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Study in Yemen

Higher Education Structure in Yemen

Study In Yemen

Yemen is a country that occupies the Southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It is home to 49 Universities, most of which are located in the capital and largest city of Sana’a. The country has fewer branches of foreign Universities than other countries in the Middle East, even though its population is among the highest in the Arab world.

Even though Yemen has a well developed higher education system, the past decade has seen widespread protests and a civil war. They have reduced the Human Development Index of the country, and lowered its ranking as a destination for international students. However, its ancient culture and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites attract hundreds of thousands of tourists every year, and the country is home to several popular MBA and MBBS programs. Yemen is a notable center of graduate education in different disciplines.

The Perks of Studying in Yemen

  • Due to the recent events in Yemen, the cost of higher education is lower than in neighboring countries in the Middle East.
  • However, the quality of university education is still excellent (e.g. Sana’a University has over 65,000 students).
  • Therefore, many international students choose to study in Yemen to ensure the maximum return on investment.

Higher Education Framework in Yemen

Yemen is home to nearly 50 Universities, most of which teach a diverse set of courses. These Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are of two types:

1. Public Universities: Only about 20% of the HEIs in Yemen are owned by the Government. There is at least one public university in each major city or province of the country e.g. Sana'a University.

2. Private University: They are either completely owned by business conglomerates or partly owned by the Government, with a minority stake. Some of them specialize in certain curricula e.g. the International University of Technology Yemen, and the Islamic Sciences University, with branches in multiple regions.

Certificate Programs

Several Yemeni Universities offer short term language courses in Arabic. These last between 3 and 12 months, and the short term courses can be attended even on a tourist visa. At the end of these programs, all international students who attain a pass grade will be awarded a certificate diploma.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate degree programs in Yemen are also referred to as Bachelor’s diplomas. They are taught in a wide range of disciplines, from Science to Humanities to Business. The duration of these degree programs is between 3 and 6 years. They encompass both theoretical courses and practical work. After completing their undergraduate degree in Yemen, most students choose to enroll in a Master’s program in the same country.

Postgraduate Programs

There are hundreds of postgraduate Master’s degree programs taught at Yemeni Universities. They are popular among international students because of their relatively low cost. The coursework is rigorous and focuses on assignments, with a Master’s Thesis defense required at the end of the program duration (two or three years)  in order to qualify for the award of a postgraduate degree.

Doctoral Programs

The highest degree infrastructure in Yemen includes doctoral degree programs. The normal full time duration of a doctoral program in the country is 3-4 years. All PhD programs in Yemen end with a doctoral dissertation presentation, in front of a panel of qualified external examiners. Most PhD degrees awarded in Yemen are in various STEM fields, and applicants must hold a recognised Master's degree in a field related to the topic of the PhD thesis.

Popular Disciplines Available in Yemen

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

Community Medicine & Public HealthElectrical EngineeringAgricultural Crops & Plants
Food ScienceComputer ScienceEducation
Economic GeographyFinance & AccountingChemistry
Business AdministrationTelecommunicationsMedicine
General SurgeryArabic LinguisticsMechanical Engineering

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Yemen

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

The name of the city No. of Universities 
Sana’s38
Ta’izz2
Aden3
Ibb2
Mukalla4

Average Monthly Expenses in Yemen for International Students

Tuition fees in Yemen are much lower than in neighboring Middle Eastern countries. For example, the fee per year for the MBBS program in a private university does not exceed 500,000 Yemeni Rial ($2,000), and other programs are associated with even lower costs. Living costs in Yemen are also significantly lower than in other countries in the region, with accommodation and food costs similar to those in any city in India. For example, the average accommodation cost in Sana’a for a single bedroom in an apartment is around 20,000 Yemeni Rial. Therefore, if a student is able to obtain admission to a highly ranked University in Yemen, it is a good value for money option.

Students Visa Requirements

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

Applicants for a long term Yemeni Student Visa must submit the following documents:

  • An Offer Letter from a University located in Yemen. This must be for a full time course.
  • A bank statement to prove that the candidate has access to funds to pay the complete tuition fee and living expenses.
  • Proof of payment of the first semester's tuition fee.
  • Proof of purchase of a medical insurance plan valid in Yemen.
  • A travel plan showing that the candidate plans to return to his/her home country.
  • A valid international passport.
  • Two passport size photographs.
  • The visa application fee.
  • A filled Yemeni student visa application form.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The fee for a long term Yemeni student visa is $65. After arriving in Yemen, international students must use this visa to apply for a Residence Permit valid for the duration of their degree program in the country.

During the process of application for a Yemeni student visa, candidates must submit two identical photographs of themselves looking directly at the camera. These must be recent (taken within the previous six months). The expression must be neutral, and the face and shoulders should cover at least 75% of the area of the photography.

A Yemeni student visa application may be rejected for many reasons, including provision of wrong or inaccurate data, lack of sufficient documentation, failure to comply with all the criteria required, and problematic elements like a criminal record. If the reason for rejection is minor, candidates may submit a new application after paying the visa fee again.

International students on a long term study visa in Yemen may work part time, but only in jobs which are approved by the University’s career cell. The number of hours are up to the individual employer. Students may work full time during vacations, if their work visa application is sponsored by the company which offers them an internship.

Tuition fees for high level medical courses in Yemen are among the lowest in the world, with the MBBS annual fees not exceeding $2,000. International students choose to pursue medical and dental studies in Yemen because of the combination of low cost and high quality.

Unlike in other Middle Eastern countries, Yemen has comparatively fewer local branches of foreign Universities. This is a consequence of the political turmoil over the past two decades. However, the country has a large number of public and private Universities, ensuring that there is an adequate number of seats for both domestic and international students.

Most of the specialized Technology HEIs in Yemen (e.g. the University of Science and Technology) have high quality programs in Computer Science and its specializations, including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. These are both undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and are popular both for the level of education and placement opportunities.

A postgraduate degree in finance and accounting allows a student to apply for international jobs in the banking sector, specifically in the Arab world. Whether the candidate chooses to specialize in analytics, management accounting, or investment banking, there are attractive highly paid opportunities available throughout the world. Therefore, this is one of the most popular undergraduate and postgraduate specializations in Universities inYemen.

The University of Science and Technology, Yemen, is the highest ranked Institution of Higher Education in the country, and is ranked in the top 200 in the Arab world in the QS 2023 list. Other highly ranked HEIs in the country include Queen Arwa and Amran University.