Public University Vs Private University
It is quite natural to be a little dubious over the credibility of public universities and private universities because you are about to take a big decision of your life. If you are about to apply to a college and university, you might be wondering what is the difference between public and private institutions. In this blog, we will try to clear all your doubts by comparing the private and public institutions. We will also add a list of the best private universities in Uganda which you can apply to consider if you in the row for applying for any course.
- Funding Sources
The primary difference between a public and private university is the source of funds. Public universities are state-run or as you can say are funded by the government. On the other hand, the private universities and colleges are supported by the endowment funds and the fees incurred from the students. This indicates why the fees in the best private universities in Uganda or anywhere else have a higher fee than that of the public institutions. Additionally, private institutions also get donations from inventors or organizations.
- Cost of attendance
We are sure when you are searching for the top universities in Uganda you are also considering the expenses. As we have mentioned in the previous point the private universities have a higher cost of attendance as compared to public attendance. The public universities are subsidized by the government, this enables them to charge lower fees, making them less costly. The private institutions on the other hand depend on the tuition fees to a major extent for their operating expenses.
- Accreditation
According to the norms of the government and the education ministry the institutions can be accredited nationally, regionally and at times not at all. All the public universities are affiliated and accredited nationally or regionally as per the norms. While private universities might not be accredited at all. Thus, while considering university admission in Uganda, make sure you have checked the accreditation as that would matter a lot while you apply for jobs or further education.
- Degree program Offerings
Usually, public universities offer a wider array of degrees and courses to choose from. While private universities might have a limited choice to offer. Students who are sure about their career direction can benefit from attending a private institution. Because the private universities offer limited choices they also focus well on those programs. If you have already decided on the course all you need to do is select from the best private universities in Uganda and go ahead with your application.
- The prestige factor
This is a debatable difference but does need a mention in the list, there is a perceived prestige factor related to the public and private universities. This prestige factor is related to the ranking of the institutions, and typically the public universities are found to rank lower than private universities. The prestige factor of the institution is related to the employability qualification of the graduates and the universities from which the graduates are more sought after in the job market. Notably, some of the public universities also carry as much prestige as the private ones.
- University Size
As you might have noticed yourself the public universities are bigger than the private universities. The size of a university depends on the student population, campus size, staff, number of courses etc. The private universities have everything in opposite other than some exceptional cases. However, due to the lesser student population, the professors are more likely to know the students in each batch and there is an opportunity for the students to establish proximity. This however is not possible in public universities always, and only a selected few student remains in the notice of the course instructors.
While you decide which of the best university in Uganda you would apply here is a comprehensive list for you to research and choose from.
- Africa Graduate University
- African Rural University
- Bishop Stuart University
- Uganda Christian University
- Kampala International University
- Great Lakes Regional University
- Cavendish University Uganda
The above mentioned are just a few names amongst the best private universities in Uganda. The number of private universities has increased considerably, implying the number of students favoring private universities over public universities. Currently, there are 50 private universities in Uganda.
Amidst the private universities in Uganda, Cavendish University finds a special mention for becoming the first institution approved by the NCHE to conduct online teaching and learning. This approval came in at the time of the 2020 pandemic when all the educational institutions were taking a blow of the sudden shift to the online learning platform and delivering quality education. This approval by the NCHE is a milestone for the university, as it positions the university as a model university in Africa, delivering quality digital education. As per the approval of the NCHE Cavendish University, Uganda is now granted permission to roll-out emergency Open, Distance and E-learning classes for all its currently accredited programs.
Should you go to a Public or Private University?
As you now know the difference between public and private universities the decision depends entirely upon you. If you have concentrated on a course already try to find out the universities offering the course in the best module and go by the differences once more, and you will have your answer.
