The University of Burao is an independent university established in 2004 in Burao, a city with a population of about 350,000 people. Its aim is to:

• Provide opportunities for further education to secondary school leavers from Burao, the surrounding regions and the country at large;
• Prepare much needed professionals such as doctors, teachers and engineers
• Provide training in order to raise the skill levels of people in the private, public and non profit making sectors
• Carry out research through its colleges, research centres and institutes and
• Play a major role in the development of the city, and the country

The university has two campuses. The main campus is located in the North-Western suburbs (Shab) of Burao, about two Kilometres from the centre of the city. The site has a fenced area of about 3.75 hectares, and consists of:

• Sports ground
• Lecture hall
• Classrooms
• Computer centre
• Photocopying centre
• Library
• Office block
• Cafeteria
• Prayers room (Mosque)

The second campus is still in the planning stage. It consists of 25 Hectares acquired for the university located at about 5 Kilometres from the city centre.

It has five colleges and two centres:
• College of Education
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• College of Business
• College of Islamic Studies
• College of Continuing Education
• Centre for Somali Studies
• Institute of Rural Development and Environmental Studies (IRDES)

The first students were registered in September 2004. There are 167 enrolled in four colleges and 430 in a short term training program designed to upgrade the skills of the primary teachers in the region.

The University has a board of trustees responsible to Togdheer Development Committee (The T D C), and a president who is accountable to the Board of Trustees and in charge of the day to day affairs of the university.