
Al-Azhar University, founded in 970 or 972, is a public university in Cairo, Egypt, and is the oldest degree-granting university in the country. It is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. The university has a student population of approximately 2 million across its network of schools and institutes and 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. Unfortunately, I could not find the current number of teachers at the university. Throughout its history, the university has been a catalyst for nationalist revolts and has educated many scholars, including political activist and journalist Muḥammad ʿAbduh.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 970 or 972 CE |
| Location | Cairo, Egypt |
| Student population | Approximately 2 million |
| 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 |
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What You'll Learn
- Student population: Al-Azhar University has approximately 2 million students across its schools and institutes
- Faculty: The university has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, and 42 centres
- Diversity: The university has a diverse student body, with students studying a range of subjects including science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture
- History: Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 970 or 972 CE
- Rankings: The university is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities rankings

Student population: Al-Azhar University has approximately 2 million students across its schools and institutes
Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 970 or 972 CE. It is the only ancient university in the Arabic world that has survived as a modern university. The university has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Islamic scholarship and educational practices.
Al-Azhar University has a student population of approximately 2 million across its network of schools and institutes. The university has a long tradition of teaching all four schools of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi, and Hanbali. During the Ottoman period, the university's prestige and influence grew, becoming the preeminent institution for Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world.
The university's educational format remained informal during much of its early history, with no entrance requirements, formal curriculum, or degrees. Students studied Islamic law, the Quran, theology, Arabic language, logic, grammar, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. Blind young boys were also enrolled at Al-Azhar, with the hope that they could eventually earn a living as teachers.
Today, Al-Azhar University offers a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programs. It has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, 42 centres, 6 university hospitals, and 27 general administration units. The university has expanded its curriculum to include secular subjects, such as business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture.
Al-Azhar University is currently ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities ranking. The university's long history, cultural heritage, and diverse academic offerings contribute to its reputation and influence in the world of higher education.
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Faculty: The university has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, and 42 centres
Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 970 or 972 CE. It is the only ancient university in the Arabic world that has survived as a modern university by including secular subjects in its curriculum.
The university has a rich history and is deeply rooted in Islamic scholarship and educational practices. Over the centuries, it has played a significant role in shaping numerous scholars and has been a centre of influence and prestige, particularly during the Ottoman and Mamluk periods.
Al-Azhar University boasts an extensive academic structure with 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, and 42 centres. This expansive network allows the university to offer a diverse range of programmes and courses to its students.
The 81 faculties are spread across various disciplines, encompassing a broad spectrum of knowledge. These faculties include those dedicated to the humanities, such as languages, arts, and humanities, as well as faculties focused on specific fields like medicine, dentistry, engineering, business, economics, and agriculture.
The 9 institutes, on the other hand, offer specialised programmes or research opportunities. These institutes may focus on a particular academic discipline or a specific area of study within a broader field.
The academic departments, numbering 359, represent the heart of the university's educational offerings. These departments are where the teaching and learning take place, with each department dedicated to a specific subject area or discipline.
Lastly, the 42 centres within the university could serve various purposes, such as research, specialised training, or interdisciplinary studies. These centres may be affiliated with specific faculties or institutes, providing additional resources and expertise to enhance the academic experience for students and staff alike.
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Diversity: The university has a diverse student body, with students studying a range of subjects including science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture
Al-Azhar University, a public university in Cairo, Egypt, is among the world's oldest universities, founded in 970 or 972 CE. It is the only ancient university in the Arabic world that has survived as a modern university. The university has a diverse student body, with approximately 2 million students across its network of schools and institutes. Students can choose from a range of subjects, including science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture, as well as its prestigious Islamic teachings.
The university has a long history of Islamic scholarship and educational practices. Initially, students studied the Qur'an, Islamic law, logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. During the Ottoman period, Al-Azhar's prestige grew, and it became the leading institution for Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world. The university also played a role in Egypt's nationalist movement, with students and clerics participating in uprisings against French occupation in 1798 and the nationalist revolt led by 'Urābī Pasha in 1879–1882.
In the early 1960s, Al-Azhar underwent significant reforms, adding secular subjects to its curriculum, including the faculties of medicine and engineering. This transformation made it a dual religious and secular educational centre, attracting students with diverse interests. Women were admitted to the university starting in 1962, further enhancing the diversity of its student population.
Today, Al-Azhar University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate study programs with an impressive range of faculties, institutes, and academic departments. The university is highly respected and is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities ranking. Its library is considered the second most important in Egypt, after the Egyptian National Library and Archives.
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History: Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 970 or 972 CE
Al-Azhar University is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in Cairo, Egypt in 970 or 972 CE. It is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university and the only ancient university in the Arabic world to survive as a modern university.
The university was founded by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, where students studied the Quran and Islamic law, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. The university's name may allude to Fāṭimah, the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, known as “al-Zahrāʾ” (“the Luminous”), from whom the Fatimid dynasty derives its name.
Al-Azhar's format of education remained relatively informal during much of its early history. There were no entrance requirements, no formal curriculum, and no degrees. The basic program of studies was—and still is—Islamic law, theology, and the Arabic language. The university flourished under Ottoman rule in Egypt from 1517 to 1798, becoming the preeminent institution of Islamic education during this period. It attracted scholars from across the Muslim world and was given a degree of autonomy by the Ottomans.
In the early 1960s, Al-Azhar was nationalised and underwent substantial reforms, resulting in the addition of secular subjects to its curriculum. It now offers undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate study programs with faculties in business, economics, science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture, in addition to its prestigious Islamic teachings.
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Rankings: The university is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities rankings
Al-Azhar University is ranked #327 in the Best Global Universities. The ranking is determined by a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence, with thirteen indicators used to calculate Al-Azhar University's overall score.
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, where students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. It is the only ancient university in the Arabic world to survive as a modern university by including secular subjects in its curriculum.
Today, Al-Azhar University 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. The main thematic focus areas of the university are Science and Technology, Management and Business Administration, Arts, Languages and Humanities, Agriculture, Dentistry, and Medicine.
Al-Azhar University has a rich history and has experienced political instability throughout its existence, notably in the 12th century when a new dynasty destroyed 100,000 texts. During the Ottoman period, the university's prestige and influence grew, becoming the preeminent institution for Islamic learning in the Sunni Muslim world.
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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 has 81 faculties, 9 institutes, 359 academic departments, 42 centres, 6 university hospitals and 27 general administration units.
Unfortunately, I could not find information on the number of teachers at Al-Azhar University. However, I can confirm that the university has 359 academic departments.











































