University of Bahrain
جامعة البحرين
Bahrain's national university: nine colleges, about 30,000 students and heavily subsidised fees for Bahraini citizens.
- International
- 6%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 25.2:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- BHD 2,440
- From · 2025-26
- Founded
- 1986
About UOB
The University of Bahrain was created by Amiri Decree No. 12 of 1986, which merged Gulf Polytechnic (founded 1968) and the University College of Arts, Science and Education (founded 1979). It describes itself as the kingdom's first national university and the largest in terms of students, staff and programmes, with about 30,000 students from 35 nationalities and 90,000 graduates. The main campus is at Sakhir, with further campuses at Isa Town and Salmaniya.
Teaching is organised into nine colleges: Applied Studies, Arts, Business Administration, Engineering, Health and Sport Sciences, Information Technology, Law, Science, and the Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari College for Teachers. Together they offer more than 100 programmes, from two-year associate degrees to bachelor's degrees such as Architecture, Pharmacy, Cybersecurity and Actuarial Science, plus master's and doctoral study. Many science, engineering and business programmes are taught in English, others in Arabic.
Admission is competitive and centralised: applicants are placed by secondary school average, available seats and their ranked preferences, with admission tests or interviews for some programmes. The university suits Bahraini and Gulf-based students who want a recognised national degree at a low cost, and international students comfortable with a mainly Arabic-speaking campus and fees ten times the citizen rate.
وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْماً
“Say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge (Qur'an 20:114)” — university motto
Why students choose UOB
Bahraini students pay BD 8 per credit hour, so a four-year bachelor's of 122-140 credits costs BD 976-1,120 in total tuition.
Nine colleges offer more than 100 programmes, including English-taught degrees in engineering, IT, business and health sciences.
Non-Bahraini fees (BD 80 per credit hour) are fixed for the whole study period.
Graduates include AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa and Fawzia Zainal, the first woman elected Speaker of Bahrain's parliament.
Admissions
Academic year 2026-27 (most recent cycle); 2027-28 dates not yet published
Selectivity
No acceptance rate is published. Admission is competitive, based primarily on the secondary school average (minimum 70%), seat availability and the order of your preferences; applicants not placed may go on a waiting list or, if they opted in, into the College of Applied Studies.
Typical entry requirements
| Bahraini General Secondary School Certificate | Minimum 70% average in an eligible track (scientific, literary, commercial, unified and others); competitive placement by average |
|---|---|
| Arab secondary certificates | Treated like the Bahraini certificate once approved by the Ministry of Education |
| IGCSE/GCSE, A-Level, IB | Accepted; A-Level and IB holders are exempt from the Foundation Program |
| Indian and Pakistani higher secondary certificates | Senior level (India) or second part (Pakistan) only |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 English is needed mainly to skip the Foundation Program: IELTS 5.5 (or an equivalent TOEFL score), a 90% secondary average, 90% in school English courses, or A-Level/IB exempts you from the Foundation Program and English placement test. Others take a placement test and 1-2 semesters of foundation English. |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate application period, AY 2026-27 Non-binding Passed27 July 2026 (window 19-27 July 2026)
Late submissions not accepted.
- Admission results and confirmation, AY 2026-27 Non-binding Passed6-10 August 2026
Results on 6 August; confirmation and fee payment online by 10 August.
2027-28 dates are not yet published. The dates shown are from the 2026-27 cycle; the English placement exam was held on 2-3 September 2026. Expect a short application window in July.
How to apply
Graduates of Bahraini public schools apply through the national portal (Bahrain.bh). Graduates of Bahraini private schools, the Nasser Centre for Science and Technology and schools outside Bahrain apply online through the University of Bahrain Electronic Admission System (admission.uob.edu.bh), with attested certificates. Applicants rank their programme preferences; results are published online and must be confirmed by paying fees.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary school average of at least 70%, which is the main ranking criterion.
- A school track that matches the programme (for example, scientific track for engineering).
- Success in programme-specific admission tests or interviews where required.
- Attested certificates and good conduct records.
Tips for applying to UOB
- 1 Rank your preferences carefully: placement uses your average, seat availability and preference order together.
- 2 Bring an IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent TOEFL), A-Level or IB to skip the Foundation Program and save up to two semesters.
- 3 Graduates from outside Bahrain should get certificates attested in the issuing country well before the July window.
- 4 Tick the College of Applied Studies option only if you would accept an associate degree as a fallback.
Costs & financial aid
2025-26 · figures in BHD
Bahraini citizens (and children of Bahraini mothers and foreign wives of Bahrainis) pay subsidised fees of BD 8 per credit hour within the standard study period, rising to BD 40 and BD 80 for extra semesters. Low-income students can apply for a tuition fee exemption each semester. Students admitted with a scholarship letter go directly into the named programme. Rates checked against the university's fee page (updated 1 September 2026): Bahraini BD 8, Non-Bahraini BD 80 per credit hour.
- BD 8
- Bahraini tuition per credit hour
- BD 80 (fixed for the study period)
- Non-Bahraini tuition per credit hour
- BD 10
- Admission fee
- Needs-based, applications each semester
- Tuition fee exemption
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (first and second semester, plus summer)
Bachelor of Architecture
The longest undergraduate programme at 167 credit hours, in the College of Engineering.
BSc in Pharmacy
A 165-credit programme in the College of Health and Sport Sciences.
BSc in Cybersecurity
A 131-credit IT degree, alongside Computer Engineering, Software Engineering and Network Engineering.
BSc in Actuarial Science
A 133-credit College of Science degree alongside Statistics and Data Science.
Bachelor of Laws (English Language)
An English-taught law degree offered alongside the Arabic-language LLB.
BSc in Islamic Banking and Finance
One of eight business degrees in the College of Business Administration.
Research
- The Bahrain Innovation and Technology Transfer Center and a Business Incubator Center support start-ups and commercialisation.
- A Cloud Innovation Center sits alongside the university's IT centres.
- Language and cultural institutes on campus include a Confucius Institute, King Sejong Institute, Yunus Emre Institute and Centre d'Etudes Francaises.
Schools & faculties
- College of Applied Studies
- College of Arts
- Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari College for Teachers
- College of Business Administration
- College of Engineering
- College of Health and Sport Sciences
- College of Information Technology
- College of Law
- College of Science
Student life
Most students are Bahraini and many commute from home, so campus life revolves around classes, college clubs and events rather than residential halls. The main campus is at Sakhir, with more activity at Isa Town and Salmaniya. International students, about 6% of the student body in THE's data, come from around 35 countries. New students without an English exemption start with a Foundation Program of English and personal skills courses. Language institutes on campus offer Chinese, Korean, Turkish and French.
- About 30,000 students from 35 nationalities.
- Confucius Institute, King Sejong Institute, Yunus Emre Institute and Centre d'Etudes Francaises on campus.
- Legal Clinic and Human Rights Centre run by the university.
- Foundation Program of 16 credit hours for students who need English preparation.
Location
Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Arabian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with a total area of about 780 square kilometres. The main campus is at Sakhir in the south of the main island; the capital, Manama, is the largest city. The King Fahad Causeway links Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, and international students can apply for a visit visa through the national portal before arranging residence.
Nearest airport: Bahrain International Airport (BAH)
Notable alumni
- SB Salman bin Ibrahim Al KhalifaPresident of the Asian Football Confederation; University of Bahrain graduate
- FZ Fawzia ZainalElected in 2018 as the first woman Speaker of Bahrain's Council of Representatives; education and Arabic degree (1983)
- MA Muna Al HashemiTelecommunications executive; bachelor's in electrical engineering
- JA Jamal AlrowaieiBahraini diplomat; bachelor's in political science
- MA Muhammad al-BankiPhilosopher and former Under-Secretary of Culture and Information; MA in Arabic from the College of Arts
- MB Mariam BukamalTelevision presenter; BA in English literature and translation (2007)
- NK Nader KadhimWriter and cultural critic; BA in Arabic and MA in modern criticism (2001)
Frequently asked questions
How much does the University of Bahrain cost for international students?
Non-Bahraini students pay BD 80 per credit hour, fixed for the whole degree; a typical four-year bachelor's of 122-140 credits totals BD 9,760-11,200, or about BD 2,440-2,800 a year.
What is the minimum grade for the University of Bahrain?
A secondary school average of at least 70%, from the current or previous year. Places are then allocated competitively by average, seats and your preferences.
Can I apply to the University of Bahrain from abroad?
Yes. Graduates of schools outside Bahrain apply online through admission.uob.edu.bh with attested certificates.
Do I need IELTS for the University of Bahrain?
Not for admission itself, but IELTS 5.5 (or an equivalent TOEFL score), A-Level or IB exempts you from the English Foundation Program and placement test.
When does the University of Bahrain accept applications?
For 2026-27 the undergraduate window was 19-27 July 2026, with results on 6 August. The 2027-28 dates have not been announced.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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