The University of Zambia established the Directorate of Research, Innovation, and Development (DRID) in 1994 with the mandate to coordinate the university's research and postgraduate activities. The Directorate has two departments, namely the Research Department and Graduate Studies Department. The Postgraduate Department is responsible for coordinating applications, admissions, registration, examinations, graduations, and other postgraduate activities of the University of Zambia. Currently, this Department facilitates the running of a combined 154 Masters and Postgraduate Diploma programmes. Each one of the Master’s program, also has a Doctorate Degree option. The Research Department, on the other hand, is responsible for the general administration of research activities of the University. It coordinates and monitors research activities at the university.
The Directorate of Research and Graduate Studies (DRGS) vision centres on excellence in research and graduate studies. It is headed by the Director who coordinates, monitors and administers two Departments. The current staffing of DRGS is sixteen including academic, accounting and support staff.