Exploring Lebanon's University Student Population

Lebanon has 41 nationally accredited universities, 28 of which are private. The country's higher education system is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE). The American University of Beirut (AUB) is the top-ranked university in Lebanon, with around 8,400 students enrolled, including over 1,700 international students. The Lebanese American University (LAU) and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) are also among the leading universities in the country. According to the World Bank, the gross tertiary enrolment rate in Lebanon was 48% in 2013.

University education in Lebanon is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE)

The Lebanese higher education system is unique in that it is shaped by both French and American influences. This has resulted in a dual system of French and American-patterned institutions, with some universities adopting combined or hybrid models. The language of instruction in Lebanon varies depending on the institution, with programs offered in Arabic, English, or French.

The MEHE plays a crucial role in maintaining the quality of higher education. It has an Equivalence Committee that serves as the official reference for recognizing certificates and ensuring equivalency across different education levels. The committee also provides curriculum guidelines to universities, which then develop their curricula based on these guidelines and submit them back to the committee for approval.

Accreditation of universities is another important aspect of the MEHE's role. The Directorate General of Higher Education (DGHE), a division within the MEHE, is responsible for overseeing both public and private institutions. However, many universities are also accredited by external bodies in the USA and Europe. The MEHE works closely with these external accrediting organizations to maintain the quality and recognition of Lebanese higher education institutions globally.

The MEHE is committed to promoting access to education for all. In 2015, it launched the 'Back to School' campaign, providing free education up to grade nine for all children in public schools, including Lebanese and non-Lebanese students. This initiative aimed to reach a total of 366,667 children and was supported by UNICEF, UNHCR, and international donors.

Lebanon has approximately 40 licensed universities and higher education institutions, catering to a diverse student population. According to the Center for Educational Research and Development (CRDP), in the 2019-2020 academic year, Lebanon registered 222,064 Lebanese and foreign students. Of these, 79,325 attended the public university (UL), while 142,739 chose private universities.

There are 41 nationally accredited universities in Lebanon, 1 public and 40 private

Lebanon has 41 nationally accredited universities, 1 public and 40 private. The public university is the Lebanese University, which is also the main university recipient of direct government spending. It is almost entirely free for students and, as of 2016, 39% of all Lebanese students were enrolled there.

The private universities include the American University of Beirut (AUB), the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ), the Lebanese American University (LAU), the University of Balamand (UOB), the Beirut Arab University (BAU), the American University of Science and Technology (AUST), the Lebanese International University (LIU), and the Notre Dame University (NDU).

The American University of Beirut was founded in 1866 and has around 8,400 students, of which over 1,700 are international. The Lebanese American University was founded in 1835 and has over 8,300 students enrolled, 19% of whom are international. The Saint Joseph University was founded in 1875 and has around 12,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

The language of instruction at Lebanese universities is English or French, the latter due to the country's colonial past. Arabic is the official language of Lebanon, but English or French are the mandatory media of instruction for mathematics and sciences.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) is the highest-ranked university in Lebanon

Lebanon's educational system is divided into two sectors: private schools and universities, which charge tuition, and public schools and universities, which are practically free. The American University of Beirut (AUB) is a private university and is the highest-ranked university in Lebanon.

AUB was founded in 1866 and bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. It is a teaching-centred research university with around 1,000 instructional faculty and a student body of around 8,000. The university encourages freedom of thought and expression and seeks to graduate students committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning, personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.

AUB includes seven faculties: Agricultural and Food Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Architecture (Maroun Semaan Faculty), Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing (Rafic Hariri School), and Business (Suliman S. Olayan School). The university offers more than 140 programs leading to bachelor's, master's, MD, and PhD degrees. The language of instruction is English, except for courses in the Arabic Department and other language courses.

AUB is ranked #250 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. It is also ranked #381 in Best Global Universities and #89 in Best Global Universities in Asia by US News. AUB is well-regarded for its programs in Clinical Medicine, Engineering, Public Health, and Social Sciences.

The language of instruction at Lebanese universities is English or French

Lebanon has a total of 41 universities, with 40 being private and only one being public. The public university is called the Lebanese University. The languages of instruction in Lebanese universities are English and French, with Arabic being the official language of business.

Lebanon's education system is notably influenced by two countries: France and the US. This has resulted in a distinct system divided between French and American-patterned higher education institutions. Some institutions have implemented hybrid models, while a few have adopted other international systems, such as the Canadian or German university model. Due to this, the language of instruction in Lebanon depends on the institution attended, with programs being offered in Arabic, English, or French.

French-patterned institutions, such as the Université Libanaise, may offer documents in French or English. For example, academic transcripts may be issued in English and refer to a bachelor's degree program, while the degree certificate may be issued in French and indicate that the degree conferred was a "diplôme de licence".

On the other hand, a French-style institution may offer a three-year university degree and refer to it by an American degree name, such as a Bachelor of Arts. Lebanon's higher education system, similar to the American and Bologna-reformed European systems, is divided into three progressive cycles: bachelor's level, master's level, and doctoral level (or licence, master, and doctorat in the French model).

The American-patterned system is similar to undergraduate programs offered in the US, with a focus on general education classes and electives. It typically takes four years of undergraduate study to obtain a bachelor's degree in this system. However, many Lebanese students are granted exemptions based on their Baccalaureate scores and may bypass the first year.

French-style institutions offer three- or four-year "Diplôme de Licence" degrees typical of the French-patterned LMD system. French-patterned programs require fewer general education requirements than American-style programs and use coefficients instead of credits.

A majority of institutions use English or French as the medium of instruction, sometimes a combination of the two, with some exceptions, such as for Arabic literature.

The gross tertiary enrolment rate in Lebanon was 48% in 2013

The Lebanese University is the only public institution of higher learning in the country. The Ministry of Education and Higher Education administers both the private and public sectors, with Technical and Vocational Institutes falling under the Directorate General of Technical and Vocational Education, and University Colleges, University Institutes and Universities under the Directorate General of Higher Education.

There are 41 nationally accredited universities in Lebanon, several of which are internationally recognised. The majority of these universities, both public and private, operate in French or English, the two most widely used foreign languages in the country.

The American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) were the first Anglophone and Francophone universities to open in Lebanon, respectively. AUB is a private and secular university with about 8,400 students, of which over 1,700 are international, coming from 77 different countries. USJ, founded by the Jesuits in 1875, is one of Lebanon's oldest universities and is known for its university hospital, Hôtel-Dieu de France.

Lebanon has a high literacy rate of 97.9% as of 2014, according to the UN Human Development Index, and ranked 17th in overall quality of education in a 2013 World Economic Forum report. However, the country struggles with youth unemployment, which was at 21.27% in 2016, more than triple the overall unemployment rate. The higher education system plays a key role in addressing this issue, and universities can implement policies to reform curricula to better prepare graduates for their professional lives, improve career guidance structures and activities, and invest in relevant research, statistics and data gathering.

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