University students in East Africa will pay the same tuition fees, in the first step towards the actualisation of the East African Common Higher Education Area.

Variations in quality, financing and the length of time students take to complete degree programs were some of the challenges identified to implement the EAC's CHEA at the recent Inter-University Council of East Africa forum.

University students from the East African region will be able to transfer credits from one university to another within the East African Community from February, if the region’s heads of state endorse a plan to create a common higher education area.

Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have struck a deal that will mean students moving to study between the three countries will pay local tuition fees, as part of a move to harmonise education in the East African Community (EAC). Previously, incoming students have paid international fees priced in US dollars.

Nearly four years after making its foray into the study travel sector, European travel conglomerate TUI Travel has closed down EAC, its UK-based summer centre operation, which had been running 13 summer centres offering English language training and activities on a residential campus. It said its business model was no longer sustainable in current trading conditions.