Universities in Afghanistan

Universities in Afghanistan are overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education in Kabul. Public universities operate in Kabul and in provincial cities such as Bamyan and Kunduz, alongside private institutions. Since the de facto authorities took power in August 2021, however, higher education has changed fundamentally, and anyone considering a university in Afghanistan needs to understand the current restrictions first.

SpainExchange currently lists one university in Afghanistan: the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), registered in Kabul.

Higher education since 2021

According to UNESCO, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education is forbidden to girls and women. Women have been banned from universities since 20 December 2022. When university education for women was suspended, it affected more than 100,000 female students at public and private higher education institutions.

The ban reversed two decades of growth. UNESCO reports that the number of women in Afghan higher education rose almost 20 times, from 5,000 female students in 2001 to more than 100,000 in 2021. In August 2024, UNESCO reported that the number of students enrolled in universities had fallen by about half (53%) since 2021.

How universities work

Public universities are run under the Ministry of Higher Education, which publishes its news and announcements mainly in Pashto and Dari. Men can still enrol at public and private universities inside the country. Women cannot attend universities in Afghanistan, so Afghan women who want a degree study online with institutions based elsewhere or abroad.

The American University of Afghanistan is one example of this shift. According to its profile on SpainExchange, it is a private, non-profit and independent university that has offered a liberal arts education to Afghan women and men for about 20 years, and in response to the restrictions on women's education it has become a virtual university with live online classes and small class sizes. Applicants should check directly with the university where it currently operates and which degrees it awards.

Admission and recognition

Admission rules, entrance examinations and fees are set by the ministry for public universities and by each private institution for its own programmes. Official information in English is limited, so contact the institution directly. If you plan to use an Afghan degree abroad, check in advance how the recognition authority in the destination country treats degrees issued after 2021, and keep certified copies of transcripts and diplomas.

What to check before choosing

• Whether the programme is open to you: women are currently barred from universities inside Afghanistan
• Mode of study: on campus in Afghanistan or online from another country
• Who awards the degree and whether it is recognised where you want to work or study next
• Language of instruction: English at AUAF, Dari or Pashto at most public universities
• Your own government's current travel advice for Afghanistan

Frequently asked questions

Can women study at universities in Afghanistan?

No. According to UNESCO, women have been banned from universities in Afghanistan since 20 December 2022. Some Afghan women study online with universities based outside the country.

How has university enrolment changed since 2021?

UNESCO reported in August 2024 that the number of students enrolled in Afghan universities had fallen by about half (53%) since 2021.

Can I study at the American University of Afghanistan online?

According to its profile, AUAF has become a virtual university with live online classes. Check admission conditions and the current status of its degrees directly with the university.