Study and find schools in Bahrain

Studying in Bahrain

Bahrain is a small island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf and a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). For a country of its size it has a dense higher-education sector: public universities, private universities and branch campuses of foreign universities, many of them teaching in English.

The Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) lists 20 higher-education institutions in its review reports, among them the University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain, the University of Strathclyde and the University College of Bahrain. The list can be filtered by government and private institutions.

The education system

Higher-education institutions award a range of qualifications, which BQA groups as certificates, diplomas, associate diplomas, higher diplomas, bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees. BQA's register names the Higher Education Council among the regulatory bodies for higher-education qualifications, while BQA itself carries out independent quality reviews of universities, vocational institutes and schools.

BQA also manages Bahrain's National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which places qualifications on levels so that learners and employers can compare them. Its online Qualifications Register shows the NQF status of higher-education and vocational qualifications and the review reports for individual programmes. Before enrolling, check that the institution appears in BQA's list and, where available, the review of your programme.

The academic year runs from late August or September to June, with two semesters. At the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), for example, the 2026-27 year started on Sunday 30 August 2026 for continuing students, with first-semester final exams from 27 December 2026 to 7 January 2027.

Admission and language

Each institution sets its own admission rules, based on the secondary-school certificate and, for many programmes, an English test. AGU shows how demanding medical admissions can be:

• Doctor of Medicine: a cumulative average of at least 95% in a science-track high-school certificate, or equivalent A-level, IB, AP or American diploma results
• English: IELTS 6, an equivalent TOEFL score or the university's own English test; applicants who do not meet it go into a foundation year
• A personal interview and a health check
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing: a science-track high-school certificate with an overall average of at least 85%

Teaching at AGU is in English. Applicants with scholarships from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait must meet the English requirement when they apply, in line with their scholarship rules.

Student visa and residence permit

Students from abroad need a student visa and then a student residence permit, both issued by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA) of the Ministry of Interior. According to the NPRA (checked October 2026):

• The student visa is for students enrolled at local or international universities or institutes in Bahrain
• The application is submitted by a guarantor or authorised person while the student is still outside Bahrain
• Documents: a copy of a passport valid for more than six months, an ID copy of the applicant or legal representative, and an official letter from the university or institute
• Processing takes three working days; fees are BHD 5 (application, non-refundable), BHD 5 (approval) and BHD 30 (issue)
• The visa must be used within three months of issue

In Bahrain, students registered at a local institution receive a student residence permit valid for five years; the issue and renewal fee is BHD 60 each. The permit does not allow any work, paid or unpaid, unless the relevant authority issues an official permit. Visa applications are made through the government eVisa portal, which is the only official website for Bahraini visas.

Costs

Fees vary widely between public and private institutions and between programmes. At AGU, the Doctor of Medicine programme (six years plus a one-year internship) lists an application fee of BD 100 and tuition of BD 19,200, increasing by 5% each year. Add the visa and residence-permit fees, health cover and housing to your budget. AGU runs its own student housing, with separate sections for men and women.

Where to study

Most universities are in and around Manama and the nearby towns. The schools in our directory are:

• Arabian Gulf University: a regional university set up by the GCC states. The idea was first proposed at a conference of Gulf education ministers in Riyadh in 1975, the university was established in Bahrain in 1980 to teach medicine and health sciences, and the foundation stone of its Sakhir campus was laid on 1 May 1984. AGU reports 1,895 undergraduate students.
• University College of Bahrain (UCB): a private institution listed in BQA's higher-education reports

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa to study in Bahrain?

Yes. Foreign students need a student visa, applied for by a guarantor while the student is outside Bahrain, and then a student residence permit. Both are issued by the NPRA.

Can I work while studying in Bahrain?

No, unless the relevant authority issues an official work permit. The NPRA states that holders of a student residence permit may not work, paid or unpaid.

Are university programmes in Bahrain taught in English?

Many are. At the Arabian Gulf University, for example, teaching is in English and applicants need IELTS 6 or an equivalent score, or a foundation year.

How can I check that a university is recognised?

The Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) publishes review reports for higher-education institutions and a Qualifications Register showing the NQF status of programmes.