Mauritania

The University of Nouakchott, established in 1981, offers higher education degrees in economics and law, arts and humanities, and science and technology. It employs 254 instructors and serves more than 8,500 students. Other institutions include the National College of Administration and the National College of Sciences—both founded in 1982—and various teaching and technical academies, such as Ecole Normale Superieure and Centre Superieur d'Enseignement Technique, which offers mechanical and electrical engineering programs. Students who successfully complete a two-year higher education program are awarded the Diplome d'Etudes. After an additional two years of study, students receive the Maitrise. Those wishing to pursue postgraduate work must do so outside of Mauritania.