Aga Khan University

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is a pioneering, not-for-profit, private university that works to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond. AKU educates leaders who make a difference in the lives of their fellow citizens, addresses widespread problems through its research, and delivers international-quality health care. In everything we do, we strive to serve as a role model that raises standards in the societies in which we work. We empower women and the disadvantaged, build support for pluralism and collaborate with government, local partners, and world-renowned organizations to achieve shared goals. Founded in 1983 in Pakistan by His Highness the Aga Khan, AKU launched its first programmes in East Africa in 2000. Today, we have campuses in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and have awarded more than 3,000 diplomas and degrees across the region.

Our academic units in East Africa include our Medical College, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Graduate School of Media and Communications, East Africa Institute, and Institute for Human Development. The 300- bed Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi is East Africa?s leading private teaching hospital. The University provides scholarships to nine out of 10 of its students in East Africa.

AKU is one of 10 agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network. Working mainly in Africa and South and Central Asia, AKDN helps those in need to improve their own lives through a long-term, multifaceted approach to development that spans economic, social, and cultural dimensions. AKDN?s roots in East Africa date back more than a century, and its activities benefit millions of East Africans every year.

Since our establishment in 1983, the mission of the Aga Khan University has remained unchanged ? we accelerate opportunities for future generations through the development of human capacity, dissemination of knowledge, and application of service.

Our realization of this mission has led to the development of campuses in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda where the University provides both undergraduate and graduate courses that positively affect millions of people through pioneering research that is guided by academic excellence, and that is relevant to the context of our students. 

The Aga Khan University East Africa Institute's mission is to provide a coherent and impartial evidence-based platform for policy formulation, decision-making and action to address the challenges and harness the opportunities for adaptive and sustainable social and economic development while ensuring a resilient environmental resource base.

Goals/Objectives

The EAI promotes a culture of evidence-based approaches to the design and formulation of policy. It provides a platform for interdisciplinary and integrated policy-oriented research that is both relevant to AKU academic programs and the East African Community

Why study at Aga Khan University

The Aga Khan University courses are designed to produce nurses and midwives dedicated to transforming health and improving lives. We strive to ensure our programs are of high quality, are accessible, are relevant, and have an impact.

Over the past decade, we have refined the content of our courses to respond to evolving health trends and incorporate new diagnostic approaches. Our work-study upgrading courses are specifically designed to accommodate the realities of health care workers.

Deeply grounded in leadership development, ethical practice, critical thinking, current evidence, and compassionate care, our curricula reflect changing standards in nursing and midwifery practice while remaining culturally and contextually attuned to the realities of East Africa.

We provide our students with an opportunity to move ahead in their careers, no matter where they begin. Almost 30 percent of our worldwide student body is enrolled in programs in East Africa, and the number is growing.

With over 30 years of experience providing international quality education, we offer students a practical, intimate learning experience. We inspire our students to become resilient leaders and forces for positive change in their communities.