University of Yangon

About University of Yangon

The University of Yangon traces its institutional history to Rangoon College, established in 1878 as an affiliate of the University of Calcutta. In 1920, University College and Judson College combined to form Rangoon University; the official university website treats 1920 as its founding year. Following the separation of several professional faculties under the 1964 University Education Act, it became Rangoon Arts and Sciences University. It adopted the name University of Yangon in 1989. The university is historically associated with major student movements, including the 1920 strike commemorated by Myanmar’s National Day. Today it operates as a multidisciplinary university rather than a specialized professional institution. Its official organization page describes leadership by a rector and pro-rectors, academic and administrative services, a Department of Academic Affairs responsible for student affairs, examinations, and convocations, and operations on the main and Hlaing campuses. The strongest evidence of current activity is the university’s 2025–2026 enrollment report. It lists 1,404 BA and BSc students, 408 honours students, 426 MA and MSc students, 80 students in qualifying study, and 780 PhD students. These figures should be read as the institution’s own academic-year snapshot, not as a current total for every program or campus. Myanmar’s Ministry of Education also lists the University of Yangon within its higher-education section and reported an official visit to the university in August 2026, supporting its operating status as of the profile date.

For first-degree admission, the university’s official page states that applicants must hold a High School Completion Certificate, have passed Myanmar’s Matriculation Examination, and be selected on the basis of aggregate marks and principles established by the University Council. The page does not provide a dated 2026 or 2026–2027 application calendar, program-specific cutoffs, required forms, or decision dates. Prospective domestic applicants should therefore obtain the current intake instructions from the university or Myanmar’s Department of Higher Education rather than treating older procedures or unofficial score lists as current. Admission and progression rules differ by level. The honours pathway follows strong performance after the second year. Master’s entry is described for University of Yangon graduates who have passed an honours or master-qualifying examination with the required grades. PhD requirements vary between government staff and non-government candidates; the published rules include appropriate prior postgraduate qualifications, written examinations or interviews depending on the applicant category, and a full-time preliminary year. Because the official page is not year-stamped, applicants should confirm that these rules remain in force for their intended intake. International guidance on the same page is specifically organized around scholarship programs. Required registration documents can include an acceptance letter, home-university endorsement, an English-language transcript, passport copy, photographs, or a departmental recommendation. It is not a complete admissions route for every independent international applicant. The website also does not publish universal IELTS or TOEFL thresholds. International candidates should contact the university before applying to verify eligibility, teaching language, visa sponsorship, deadlines, and whether their intended degree accepts direct applications.

The University of Yangon offers study across arts, sciences, and law. Its official institutional profile lists 21 academic departments: Myanmar, English, History, Law, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Archaeology, International Relations, Geography, Oriental Studies, Library and Information Studies, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology, Botany, Industrial Chemistry, Geology, Computer Studies, and Environment and Water Studies. A separate organization page describes 22 academic-service departments because it combines or labels some fields differently, so applicants should use the relevant department page when confirming the current structure. Documented awards include BA and BSc degrees, BA and BSc honours degrees, MA and MSc degrees, and PhDs. The admissions page describes an ordinary first degree as four years, with law taking five years. Specialization starts in the first year, and the published structure uses two semesters. The honours route is selective after the second year, while progression to master’s study is tied to an honours or master-qualifying pathway and specified academic performance. Master’s assessment includes written and oral examinations and a thesis. Doctoral study includes preliminary coursework, research, a thesis, and a viva voce examination. Research areas extend across both broad divisions. Examples officially identified include Southeast Asian and social history, environmental and human-rights law, ASEAN and peace studies, biodiversity, medicinal plants, renewable energy, materials science, geohazards, software engineering, and database management. The university also lists postgraduate diplomas and Human Resource Development courses, but these credentials should not be assumed to be open in every academic year. Applicants should confirm the current intake, curriculum, language of instruction, and supervision capacity with the relevant department.

Key Highlights

• Founded as a university in 1920 and renamed University of Yangon in 1989
• Listed by Myanmar’s Ministry of Education as a higher-education institution
• Officially reported students at undergraduate, honours, master’s, qualifying, and PhD levels in 2025–2026
• Academic and administrative activity spans the main and Hlaing campuses

Student Life & Environment

Student services are administered within the university’s formal academic and campus structure. The official organization page assigns student affairs, examinations, and convocations to the Department of Academic Affairs, while campus construction, maintenance, and development are handled separately. The university also identifies the Universities’ Central Library and an ICT department within its organization. These are confirmed institutional units, although the website does not provide a current, comprehensive inventory of library hours, computing access, counseling, health services, disability support, clubs, sports, or dining. The historic main campus includes Judson Church, which the university identifies as a surviving campus landmark connected to the institution’s early development. Academic life is organized around two semesters, and individual department pages show combinations of foundation, core, and elective courses. Some departments describe seminars, discussions, field visits, and research-oriented assignments, but these examples should not be generalized to every program. The admissions page discusses campus accommodation specifically for international scholarship participants. Students from partner universities under an MOU or MOA are described as having on-campus dormitory arrangements, while other international candidates may apply subject to vacancies. The page does not establish a universal housing guarantee for domestic students or independently applying international degree students. Prospective students should ask Student Affairs directly about eligibility, room availability, campus rules, accessibility, and current costs before relying on university accommodation.

Location & Surroundings

The University of Yangon’s official address is University Avenue Road, Kamayut Township 11041, Yangon, Myanmar. Its organization page refers to both the main campus and Hlaing Campus, so students should verify where their department, classes, laboratories, and administrative services are based. No official source reviewed provides a complete 2026 campus-by-campus program map. Yangon is Myanmar’s largest urban center, and the university’s location places students in a metropolitan setting rather than a self-contained rural college environment. This can make access to city services and outside organizations relevant to study, but commute times and transport reliability should be checked against a student’s actual residence and timetable. The university’s own research portfolio includes urban geography, environmental studies, disaster management, and urban and regional development, reflecting direct academic engagement with issues affecting Yangon and Myanmar more broadly. Students relocating from elsewhere should investigate current local conditions, transport, accommodation availability, and any applicable travel or visa requirements. International candidates should also note that the admissions page routes visa-extension documentation through the relevant department, the Registrar of Student Affairs, and, for off-campus residents, the local community authority.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The official admissions page displays a fee schedule in US dollars for international undergraduate, master’s, and PhD study, along with dormitory and meal amounts. However, the schedule is not labeled with an academic year or effective date. It should not be treated as a verified 2026–2027 price list. The page shows different components rather than tuition alone, including enrollment, registration, identity card, examination, laboratory or research, library, monthly, and entrance-examination charges. Applicants should request a current written quotation that identifies mandatory and optional items, payment currency, refund terms, and the period covered. The same undated page lists single- and shared-room dormitory rates in US dollars and a meal estimate in Myanmar kyat. Housing is subject to eligibility or vacancy for international participants, so those amounts do not establish either a guaranteed room or a complete living-cost budget. No current official information was found for domestic tuition, scholarships, financial aid, transport, personal expenses, or total attendance costs. The university’s broad academic base supports pathways in education, research, government, law, computing, environmental work, cultural fields, and scientific activity, but these are reasonable field connections rather than documented placement outcomes. The reviewed official sources do not publish current graduate-employment rates, employers, salaries, internship guarantees, or a university-wide career-services report. Students comparing programs should ask departments about recent graduate destinations, practical training, professional recognition, research opportunities, and employer partnerships. Costs and career prospects should be assessed program by program rather than inferred from the university’s historical reputation.