Five hundred Somali students have taken part in a competitive scholarship examination at Hormuud University in Mogadishu, hoping to secure one of 10 awards that could save each successful candidate at least $6,000 in university fees.
The examination offers a major opportunity for the winners to pursue higher education without placing the full financial burden on their families, with the university selecting the 10 highest-scoring candidates for the scholarships.
For students competing for the limited places, the outcome could make a significant difference to their education plans and the financial pressure associated with paying university fees.
One of the candidates, Abdikarim Abdirahim, said winning the scholarship would allow him to continue his education without putting additional pressure on his family.
“This scholarship opportunity means I will not put a financial burden on my family, and I will benefit from this opportunity,” he said.
The programme is part of Hormuud University’s long-running effort to make higher education accessible to students who might otherwise struggle to afford tuition.
The university’s president, Professor Abdi Omar Shurie, explained that the institution operates on a model in which fees paid by students who can afford their education help support those who cannot.
“Hormuud University is not a money-making institution. What keeps the university running is the money we take from students who can afford it, which we use to give education to students who cannot,” Shurie said.
The approach means that tuition payments from some students contribute towards creating opportunities for others, allowing the institution to provide financial assistance beyond the families able to meet the full cost of university education.
Hormuud University has maintained the scholarship programme for 17 years, making it a long-term part of its education support efforts rather than a one-off initiative.
Some students who benefited from earlier scholarship rounds have since completed their studies and secured employment, demonstrating the longer-term opportunities that the programme has sought to create.
With 500 candidates competing for only 10 awards in the latest examination, the selection process remains highly competitive. Each successful student stands to receive fee savings of at least $6,000, while the programme offers a pathway for deserving candidates whose families might otherwise struggle to finance their university education.