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Study in Bahrain

Higher Education Structure in Bahrain

Study In Bahrain

Bahrain is a popular higher education destination in the Middle East, with 18 Institutions of Higher Education, primarily local branches of popular foreign Universities. In addition to the University of Bahrain, there are several private Universities and technical training Institutes. Healthcare is a Government priority, and MBBS degrees in Bahrain are extremely prestigious and accepted worldwide in the medical job sector.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the smallest and most prosperous countries in Asia. It comprises several natural and man-made islands, which make it a popular tourist destination. Manama is the largest city and capital; most Universities in the country have at least one of their campuses in this city. With roots in petroleum refining, the economy of Bahrain has since diversified to make it one of the biggest financial powers in the region. Half the population are foreigners; the higher education system is also home to several international students, particularly in the medical, business, finance, and tourism departments.

The Perks of Studying in Bahrain

Bahrain is highly ranked on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #25 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #43 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.
  • The country is ranked #59 in the world in the US News “Best Countries for Education” report.
  • The country is ranked #99 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the World Population Review.

Higher Education Framework in Bahrain

There are 18 total Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bahrain. They are of three kinds:

1. Public Universities: There are three Government-run Universities in Bahrain: Arabian Gulf University, College of Health Sciences (the oldest HEI in the country), and the University of Bahrain. All three are headquartered in the capital city of Manama.

2. Technical Training Institute (Public): Bahrain Polytechnic is responsible for training the elite industrial professionals of Manama and surrounding cities. It offers short and long term vocational diplomas, and students usually enter immediately after high school, in a bid to join the workforce within 1-3 years.

3. Private Universities: These are primarily local branches of well known foreign Institutions. They usually offer the most famous programs from their home campuses, but not the full list. Many of them (e.g. the American University of Bahrain and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Bahrain) allow students to complete one or two semesters of study abroad.

Technical Training Programs

Bahrain Polytechnic offers short term certificate courses and professional diplomas. It was set up to improve the skill of the technical workforce in the country, in order to  create a parallel track for students aged 18-22. It also offers Vocational Bachelor’s programs to allow high school graduates to acquire skills needed in the job market.

Undergraduate Programs

International high school graduates apply for Bachelor’s and Integrated degree programs in Bahrain. Bachelor’s programs last either three of four years. Integrated degrees (like the MBBS program in Bahrain) take 5-6 years to complete. Most students complete an internship prior to their final year in the country. Candidates may also choose to work on a Bachelor’s thesis in their third or fourth year, to qualify for an Honors degree.

Postgraduate Programs

Universities in Bahrain offer Master’s degree programs in several cutting edge disciplines, including Telecommunications, Machine Learning, International Business, and Financial Management. Students may use these to acquire the skills needed in the modern job market, or prepare for a long term research career through the exposure provided by the Master’s thesis.

Doctoral Programs

There are comparatively few Doctoral degree programs in Bahrain as compared to undergraduate and Master's degrees, but they are well known for their rigor and international acceptance. PhD programs in the country usually last four or five years, and the bulk of the degree is spent in original research work. To qualify for award of a doctoral degree, candidates must successfully defend their PhD thesis before a panel of external examiners, who are all experts in the field.

Disciplines Available in Bahrain

The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available in Bahrain are-

Business AdministrationArabic for Native SpeakersHuman Rights
MedicineBusiness StatisticsFinancial Management
Industrial EngineeringBiomedical EngineeringArtificial Intelligence
Pharmaceutical SciencesSociologyDentistry
Petroleum EngineeringCost AccountingModern History of Bahrain

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Bahrain

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Bahrain.

The name of the city No. of Universities 
Manama14
Riffa3
Muharraq1

Average Monthly Expenses in Bahrain for International Students

The high standard of living in Bahrain makes the living and tuition fees among the highest in the Middle East. For example, undergraduate tuition fees in most universities exceed Bahraini Dinar (BHD) 3,600 per year, or more than INR 800,000. Tuition fees for highly sought after integrated and postgraduate programs in Business and Medicine are much higher. In general, most international students apply for scholarships or graduate assistantships to help fund their education in Bahrain.

The average cost of accommodation in a room in a private apartment in Bahrain exceeds 300 BHD, or over 70,000 INR per month. Most students spend a few hundred BHD per month on food, travel, and shopping. There are also various one time costs upon arrival in the country, including spending on residence permits and laptops. The living cost, therefore, is usually more than 500 BHD per year.

Students Visa Requirements

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Bahrain.

Applicants for a long term Bahraini Student Visa must submit the following documents electronically to the University which is sponsoring their application:

  • A soft copy of a valid international passport, showing the applicant’s full name and date of birth.
  • A payment receipt for the visa application fee. All Universities require online payment of visa fees.
  • Details of planned travel dates to Bahrain.
  • Other personal and academic details needed for the Bahraini student visa application form.

Candidates must start their visa application process immediately after receiving a Bahraini University offer. If the student visa is not issued in time, they may visit the country on a tourist visa and join the University as soon as the relevant visa is ready.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Most students apply for a Bahraini Student visa via the University which has offered them admission. Therefore, there will be minor differences in the application fee. For example, RCSI Bahrain requires students to pay USD 650 towards their student visa application fees.

Candidates must submit a soft copy of their photograph at the time of Bahraini visa application via their University sponsor. This must be 35 mm by 45 mm, and show the applicant’s face clearly, with the face and shoulders covering 80% of the area of the picture. The background color must be light, with the candidate not wearing any non-religious headgear. The face must have a neutral expression, and the quality of the photograph must be sharp.

Missing or inaccurate details in the Bahrain student visa application will lead the authorities to ask for more information. This will delay the application process. If there are any serious issues in the application (deliberate misleading information or an undisclosed criminal record), the visa application will be permanently rejected, and the fee will not be refunded.

International students in Bahrain cannot work full time without a work visa; this will only be allowed during an internship, if a company headquartered in the country sponsors a work visa application during the vacation period. However, students in Bahrain can work part time during the semester within the campus, if allowed by the placement office of their University. External part time work is also authorized if the employer is registered with the college.

Unlike in India, there is no separate qualifying examination for MBBS admission in Bahrain. Candidates will be admitted on the basis of their Standard XII marks in English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

The executive MBA is part time, and has the lowest cost of any Business degree in Bahrain. The program cost is above 2,000 BHD, or 400,000 INR. Full time MBA programs have a much higher cost - close to 10,000 BHD per year, based on the University.

An international student who has no contacts within Bahrain who can serve as local sponsors can request the University authorities to act as sponsors. If the candidate has already secured admission, it is likely that his/her University will help in this regard.

Higher education in Bahrain is significantly more expensive than most other Middle Eastern countries. Individual Universities have their own scholarship programs for international students. For example, the American University of Bahrain awards partial and complete tuition fee waivers to students based on excellent academic performance, extracurricular activities, and motivation to excel.

Most MBA programs in Bahrain are through local branches of international business schools, with Ahlia University having the most popular homegrown option. These programs have a close partnership with the country's flourishing financial and services sector for strong placements.