Lori Meadows
Al-Azhar University is a prestigious centre of Islamic learning in Cairo, Egypt. It was founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate and is the oldest university to grant degrees in the world. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar has a network of schools with approximately two million students. The university itself offers undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate study programs across 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, 42 centres, 6 university hospitals and 27 general administration units. Al-Azhar University is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 970 AD/972 CE |
| Location | Cairo, Egypt |
| Ranking | 327 |
| Number of faculties | 81 |
| Number of institutes | 9 |
| Number of academic departments | 359 |
| Number of centres | 42 |
| Number of hospitals | 6 |
| Number of general administration units | 27 |
| Number of students in the national network of schools | 2 million |
| Thematic focus areas | Science and Technology, Management and Business Administration, Arts, Languages and Humanities, Agriculture, Dentistry and Medicine |
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What You'll Learn
- Al-Azhar University has around 2 million students across its network of schools and institutes
- The university has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, and 359 academic departments
- It is ranked #327 in Best Global Universities
- Al-Azhar University is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university
- It is known as a centre of Islamic learning, with students studying the Qur'an, Islamic law, and theology
Al-Azhar University has around 2 million students across its network of schools and institutes
Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, has around 2 million students across its network of schools and institutes. It is one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic learning and is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university. The university was founded in 970 AD, and for over a millennium, it has been a respected centre of Islamic and Arabic learning.
Al-Azhar University has a rich history and has experienced much political instability throughout its existence. During the 12th century, a new dynasty took power and destroyed 100,000 texts. In the early 1960s, the university was nationalised and underwent substantial reforms, adding faculties of medicine and engineering. It was also in 1962 that women were first admitted to the university.
The university has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, 42 centres, 6 hospitals, and 27 general administration units. Its main areas of focus are science and technology, management and business administration, arts, languages and humanities, agriculture, dentistry, and medicine. The university offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programs.
Al-Azhar University has a long tradition of teaching all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, and Hanbali. The chief mufti of each school of thought acts as the dean, responsible for the teachers and students in that group. The university is associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo and is built around the Al-Azhar Mosque in the medieval quarter of the city.
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The university has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, and 359 academic departments
Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo, Egypt, in 970 AD, is a public university with a rich history. Despite not gaining official university status until 1961, it is among the world's oldest universities. With a long tradition of Islamic learning, the university has evolved to offer a diverse range of academic programmes.
The university's organisational structure is extensive, comprising 81 faculties, 9 institutes, and 359 academic departments. This structure supports a broad array of courses and areas of study. In addition to its well-known Islamic teachings, Al-Azhar University's curriculum includes secular subjects, a unique feature among ancient universities in the Arabic world.
The 81 faculties at Al-Azhar University cater to a wide range of disciplines. While the university is renowned for its Islamic and Arabic learning, the faculties extend beyond religious studies. The inclusion of faculties of medicine and engineering in the early 1960s marked a significant expansion, introducing secular subjects to the curriculum.
The 9 institutes at Al-Azhar University contribute to the depth and breadth of the university's academic offerings. Each institute likely specialises in a specific area, providing focused research and instruction. The institutes work in conjunction with the faculties and academic departments to deliver a comprehensive educational experience.
The 359 academic departments form the core of the university's academic structure. These departments encompass various disciplines, from the traditional Islamic studies to modern fields such as business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. The large number of departments reflects the university's commitment to providing a diverse and comprehensive education.
Al-Azhar University's organisational structure, with its faculties, institutes, and departments, supports a dynamic and multifaceted learning environment. The university's ability to adapt and expand its academic offerings has contributed to its enduring reputation as a leading centre of learning.
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It is ranked #327 in Best Global Universities
Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo, Egypt, in 970 AD, is ranked #327 in Best Global Universities. It is one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. The university only gained official university status in 1961, and since then, it has undergone substantial reforms.
Al-Azhar University has a rich history and is known for its Islamic learning. It began as a "madrasa," providing education to students from primary to tertiary level. The university has experienced political instability throughout its existence, notably in the 12th century when a new dynasty destroyed 100,000 texts. Despite these challenges, Al-Azhar has persevered and adapted to the changing times.
In the early 1960s, the university was nationalised and expanded its curriculum beyond Islamic studies. The faculties of medicine and engineering were added, and the university started admitting women in 1962. Today, Al-Azhar University offers a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programs with a focus on science and technology, management and business administration, arts, languages and humanities, agriculture, dentistry, and medicine.
Al-Azhar University's long-standing reputation for academic excellence has earned it a place among the top public universities in Cairo. With 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, 42 centres, 6 university hospitals, and 27 general administration units, the university caters to a large number of students and continues to be a prominent educational institution in Egypt and beyond.
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Al-Azhar University is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university
Al-Azhar University is a public university in Cairo, Egypt, and is the country's oldest degree-granting university. It was founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning. The university is associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo and is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic studies.
The university has a rich history and has experienced much political instability, particularly in the 12th century following the overthrow of the Isma'ili Fatimid dynasty. During this time, Saladin converted Al-Azhar to a Shafi'ite Sunni centre of learning and introduced the college system in Egypt, which was also adopted by the university. Despite the political upheaval, Al-Azhar gained influence and rose in prestige under the Mamluks, who established salaries for instructors and stipends for students.
Al-Azhar has a long tradition of teaching all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, and Hanbali). In addition to Islamic studies, the university's curriculum has expanded over time to include secular subjects such as business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. Today, Al-Azhar offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programs with a range of faculties, institutes, and academic departments. The university maintains a modernist position, advocating "Wasatiyya" (centrism) and covering a range of thinkers, including liberal intellectuals and religious preachers.
Al-Azhar is also known for its impressive library, which is considered the second most important in Egypt after the Egyptian National Library and Archives. The university has a global ranking of 2315 and is recognised as the third oldest university in the world, after Al-Zaytuna University and Al-Qarawiyyin University. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students.
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It is known as a centre of Islamic learning, with students studying the Qur'an, Islamic law, and theology
Al-Azhar University, founded in Cairo, Egypt, in 970 AD, is a public university that has long been a centre of Islamic learning. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt and is associated with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in Islamic Cairo. The university has experienced much political instability throughout its history, including during the 12th century when a new dynasty took power and destroyed 100,000 texts. In addition, students and clerics of Al-Azhar played a pivotal role in an uprising against the French occupation during Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Egypt in 1798.
The university is the only ancient university in the Arabic world that has survived into modernity by incorporating secular subjects into its curriculum. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programmes in various fields, including business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. Al-Azhar also maintains its prestigious Islamic teachings, with students studying the Quran, Islamic law, and theology. The university has historically represented diverse opinions within Islam, with both the theological schools of al-Ash'ari and al-Maturidi being represented. It has a rich tradition of teaching all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, and Hanbali.
The chief mufti of each school of thought acted as the dean, overseeing the teachers and students within their respective groups. The sheikh of Al-Azhar is considered the leading authority on Sunni theology and jurisprudence, simultaneously heading the religious institution, the mosque, and the university. The university has produced notable alumni, including Muḥammad ʿAbduh, a scholar and reformer who later lectured at the university, advocating for reforms that reflected Islamic modernism.
In the early 1960s, Al-Azhar underwent significant reforms, adding faculties of medicine and engineering. Women were admitted to the university for the first time in 1962. Today, Al-Azhar maintains a modernist position, advocating for "Wasatiyya" (centrism), and has a network of schools with approximately two million students. The university's main thematic focus areas include science and technology, management and business administration, arts, languages and humanities, agriculture, dentistry, and medicine.
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Frequently asked questions
Al-Azhar University has approximately 2 million students across its network of schools and institutes.
Al-Azhar University is known for being Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and is considered one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic learning. It is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world.
The main subjects taught at Al-Azhar University are science, technology, management, business administration, arts, languages, humanities, agriculture, dentistry, and medicine.
Al-Azhar University is located in Cairo, Egypt.
Al-Azhar University is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities ranking.
