St Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences began admitting students in 2010. It was established by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference. Its aim is to train more doctors and health professionals to fill critical posts in marginalised areas of Tanzania.
There are two faculties: the school of medicine and the institute of allied health sciences. The latter incorporates pharmaceutical sciences and medical-laboratory sciences. Academic articles and papers produced by students and staff are collated and preserved in the Repository digital collection.
It is located in the town of Ifakara, roughly 420km inland from the Tanzanian capital, Dar-es-Salaam. It is the first medical school to have been established in a rural town in Tanzania.
The university offers accommodation to all students, either in a campus hostel or in private hostels off-campus. Most students choose to stay off-campus. There are several canteens on campus, including one at the hostel and one at the university hospital.
There are a number of university sports teams – including one that appears to have a pet goat as its mascot. Students are also able to join the medical students’ association or the pharmaceutical students’ association, both of which place an emphasis on community-outreach work.
