Study and find schools in Algeria

Studying in Algeria

Algeria is a North African country with 58 provinces, 1,200 km of Mediterranean coastline and a population of 46.63 million, according to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS) portal Study in Algeria. The official languages are Arabic and Tamazight; French and English are also spoken and are used in teaching.

The public university network has 117 higher education institutions in 48 of the 58 provinces. The ministry states that Algerian universities have trained more than 65,000 international students from 62 countries since 1962, especially in medical sciences, technology and the social and human sciences. International students now apply through a single national platform, Study in Algeria.

The education system

The 117 institutions are made up of 55 universities, 9 university centres, 40 national higher schools (écoles nationales supérieures) and 13 higher teacher-training colleges (écoles normales supérieures). They are regulated by the MESRS.

General university programmes follow the LMD system (licence, master, doctorat), which is similar to the European bachelor-master-doctorate structure:

• Licence (bachelor's degree): three years, six semesters and 180 credits
• Master: two more years, four semesters and 120 credits, ending with a dissertation defended in public
• Doctorat (PhD): three years of research and a thesis

Each semester carries 30 credits, and the licence, master and doctorate are national degrees whose programmes are evaluated by the ministry. Some fields have longer, integrated programmes: engineering and architecture take five years, dental medicine, pharmacy and veterinary science six, and medicine seven. The national higher schools offer five-year programmes, with two foundation years followed by a competitive exam for the three-year specialisation.

The ministry lists fields of study ranging from natural and life sciences, science and technology, health sciences, and mathematics and computer science to economics and management, law and political science, Arabic language and literature, Amazigh language and culture, foreign languages, architecture and sports science.

Admission and recognition

Under Presidential Decree No. 25-83 of 20 February 2025, international students may enrol at an Algerian institution if the institution admits them within the number of places set each year and if they pay the required tuition fees. Applications are made online on the Study in Algeria platform. For a licence (bachelor's) programme you need, among other documents, your secondary-school diploma and transcript with certified translations, a nationality certificate, a copy of your passport, a motivation letter, at least one recommendation letter and a medical certificate. Master's and PhD applicants add their university diplomas and transcripts.

The ministry authenticates the documents, and its equivalence department issues a certificate of equivalence of your diploma and of your grades on the Algerian scale.

For the 2026-27 academic year, the platform accepted applications from 13 January to 30 June 2026, later extended to 15 September 2026, with classes for international students starting in October 2026. Algerian school-leavers follow a separate national procedure on the orientation website after the baccalaureate.

Language: depending on the field and specialisation, teaching is in Arabic, French or English. Students who do not master the language of instruction first take an intensive course at the language centre (CEIL) of their institution. The ministry states that teaching is entirely in English at the University Pole of Excellence near Algiers, whose schools train engineers in artificial intelligence, mathematics, autonomous systems, nanotechnology and cybersecurity.

Student visa

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foreign nationals who are not exempt need a visa from an Algerian embassy or consulate before travelling. The study visa (visa d'études) requires proof of enrolment at a public or state-approved private institution, plus either a scholarship certificate from the Algerian authorities or those of your country, or proof that you can pay for your studies and stay. The general requirements include a passport valid for at least six months, two photos and travel insurance with repatriation cover; the visa fee varies by country. Check the requirements with the Algerian consulate where you live (checked October 2026).

Costs

International students pay tuition fees, which the ministry publishes in a fee table for the 2026-27 academic year on the Study in Algeria portal. Fees are paid by bank transfer to the Bank of Algeria in favour of the host institution, and the payment can be made after the visa has been issued. Check the current table before applying, as fees depend on the level and programme.

Student housing is run by the National Office for University Services (ONOU), whose network of 66 directorates and 466 university residences houses more than 400,000 students, including international students. University restaurants serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Where to study

Our directory lists five Algerian universities:

• Tizi Ouzou: the Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou (UMMTO), a public multidisciplinary university founded in 1977 with more than 42,000 students
• Oran: the Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d'Oran Mohamed Boudiaf (USTO-MB), a science and technology university
• Mostaganem: the Université Abdelhamid Ibn Badis de Mostaganem, in western Algeria
• Skikda: the Université du 20 Août 1955 de Skikda
• Laghouat: the Université Amar Telidji de Laghouat

The most common subjects among these schools are biology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, law, management and agriculture.

Practical life

A student card gives access to university buses between residences and campuses. Health care is available at medical services within the institutions and university residences. The academic year is organised in semesters, with assessment each semester and progression from year to year, and breaks in winter, spring and summer.

Frequently asked questions

How do international students apply to Algerian universities?

Through the ministry's Study in Algeria platform. For 2026-27 the deadline was extended to 15 September 2026, and classes for international students start in October.

What language are classes taught in?

Arabic, French or English, depending on the field. Students who do not master the language of instruction take an intensive course at their institution's language centre first.

Do I need a visa to study in Algeria?

Most foreign nationals do. The study visa is issued by the Algerian embassy or consulate and requires proof of enrolment and of a scholarship or sufficient funds.

How long does a degree take in Algeria?

A licence takes three years, a master two more years and a doctorate three years. Engineering and architecture take five years, and medicine seven.