List of universities and colleges in Syria
This is a list of universities in Syria including public, private, military and police institutions.
Public universities and colleges
As of February 2025, there are 10 public universities, 1 virtual public university, in addition to 9 higher institutes in Syria, owned by the government.[1]
| Name | Abbreviation | Location | Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus University | DU | Damascus | 1923 |
| Syrian Virtual University | SVU | 2002 | |
| University of Aleppo[a] | AU | Aleppo | 1958 |
| Latakia University | LU | Latakia | 1971 |
| Homs University | HU | Homs | 1979 |
| Al-Furat University | FU | Deir ez-Zor | 2006 |
| Hama University | HU | Hama | 2014 |
| University of Tartus | UoT | Tartus | 2015 |
| Idlib University | ID | Idlib | 2015 |
| Al-Shahbaa Aleppo University | 2024 | ||
| Institute of Economic and Social Planning | Damascus | 1966 | |
| Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts | HIDA | 1977 | |
| Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology | HIAST | 1983 | |
| Higher Institute of Music | HIM | 1990 | |
| Higher Institute of Business Administration | HIBA | 2001 | |
| National Institute of Public Administration | INA | 2002 | |
| Higher Institute of Demographic Studies and Research | HIDSR | 2003 | |
| Higher Institute of Cinematic Arts | 2021 | ||
| Higher Institute of Administration | Idlib | 2024 |
In addition to that, as of January 2026, there are 2 public universities[2] and one academy[3] in the areas controlled by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria that are owned by the Autonomous Administration[b] but not the Syrian government.[2]
| Name | Abbreviation | Location | Established |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesopotamian Social Sciences Academy | Qamishli | 2013 | |
| University of Rojava | UoR | 2016 | |
| University of Kobani | UoK | Kobani | 2017 |
Private universities
As of February 2025, there are 39 private universities in Syria.[1]
| Name | Abbreviation | Location | Established | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arab Academy of Science and Technology and Maritime Transport | Latakia | 2001 | aast.edu | |
| University of Kalamoon | UOK | Deir Atiyah, Rif Dimashq Governorate | 2003 | uok.edu.sy |
| Arab International University | AIU | Daraa Governorate | 2004 | aiu.edu.sy |
| Syrian Private University | SPU | Damascus | 2005 | spu.edu.sy |
| International University for Science and Technology | IUST | Daraa Governorate | 2005 | iust.edu.sy |
| Wadi International University | WIU | Wadi al-Nasara, Homs Governorate | 2005 | wiu.edu.sy |
| Al-Rasheed International University for Science and Technology | RU | Daraa Governorate | 2007 | ru.edu.sy |
| Yarmouk Private University | YPU | Jabab, Daraa Governorate | 2008 | ypu.edu.sy |
| Al-Wataniya Private University | WPU | Ghawr al-Assi, Hama Governorate | 2006 | wpu.edu.sy |
| Cordoba Private University | CPU | Aleppo | 2003 | cpu.edu.sy |
| Ittihad Private University | IPU | Raqqa | 2003 | |
| Al-Shahba University | SU | Aleppo | 2005 | su.edu.sy |
| Al-Jazeera Private University | JPU | Deir ez-Zor Governorate | 2007 | jude.edu.sy |
| Arab University for Science and Technology | AUST | Besirin, Hama Governorate | 2007 | aust.edu.sy |
| Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences | AU | Tartus Governorate | 2008 | au.edu.sy |
| Al-Hawash Private University | HPU | Al-Hawash, Homs Governorate | 2009 | hpu.sy |
| Ebla Private University | EPU | Idlib Governorate | 2009 | ebla-uni.edu.sy |
| Al-Sham Private University | ASPU | Rif Dimashq Governorate | 2011 | aspu.edu.sy |
| Bilad Al-Sham University for Sharia Sciences | BAUK | Damascus | 2011 | shamkuftaro.org |
| Qasyoun Private University | QPU | Daraa Governorate | 2014 | qpu.edu.sy |
| Al-Shamal Private University | SPU | Sarmada, Idlib Governorrate | 2015 | https://spu-sy.org |
| Mari Private University | MPU | Hizano, Idlib Governorate | 2015 | https://mari-university.com |
| Al-Sham University | SHU | Azaz, Aleppo Governorate | 2015 | http://shamuniversity.com/ |
| Al-Hayat University for Applied Sciences | Aqrabat, Idlib Governorate | 2016 | ||
| Al-Manara University | MU | Latakia | 2016 | manara.edu.sy |
| Arab Academy for E-Businesses | ARAEB | Aleppo Governorate | 2016 | |
| Antioch Syrian University | ASU | Maarat Saidnaya, Rif Dimashq Governorate | 2017 | asu.edu.sy |
| International University for Science and Renaissance | Azaz, Aleppo Governorate | 2017 | ||
| Aram University for Sciences | Azaz, Aleppo Governorate | 2018 | ||
| Syrian University for Science and Technology | Azaz, Aleppo Governorate | 2018 | ||
| Başakşehir University | Al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate | 2021 | ||
| Al-Zahraa University | AZU | Jarabulus, Aleppo Governorate | 2014 | https://alzahraa.university/ |
| Al-Maali University | Al-Bab, Aleppo Governorate | 2021 | ||
| Al-Zaytuna University | Azaz, Aleppo Governorate | 2021 | ||
| Al-Ruwad University for Science and Culture | Jarabulus, Aleppo Governorate | 2023 | ||
| Al-Amanos University | Afrin, Aleppo Governorate | 2023 | ||
| Faculty of Theology | Damascus | 2021 | theologyfaculty.org | |
| Al-Maarif Private University | Idlib Governorate | 2024 | ||
| The Islamic University | Idlib Governorate | 2024 |
International rankings
These are the universities' rankings of l 2025 according to QS (Quacquarelli Symonds).[4]
| Institution | 2025 (QS) |
|---|---|
| Damascus University | 1201–1400 |
Branches of foreign public universities
As of 2018, Syria has 2 branches of foreign public universities.
| Name | Abbreviation | Location | Established | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omdurman Islamic University, Damascus Branch | OIU | Damascus | oiu.edu.sd | |
| Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Latakia Branch | AASTMT | Latakia | 2001 | aast.edu |
Military
As of 2018, there are 16 high military educational institutions in Syria run by the Ministry of Defense of Syria.[5]
| Name | Location | Established |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Military Academy of Syria | Qatana, Rif Dimashq Governorate | 1957 |
| Al-Assad Military Academy | Aleppo | 1979–2024 |
| Homs Military Academy | Homs (since 1932) (women's college in al-Ghizlaniyah, Rif Dimashq, since 1987) | 1919 (in Damascus) |
| Syrian Air Defense College | Homs (since 1974) | 1958 (in Muadamiyat al-Sham) |
| Kuweires Military Aviation Institute | Kuweires Sharqi, Aleppo Governorate (since 1980) | 1947 (in Mezzeh Air Base, Damascus) |
| Syrian Navy College | Latakia | 1975 |
| Bassel al-Assad College of Armored Corps | Homs (since 1972) | 1952 (in Damascus) |
| Syrian College of Signal Corps | Homs (since 1972) | 1946 (in Damascus) |
| Aleppo Artillery College | Aleppo (since 1970) | 1954 (in Qatana) |
| Syrian College of Combat Engineering Corps | Al-Mushrifah, Homs Governorate (since 1978) | 1954 (in Qatana) |
| Military College of Chemical Protection | Al-Mushrifah, Homs Governorate (since 1978) | 1971 (in Aleppo) |
| Military College of Administrative Affairs | Masyaf, Hama Governorate (since 2012) | 1974 (in Aleppo) |
| Military College of Technical Affairs | Homs | 1952 |
| Military College of Infantry Corps | Fafin, Aleppo Governorate | |
| Electronic Warfare College | Damascus | 1972 |
| Aleppo Armament College | Aleppo |
Police
As of 2018, there is 1 high educational institution for police sciences in Syria run by the Syrian Ministry of Interior.[6]
| Name | Location | Established |
|---|---|---|
| Bassel al-Assad College of Police Sciences | Damascus | 1961 |
See also
Notes
- ^ Since 2025, including the former Aleppo University in the Liberated Areas that was merged under the University of Aleppo. The name was set to differentiate between Aleppo University that was in the area controlled by the Assad regime forces than the one in the area controlled by the opposition forces (called "liberated areas").
- ^ See Education in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for details.
References
- ^ a b "وزارة التعليم العالي السورية تعترف بـ59 جامعة ومعهداً" [The Syrian Ministry of Higher Education Recognizes 59 Universities and Institutes]. The New Arab (in Arabic). 12 February 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "طلاب الجامعات في مناطق "الإدارة الذاتية".. مستقبل دراسي مجهول بسبب عدم الاعتراف بالجامعات وصعوبة الانتقال لمناطق أخرى" [University students in “Autonomous Administration” areas.. An uncertain academic future due to lack of university recognition and difficulty moving to other areas]. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (in Arabic). 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ Biehl, Janet (25 August 2015). "Liberated learning in Rojava". www.redpepper.org.uk. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings 2025". Top Universities. 21 October 2024.
- ^ "الأكاديميات العسكرية بمختلف الاختصاصات" [The Military Academies in Various Specializations] (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "كلية الشهيد الرائد الركن باسل الأسد للعلوم الشرطية" [Martyr Major Colonel Bassel al-Assad Police Sciences College] (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2019.