Study and find schools in Syria

Studying in Syria

Syria has a long academic tradition and a large public university system, but studying there in person is not a realistic option for most international students today. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its travel advice valid on 7 October 2026, advises against travelling to Syria except in cases of extreme necessity and states that, because of the regional conflict, all areas of the country are at risk. Check your own government's travel advice before making any plans.

For international and Arabic-speaking students the most practical way to study with a Syrian institution is online. The Syrian Virtual University, the only Syrian school in our directory, teaches entirely through the internet and has exam centres in other countries, including several in Europe.

The education system in Syria

Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Damascus. The ministry has separate departments for state universities, for private educational institutions, for the equivalence of certificates and for grants and cultural exchange. The higher-education sector includes state universities, private universities and technical institutes. Teaching is mainly in Arabic; some programmes, especially in technology and business, use English materials.

Degrees follow the bachelor's, master's and doctorate structure, with technical institute diplomas below bachelor's level. At the Syrian Virtual University, studies are measured in credit hours: one academic year is on average equivalent to 60 ECTS credits. A bachelor's degree requires at least 240 credit hours (300 for engineering), an academic master's 120 and a doctorate 180.

Admission and recognition

Admission to a bachelor's degree is based on the Syrian secondary-school certificate or an equivalent foreign certificate. At the Syrian Virtual University, the university's Council of Scientific Affairs decides which certificates are equivalent at the start of each semester, and applicants with a technical institute diploma can join an upgrading track. Master's programmes require an accredited Syrian university degree or a foreign degree accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education, and most also require an English certificate and an admission test.

Recognition of foreign certificates in Syria is handled by the ministry's department for the equivalence of certificates. If you plan to use a Syrian degree abroad, ask the recognition authority in your own country (in Spain, the homologación and equivalencia service of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities) how it treats online degrees before you enrol.

Student visa and residence

Because of the security situation we do not recommend travelling to Syria to study. For information only: according to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, entry requires a valid passport with a Syrian visa, which can be requested online at evisa.sy. The passport must not contain any Israeli visa or stamp. Visitors staying more than 15 days must report to the police before the 15 days run out. There is no general student-visa route that we could confirm from an official source; ask the Syrian embassy in your country.

Costs

The Syrian Virtual University publishes its fees in Syrian pounds for students resident in Syria and in euros or US dollars for Arab students, foreigners and non-resident Syrians. For the S25 term, the fees for non-residents include:

• Registration fee: €100 or US$100 (bachelor's and technical institute programmes)
• Term fee: €150 or US$150 (bachelor's), €200 or US$200 (master's)
• Course fee: €150 or US$150 per course (bachelor's), €250 or US$250 (master's)
• Exam centre fee per course abroad: for example €55 in Germany and Austria and €65 in the Netherlands

Total cost therefore depends on the number of courses taken each term. Check the latest fee table on the university's website before applying, as fees are revised each term.

Where to study

The Syrian Virtual University, based in Damascus, has around 45 programmes, 1,500 courses and 900 instructors, and reports 250,000 alumni. Its teaching is organised in three faculties:

• Information Technology and Communications: bachelor's degrees in information technology, information technology engineering and communications technology, several master's degrees and a PhD in IT
• Management Sciences: a bachelor's in management sciences, an MBA, master's degrees in quality and technology management, and a PhD in administration
• Humanities: bachelor's degrees in law and mass communication, a teaching diploma, and master's degrees in international humanitarian law and applied linguistics

The university also runs technical institutes, for example in computing and business administration. Students outside Syria take their exams at the university's telecentres abroad, which include centres in Istanbul, Beirut, Amman, Dubai and other cities in the Middle East, and in Europe in Germany (Immenstadt), the Netherlands (Zaandam), Austria (Vienna) and Sweden.

Practical life

Safety: the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports armed groups in the central and eastern parts of the country and says security is not guaranteed anywhere. Travel within Syria should be limited to what is strictly necessary.

Health: the hospital network has been seriously affected by the armed conflict, and diseases such as polio and cholera have reappeared, according to the same advice. International health insurance with evacuation cover is essential for anyone who has to travel.

Online study: students of the Syrian Virtual University need a reliable internet connection for live sessions and assignments, and must be able to reach one of the exam centres.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to study in Syria?

No. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to Syria except in cases of extreme necessity (advice valid on 7 October 2026). Online study with a Syrian university is the safer option.

Can I study at a Syrian university online?

Yes. The Syrian Virtual University teaches online and has exam centres abroad, including in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden.

How much does the Syrian Virtual University cost?

For non-residents, the S25 term fee is €150 for bachelor's students and €200 for master's students, plus registration and a fee per course (€150 for bachelor's courses) and exam centre fees.

How are Syrian credits converted to ECTS?

According to the Syrian Virtual University, one academic year is on average equivalent to 60 ECTS credits. Recognition of the degree is decided by the authority in the country where you want to use it.