It is the leading and largest higher education institution in the country and provides a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in different fields.

Notable alumni include the current president of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi and the first National Deputy Prosecutor in Somaliland Khadra Hussein Mohammad.

[1] The university consists of 14 different colleges, schools and institutes, which offer different undergraduate and postgraduate programs:[2] The university offers postgraduate programs, including postgraduate diploma and master's, in the following areas:[17] The Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) was established in February 2008.

[18] Graduates include Abdirahman Aw Ali Farrah, former vice president of Somaliland; Musa Bihi Abdi, current president of the Republic of Somaliland and chairman of the ruling party Kulmiye; and Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi, former speaker of the Somaliland House of Representatives and the chairman of Waddani Party.

Around 60 percent of the staff were PhD and master's holders in the academic year 2017/2018.