Kamuzu Academy is a selective, co-educational boarding school for pupils in the 11 to 18 age range. It occupies a large, purpose-built campus close to the village of Mtunthama, 150 km from Lilongwe City. Its rural setting, far from the distractions of large towns or cities, allows pupils to concentrate fully upon their educational development. It was founded by Malawi's first President, Dr H. Kamuzu Banda, to provide educated leaders for southern Africa in general and Malawi in particular.

The Academy offers courses leading to the IGCSE examinations of the University of Cambridge and other UK examining bodies at the end of Form 5, and to GCE AS and A levels at the end of the Lower and Upper 6th Forms respectively. Its lower school courses (Forms 1 to 3) are influenced by, but not tied to, the UK National Curriculum. It also offers the theory examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and is a centre for the US-based SAT examinations. Its three academic terms run from September to December, January to March and April to June, about 36 weeks in total.

Its wide-ranging curriculum covers English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Latin, Greek, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT, French, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law, CDT, Art and Design, Music and Physical Education. The Classics form an important part of its ethos, and one Classical subject is compulsory at IGCSE.