Malawi Public Universities Selection exposes gender gaps across universities

April 10, 2026 12:15 AM

Malawi24 Reporter

Malawi 2026/2027 University Selection Sparks Debate Over Gender Gaps and Merit

Malawi Government has released the 2026/2027 Public University Selection results, placing over 20,000 students into public universities and colleges amid renewed scrutiny over the controversial quota system.

Authorities insist the selection was strictly merit-based, but acknowledge that gender and disability considerations influenced the outcome, with female representation rising to 41 percent, compared to 59 percent for males.

But a closer reading of institutional data reveals a more uneven picture—one that raises fresh questions about how merit, policy and structural realities intersect in Malawi’s higher education system.

Figures contained in the Ministry’s press statement show that while the overall gender balance stands at 41 percent female, performance varies sharply across universities.

At one end of the spectrum, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) stands out, with women forming the majority, 55.2 percent of its 830 selected students. The trend reinforces long-standing patterns where health-related fields attract more female candidates, often shaped by societal perceptions that associate care professions with women. This outlook can obscure deeper structural inequalities that continue to favour men in other disciplines.

A similar, though less pronounced, pattern is evident at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), where females account for about 44.6 percent of the 3,571 selected students. While closer to parity, the figures still suggest that fields such as engineering and applied sciences remain male-dominated.

However, the picture shifts more sharply across other institutions.

At the University of Malawi (UNIMA), females make up roughly 39.8 percent of the intake (1,155 out of 2,898 students), while at Mzuzu University (MZUNI), the figure stands at about 42 percent. Both institutions hover around the national average, reflecting incremental progress but still falling short of gender balance.

The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) has selected only 34 percent females in its generic intake, while the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) records the lowest proportion, with women accounting for just 28 percent of selected candidates—placing it at the bottom in terms of female representation among major public universities.

While this may partly reflect programme preferences, where fewer female candidates opt for agriculture and engineering pathways, it also points to a deeper structural challenge. Subject selection at secondary level, limited exposure to STEM opportunities, and entrenched perceptions about “male” and “female” careers continue to shape the pipeline long before university selection takes place.

In that sense, the imbalance appears less about individual institutions in isolation and more about a system that produces unequal starting points. The clustering of female students in traditionally “caring” disciplines and their underrepresentation in STEM fields reflects long-standing social norms that intersect with access, opportunity and expectation.

The question of inclusion extends beyond gender.

Although the Ministry reports that 73 students with special educational needs have been selected nationally, disclosure at institutional level remains inconsistent.

Only a few universities have provided clear figures. MUBAS, for instance, confirmed enrolling 12 students with special needs, while MZUNI reported 13. In contrast, several institutions did not explicitly indicate disability inclusion in their public statements, making it difficult to assess whether inclusivity is evenly implemented or simply unevenly reported.

This inconsistency raises broader concerns about transparency and the extent to which inclusion is systematically embedded across the higher education sector in Malawi.

Historically, debates around university selection in Malawi have centred on the quota system. However, the latest figures suggest the conversation may be shifting—from how students are selected, to who is adequately prepared, supported and positioned to qualify in the first place.

Globally, examples such as Stephen Hawking have demonstrated that ability is not defined by circumstance, but by the extent to which systems accommodate and nurture talent.

You can view and download the full list of selected candidates below.