1 Comment 
The cost of pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Sierra Leone (USL) has risen to Le46,000 (approximately $2,000), prompting concern among students and graduates who describe the increase as unsustainable and burdensome.
For many Sierra Leoneans, particularly working-class professionals and recent graduates, higher education is considered a critical pathway to economic and social advancement. The new tuition fees, however, have placed postgraduate studies beyond the reach of numerous prospective students.
At the current rate, an average worker earning the country’s minimum wage of Le800 per month would need nearly five years of saving without spending to afford a single year of postgraduate tuition.
Despite the magnitude of the increase, no official statement has been released by USL authorities or the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education to justify the increment. Students are asking who approved the fee hike, what factors informed the decision, and whether any financial assistance mechanisms will be provided.
The tuition increase is raising fears of reduced enrollment, potential brain drain, and limited access to higher education for capable but financially constrained students. Observers stress that public universities in Sierra Leone were founded on principles of accessibility and merit-based opportunity.
Student unions and education advocates are calling for transparency, dialogue, and support measures, such as scholarships or installment payment plans, to mitigate the impact on students and uphold the country’s commitment to inclusive higher education.
Honestly, this is exorbitant. The University of Sierra Leone(USL) should know that they are public Institution not private. They are not there to make huge profits. Let them go back to the drawing board and make a significant adjustment.