UNILU's development was interrupted by the political instability and civil wars that plagued the Congo in the 1960s and 1970s. The university was forced to close on several occasions, and its enrollment declined sharply.

In 1971, UNILU was merged with several other universities to form the National University of Zaire. The merger was intended to improve the quality of higher education in the Congo, but it ultimately proved to be unsuccessful. The National University of Zaire was poorly managed and underfunded, and UNILU's academic standards suffered as a result. In 1981, UNILU was re-established as an autonomous university. Since then, the university has undergone a period of significant growth and development. UNILU has expanded its academic offerings, increased its enrollment, and improved its research facilities. Today, UNILU is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It offers programs in a wide range of disciplines, and its graduates are in high demand in the public and private sectors. UNILU has played an important role in the development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and it continues to be a leading institution of higher education in the country.

University of Lubumbashi is ranked as the #2 top university in Congo (Democratic Republic) during 2025. This is the same rank as last year.