Universities in Jordan

Jordan has a structured university system and a national strategy, for 2023-2027, to attract international students. Higher education is regulated by law, with a Council of Higher Education that dates from 1982, and it is now overseen by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development. In 2017 the ministry set up a Directorate of Foreign Students Affairs, which runs the official Study in Jordan portal and the single online application for international students.

Study in Jordan groups higher-education institutions into public universities, private universities, universities with their own special law, regional universities, university colleges and community colleges. Public and private universities are found across the country, from Amman and Irbid in the north to Ma'an and Aqaba in the south. Accreditation of universities and colleges is the task of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission (HEAC).

How Jordanian universities work

Jordanian degrees are measured in credit hours. According to Study in Jordan, the main qualifications are:

• Intermediate diploma (community colleges): two years and 72 credit hours, or three years and 96 credit hours
• Bachelor's degree: at least 132 credit hours; four years for most subjects, five for dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, engineering and architecture, and six for medicine and the Doctor of Pharmacy
• Higher diploma: 24 credit hours over one to two years
• Master's degree: 33 credit hours including a thesis or a comprehensive exam, at least two years
• Doctorate: 54 credit hours including a dissertation, at least three years

The academic year usually runs from September or October to June, with two compulsory semesters; medicine and dentistry are organised by academic year instead. Most universities add an optional summer semester. Each university has its own grading system: some use letter grades on a 4.0 scale, others percentages, where 50% is the usual minimum pass mark. Teaching is face to face on campus, especially in medical, engineering and technical subjects, although universities may teach part of some courses online.

Admission for international students

For a diploma or bachelor's degree you need the Jordanian General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) or an equivalent qualification from abroad, and admission depends on your average mark. For a master's degree you need a bachelor's degree, and for a doctorate a master's degree. Postgraduate applicants must also prove their level in a foreign language, for example with TOEFL, IELTS, or a French, German or Spanish exam. Those without such a certificate can take a six-credit-hour English preparatory programme in their first semester.

International students apply through the unified application on Study in Jordan. One application, with a fee of 35 JD (about US$50), allows up to ten choices of university and programme, and the portal states that applicants receive an admission decision within 48 hours. Public universities accept international students only through this portal; for private universities you can use the portal or apply to the university directly. International students study in the international programme, or on cultural exchange seats where an agreement exists between Jordan and their country. The Council of Higher Education publishes the full admission policy for international students every year; the current one covers the 2026-27 academic year.

The Ministry checks your documents online, but after arrival you must take your original secondary-school certificate to the Ministry of Education to have it certified or formally recognised. If you need a letter to arrange a scholarship or a permit at home, universities can issue a provisional admission letter.

Visa and work

Some nationalities need a visa to enter Jordan, and many can obtain one on arrival. Study in Jordan lists a single-entry visa for one month at 40 JD (about US$56), with longer multiple-entry visas costing more. At present, international students who come to Jordan on a student visa are not allowed to work while studying.

Costs and funding

Tuition fees are set by each university and depend on the programme and on whether you study in the international programme. Check the fee schedule of each university before you apply. Non-Arab Muslim students admitted through the online system to study Sharia or Arabic at a public university pay the same fees as Jordanian students. Budget also for the application fee, visa and residence formalities, and the certification of your documents.

Example: Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

Al-Hussein Bin Talal University is a public (official) Jordanian university founded in 1999 in Ma'an, in the south of the country. Its faculties include Arts, Law, Educational Sciences, Business and Economics, Information Technology, Engineering, Science, Applied Medical Sciences, a nursing college and the Petra College of Tourism and Archaeology. It also runs research centres for renewable energy and for archaeological studies. Applicants for its master's programmes pay an application fee of 15 JD and submit certified copies of their secondary and university certificates.

How to choose

• Type of institution: public or private university, university college or community college
• Programme and duration: four to six years for a bachelor's degree, depending on the subject
• Language: check the language of instruction for your programme, and the language test required for postgraduate study
• Location: the capital Amman and Irbid in the north, or smaller cities such as Ma'an and Aqaba in the south
• Fees: compare international-programme fees between public and private universities

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply to a Jordanian university as a foreign student?

Through the unified application on the official Study in Jordan portal. One application costs 35 JD and lets you list up to ten choices; public universities only accept international students this way.

How long is a bachelor's degree in Jordan?

Four years for most subjects, five for dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, engineering and architecture, and six for medicine.

Can international students work in Jordan?

Not at present. Study in Jordan states that international students who enter on a student visa are not allowed to work while studying.

Do I need a language certificate?

For postgraduate study, yes: you must prove your level in a foreign language, for example with TOEFL or IELTS, or take a six-credit-hour English preparatory programme.