The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has opened its online admissions portal for the 2026/2027 academic year, with applications for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across FBC, IPAM, and COMAHS going live on Monday, 3 August 2026 and a deadline of 15 September for prospective undergraduate students.
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has announced the opening of its online applications portal for the 2026/2027 academic session, giving prospective students across the country a six-week window to secure their place at the country’s oldest and most prestigious institution of higher learning.
In a notice signed by James Hazeley, For: Registrar of the University, and dated Wednesday, 29 July 2026, the University confirmed that the online portal will open on Monday, 3 August 2026, covering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes tenable at three of its constituent colleges Fourah Bay College (FBC), the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).
The University has set two firm deadlines that prospective students must observe:
- Friday, 11 September 2026 Deadline for the purchase of application PINs from participating banks
- Tuesday, 15 September 2026 Final deadline for submission of all applications for Undergraduate Programmes
Missing either deadline will effectively close the application window. The University has not indicated that extensions will be offered, and applicants are advised to begin the process well before both dates.
Prospective applicants must first pay an application processing fee at any of the following banking institutions in Freetown or across their regional branches:
- Sierra Leone Commercial Bank
- Commerce and Mortgage Bank PLB (CMB)
- Rokel Commercial Bank
- Access Bank
The processing fee is NLe 500 for Undergraduate applicants and NLe 600 for Postgraduate applicants. Once payment is made, applicants receive a PIN that allows them to access and complete the online application form via the University’s admissions portal at www.usl.edu.sl.
One procedural requirement that applicants must not overlook: the NIN number on their National ID Card must be indicated on the application form. The University has stated clearly that failure to include the NIN number will prevent applicants from completing the process.
The portal also accommodates applications for the University’s growing suite of eLearning Master’s programmes postgraduate qualifications that can be pursued remotely, designed for working professionals and those unable to attend on-campus sessions. The four eLearning programmes available for the 2026/2027 session are:
- Business Administration
- Journalism and Media Studies
- Communication and Development Studies
- Public Relations and Marketing Communication
The inclusion of Journalism and Media Studies and Communication and Development Studies in the eLearning portfolio is particularly relevant for Sierra Leone’s growing class of media and communications practitioners many of whom are working professionals who cannot attend full-time on-campus programmes.
The University has made an important accommodation for students still awaiting their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results: they may apply while their results are pending. This provision ensures that the application cycle does not disadvantage students whose results have been delayed through no fault of their own a common scenario given the regional administration of WASSCE examinations.
Diploma and Certificate course holders are also reminded that those programmes are classified as terminal qualifications at the University of Sierra Leone. Students from those programmes who wish to progress to degree-level study must satisfy the University’s minimum entry requirements independently.
The University of Sierra Leone (USL) traces its origins to 1827, when Fourah Bay College was founded making it one of the oldest universities in sub-Saharan Africa and a foundational institution in the intellectual history of West Africa. Today it comprises three constituent colleges: FBC, the country’s flagship humanities and sciences institution situated in the hills above Freetown; IPAM, which focuses on public administration, management, and professional development; and COMAHS, which trains the country’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
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The university’s Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Aiah Lebbie, has previously signalled plans to introduce a paperless system further into university operations a trajectory consistent with the online admissions process now in place.
For the hundreds of Sierra Leonean students preparing to take their next step in higher education, the portal opens Monday. Entry requirements for all colleges, programmes, faculties, and departments are available at www.usl.edu.sl.
