Study in Jordan

Higher Education Structure in Jordan

Study In Jordan

Jordan has a well developed Higher Education System, with 27 Universities and 51 Community Colleges ensuring that all citizens have access to quality tertiary education. More than 230,000 students are enrolled in the country’s Higher Education System, and more than 10% of these (28,000) are international students, a much higher number than in most other Middle Eastern countries. The Government of Jordan supports the country’s Universities through long term measures such as the Scientific Research Support Fund. 

Jordan is a small country in the Middle East, in the Western part of Asia. Amman, its capital and largest city, is home to a significant portion of the 11 million residents of the country. It has a diversified economy, with a strong health and wellness sector and widespread tourism. As a member of the Arab League, it is a highly developed country, and a regional power of growing importance. 

The Perks of Studying in Jordan

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

  • The country is ranked #58 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by the WiseVoter Safety List.
  • The country is ranked #110 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP).
  • The country is ranked #75 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report.

Higher Education Framework in Jordan

There are four kinds of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Jordan:

1. Public Universities: There are 10 such HEIs in the country, including the oldest and highest ranked Institution of Tertiary Education, the University of Jordan, which opened in 1962. The Ministry of Education directly funds and supervises the functioning of public Universities in Jordan, and the highest ranked Universities in the country are all public.

2. Private Universities: There are 17 privately funded HEIs in Jordan. They have a lower endowment than public Universities; the shortfall is made up by the higher tuition fees charged. The first private HEI in Jordan (Al-Ahliyya Amman University) was set up in 1989.

3. Community Colleges: The majority of HEIs in Jordan are of this type; there are 51 Community Colleges in the country. Their aim is to increase access to higher education by running foundation programs, short term courses, and continuing education initiatives to cover working professionals, adults, and high school graduates who wish to acquire a basic diploma before joining the workforce.

4. World Islamic Sciences and Education University: This unique Institution has three campuses, and conducts academic and research activities in several areas of Islamic Law and Theology, in addition to Arts, Sciences, Business, Engineering,and Architecture.

Intermediate Diploma Programs

After High School, students have the option of studying towards an Intermediate Diploma at a Community College or Jordanian University. This can last either 2 or 3 years, and usually includes a practical training section. Therefore, it is similar to technical or vocational education in other countries, and allows students to join the workforce either 1 or 2 years earlier than they would if they had enrolled in a full time Bachelor’s degree program. Students must complete 36 credits per year, with weightage being given to practical and industrial training courses.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Jordanian Universities are intensive four year courses for most disciplines. Unusually, Engineering Undergraduate Programs last five years, as do Dental and Pharmaceutical degree programs. Finally, Medical Integrated Degree programs take six years to complete. In applied programs like Engineering, the practical credit requirement may take up as much as 40% of the total academic load.

Postgraduate Programs

Many students in Jordan choose to complete a Higher Diploma after their Bachelor’s degree; this allows them to complete a postgraduate qualification in 1-2 years, and improves their employment prospects. The full Master’s degree program takes at least two years to complete, and requires either an adequate performance in a comprehensive examination held at the end of the course of study, or preparation of a Master’s Dissertation, which will be checked by an external panel. The coursework emphasizes regular assignments and practical output.

Doctoral Programs

The highest degree awarded by Universities in Jordan is the PhD. Doctoral programs take at least three years to complete, and the bulk of this time is spent on original research work carried out partly independently, leading to the publication of a PhD thesis. In order to be awarded the Doctoral Degree, students must present their work to a panel of external experts, who will decide whether the work done merits the PhD title. The work is supervised by a Faculty Guide, who provides directional advice and conducts regular meetings of the research group.

Disciplines Available in Jordan

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

Educational SciencesArt and DesignSharia Law
International StudiesForeign LanguagesAgriculture
Computer Science & Information TechnologyMedicineNursing
PharmacyRehabilitation SciencesDentistry
Women’s StudiesArchaeology and TourismBusiness Administration

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Jordan

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Jordan. The numbers below do not include Community Colleges.

The name of the city No. of Universities 
Amman13
Aqaba1 (+ 1 Branch)
Irbid4
Ajloun2
Zarqa2

Average Monthly Expenses in Jordan for International Students

The Tuition Fee for International Students in Jordan is higher than in most other Asian countries. For example, Medical Graduate students at the University of Jordan pay 150 Jordanian Dinar per credit hour per semester, which can exceed 5,000 JOD per semester. Many foreign students apply for scholarships based on academic merit, in order to help fund their studies.

However, the cost of living in Jordan is similar to that in other major cities in the Middle East. Therefore, students in Amman pay less than European University students for food, accommodation, transportation, and recreation, making it a cost effective option for higher education.

Students Visa Requirements

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

Applicants for a long term Jordanian Student Visa must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents:

  • Proof of admission to any Higher Education Institution based in Jordan.
  • Academic certificates and transcripts from the latest completed diploma or degree.
  • A valid copy of a national identity document; ideally a passport.
  • A filled up Jordanian student visa application form.
  • Details of travel tickets to Jordan.
  • Information about residence arrangements within Jordan (either University dormitories or private housing).
  • Proof of payment of the first semester's tuition fee.
  • Two passport size photographs.
  • A bank statement showing access to sufficient funds to support the student during his/her stay in Jordan.
  • Payment of the visa application fee.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The application fee for a long term Jordan student visa is 60 Jordanian Dinar (JOD). This allows students to enter the country multiple times during their course of study in Jordan.

Applicants for a Jordanian student visa must submit two photographs. They must be recently taken, and the head and shoulders of the candidate must fill at least 75% of the picture frame.

Jordanian Embassy authorities may reject a student's visa application if there are inaccurate details or missing documents. A criminal record may also have an adverse effect on the application. If the Embassy makes a request for missing documents, students can immediately supply the required details and successfully complete their application. Otherwise, they must pay the fees again and submit a new application.

International students in Jordanian Universities can only take up part time jobs if they apply for a work permit via their University, which will send an application to the Ministry of the Interior. After receiving a valid work permit, international students in Jordan can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester to help fund their studies.

The University of Jordan is the highest ranked HEI in the country. It is ranked in the top 500 Universities in the world in the QS 2024 rankings. Three other Jordanian HEIs are ranked in the top 1,000 in the world: Jordan University of Science and Technology, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, and Princess Sumaya University for Technology.

Jordan is home to a flourishing health sector, and its Universities have internationally renowned Medical Degree Programs. The tuition fees are higher than in most countries in Asia, and are comparable to European medical program fees. However, the quality of education makes it an attractive destination for international MBBS aspirants. English is the language of instruction, which is an added advantage for foreign students.

Postgraduate degree programs in the best Jordanian Universities have strict eligibility criteria. The applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline. English Proficiency is required for programs with that medium of instruction; usually gauged through TOEFL scores. For competitive programs like the Master of Business Administration, candidates may be differentiated on the basis of their undergraduate scores, CV strength, and interview performance.

Even though Jordan is close to conflict zones in the Middle East, it is a very safe country with a high Human Development Index. Foreign students must be careful to abide by the laws of the country and the rules of their University, and they will have no problem traveling within the country for study or recreation purposes.

Jordan is one of the most popular countries for international students in the Middle East. 12% of the student population is from outside Jordan, and it offers a safe and welcoming atmosphere for foreign students, along with four Universities ranked in the top 1,000 in the world according to the latest QS rankings.