Medicine Schools and Programs in Lebanon

Medicine Studies in Lebanon

Sursock House, Beirut, Lebanon

In Lebanon, medicine is studied as a long first degree that starts after secondary school and ends with the title of doctor of medicine, followed by specialisation. Our directory lists one school in Lebanon for this subject: Saint Joseph University of Beirut (Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, USJ).

Saint Joseph University and its Faculty of Medicine

USJ was founded in 1875 by the Jesuits and is a private Lebanese university recognised as being of public utility. Its school of medicine opened on 30 November 1883 with 11 students. For decades it awarded the French state diploma of doctor of medicine; this was later replaced by USJ's own Diplôme de Docteur en médecine. The university describes itself as French-speaking and trilingual (French, English and Arabic), and in 2025 the agency ACQUIN renewed its institutional accreditation without conditions for eight years.

USJ runs the Hôtel-Dieu de France, its university hospital, and a hospital network. Interns and residents receive clinical teaching in hospitals affiliated with or approved by the Faculty of Medicine. Besides the medical degree, which starts with the Premier cycle des études médicales, the faculty offers master's degrees in biological and medical sciences (with options such as neuroscience, genetics and physiology), a doctorate in biological and medical sciences, university diplomas, and specialisation diplomas in more than 25 fields, from family medicine and paediatrics to neurosurgery and radiology.

Admission for international students

Applicants need the Lebanese baccalaureate or a diploma recognised as equivalent by the equivalence commission of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). Every secondary-school diploma other than the Lebanese academic baccalaureate, whatever the applicant's nationality, needs an official equivalence from the ministry.

Language is decisive. USJ teaches mainly in French, and to enrol in the Faculty of Medicine students need category A in the university's French aptitude test. Non-Lebanese applicants who completed the last three years of secondary school abroad can apply as foreign candidates (admission à titre étranger), with a quota of places in the competitive entrance exam set by each faculty. Holders of the French baccalaureate with an overall average of 18.5/20 or more in 2027 can join the faculty of their choice, including medicine, if their specialities match its requirements; an average of 17/20 is enough for other faculties but not for medicine or dentistry. These candidates must confirm their choice by Friday 13 August 2027.

Visa and recognition

According to Lebanese General Security, a student visa requires an admission statement from a university or institution accredited in Lebanon, or a student card, and proof of sufficient funds for the studies; holders of a grant or scholarship are exempt from both documents. In Lebanon, only degrees from the Lebanese University do not need official equivalence; all other degrees, from Lebanon or abroad, need recognition from the ministry's equivalence commission. Doctors who want to practise in another country should check that country's own recognition rules.

Costs and housing

USJ is a private university and sets its own tuition fees; ask the faculty for the current rates. Its student residence in Beirut charges foreign students in euros: for the 2025-26 academic year, a single room costs 2,500 euros and a double room 1,800 euros per semester, plus a refundable deposit. USJ's scholarship fund for international students is mainly for master's study; candidates must not be Lebanese, must master French, and apply by 30 April. It covers tuition, insurance and a monthly allowance for up to ten months.

The Lebanese University, the only public university in Lebanon, provides higher education almost free of charge to Lebanese, Arab and foreign students. Its Faculty of Medical Sciences is in Beirut.

Frequently asked questions

In which language is medicine taught at USJ?

Mainly in French. Students need category A in the USJ French aptitude test to enrol in the Faculty of Medicine.

Can I enter medicine at USJ with a foreign secondary-school diploma?

Yes, but the diploma needs an official equivalence from the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Foreign candidates have a quota of places in the entrance exam, and French baccalaureate holders with 18.5/20 or more can be admitted directly.

What do I need for a Lebanese student visa?

An admission statement from an accredited university or a student card, and proof of sufficient funds. Scholarship holders are exempt from both documents.

Is there a public medical school in Lebanon?

Yes. The Lebanese University, the only public university, has a Faculty of Medical Sciences in Beirut and charges almost no fees.