University of Bahrain

About University of Bahrain

Established by Decree Law No. 12 of 1986, the University of Bahrain emerged from the merger of Gulf Technical College and the University College of Bahrain. Bahrain’s Education and Training Quality Authority lists it as an active government higher-education institution, providing independent confirmation that it remains operating and degree-granting in 2026. The official history describes it as Bahrain’s first national university. The institution now comprises nine colleges across three campuses. Its portfolio extends from humanities, business, law, science, engineering, and computing to health disciplines, applied studies, and teacher preparation. This breadth makes it relevant both to students seeking professionally oriented preparation and to those interested in postgraduate research. The university’s 2026 graduate information confirms active master’s and doctoral offerings across multiple fields. Prospective students should treat the University of Bahrain as a multi-campus institution rather than assume every subject is taught at Sakhir. Program location, instructional language, entry qualification, and fee category can differ. The university publishes central academic and admissions information, but applicants should also consult the relevant college and current admission system before making decisions. No evidence of closure, merger into another institution, or cessation of admissions was found; official admissions, academic-program, and student-service pages were being updated during July and August 2026.

For undergraduate admission, the university’s July 2026 process applies to Bahraini and non-Bahraini applicants. General requirements include a recognized secondary-school certificate with an average of at least 70%; applicants with a documented disability may qualify at 66.66%. Applicants must have completed the school track required for the chosen program, and their secondary-school graduation normally must fall within the application year or the immediately preceding year. They must also be eligible to study in the program’s teaching language, complete or receive exemption from the orientation program, and satisfy any college test, interview, health-fitness, or additional program condition. The university states that applicants must not already hold a bachelor’s degree, be concurrently enrolled at another university, or have been dismissed from the University of Bahrain for academic or disciplinary reasons. Admission is therefore not determined by the minimum school average alone; program fit and available places may matter. Public-school graduates in the relevant categories apply through Bahrain’s National Portal. Private-school graduates in Bahrain, graduates of schools outside Bahrain, and specified other applicants use the university’s electronic admission system. International applicants are directed to separate detailed requirements. The university does not publish a universal permanent deadline on the reviewed process page; application dates are announced for each admission period through the electronic system and official channels. Graduate applicants must consult the individual program listing for required prior qualifications, subject background, language level, credits, and fees.

The university’s nine-college structure spans the College of Arts, College of Business Administration, College of Information Technology, College of Law, College of Engineering, College of Science, College of Health and Sport Sciences, College of Applied Studies, and Mohammed Jaber Al Ansari College for Teachers. The official undergraduate list current in August 2026 includes fields such as Arabic language and literature, mass communication, tourism, accounting, business analytics, computer science, cybersecurity, law, architecture, several engineering disciplines, mathematics, chemistry, nursing, pharmacy, and medical laboratory science. The College of Applied Studies also offers associate diplomas, which should not be confused with bachelor’s degrees. Graduate education includes master’s and doctoral study across several colleges. The current graduate listings include research and professional options in engineering, environmental and biological sciences, computing, business, law, and the arts. Entry is program-specific: applicants may need a prior degree in a named or related field, and many English-taught programs publish an English-language threshold. Arabic-taught law programs shown in the graduate catalogue are exempt from the listed English requirement. Students should therefore verify the exact curriculum, campus, teaching language, credit requirement, and prerequisite degree for their intended program. The database’s general Arabic language-of-instruction value does not describe the whole institution: official program information demonstrates that language expectations differ by course of study. The university also supports study and research through central and campus library services, including a dedicated library for the College of Health and Sport Sciences at Al-Salmaniyah.

Key Highlights

• Public national university established by decree in 1986
• Active government higher-education institution recognized by Bahrain’s quality authority
• Nine colleges operating across three campuses
• Awards bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized through academic societies, interest-based clubs, elected representation, sports, cultural activities, and support services. The university’s current student materials identify clubs for media, theater, fine arts, photography, the environment, chess, and music. Scientific societies are associated with several academic colleges, while sports and scouting staff organize competitions, activities, and camps. An elected Student Council represents colleges, student associations, and clubs in discussions concerning academic experience and services. Practical support includes transportation, nutrition services, student lounges, lockers, counseling, and a central-library copy center. Disability support can include help with course registration, accessible transport to and within the university, volunteer assistance during study and examinations, access to a Braille laboratory, and coordination for sign-language support. Students with limited income may apply for tuition-fee exemption under university rules when the application window is announced. The university’s career platform lets students and alumni search for jobs and internships, register for career events, and share résumés with recruiting employers. Volunteering and entrepreneurship support are also advertised. Applicants needing accommodation should make separate arrangements unless the university confirms an option directly: the reviewed current official sources did not establish a general university residential-housing offer or publish room-and-board charges.

Location & Surroundings

The University of Bahrain operates in Sakhir, Isa Town, and Al-Salmaniyah. Its principal published address is in Sakhir, in the Zallaq area, and the official campus guide shows a substantial layout with separate academic buildings, entrance gates, and student parking. Arts, business, engineering, information technology, law, science, and applied-studies facilities are among those identified at Sakhir. Because lectures may take place in different buildings, the university advises students to use its campus map and building-room numbering system. Campus assignment matters when choosing a program. The College of Health and Sport Sciences has facilities and a dedicated library at Al-Salmaniyah, while the university also maintains an Isa Town campus. Applicants should confirm where their particular course is delivered before planning housing or transport. University student services include transportation functions, and accessible vehicles are specifically documented for students with disabilities, but routes, eligibility, and schedules should be checked directly for the relevant term. The official materials reviewed do not provide a current general commuting-time guide or university accommodation inventory, so students relocating to Bahrain should assess private housing and travel requirements independently.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The official fee page updated in July 2026 lists undergraduate tuition in Bahraini dinars on a per-credit-hour basis. Bahraini and equivalent students pay BHD 8 per credit hour during the standard supported period. For a bachelor’s degree, that rate continues through semester nine; it rises to BHD 40 in semester ten and BHD 80 during semesters eleven through fourteen. Non-Bahraini undergraduate students pay BHD 80 per credit hour throughout their study and are not eligible for the government subsidy. Summer and orientation study are excluded from the stated maximum-semester calculation. Published postgraduate rates are BHD 84 per credit hour for diploma or postgraduate-diploma study, BHD 140 for master’s study, and BHD 160 for doctoral study. The page also lists a BHD 10 admission fee and smaller administrative charges. Actual program cost depends on required credits; students should calculate from the current study plan and verify whether additional program-specific expenses apply. No verified housing or general living-cost figure was available in the reviewed official material. Limited-income students may apply for a tuition-fee exemption when the university opens the annual application window during the first semester, subject to review and regulations. Career support is practical rather than a guaranteed employment outcome: the career platform advertises jobs, internships, recruiting events, and résumé sharing, while the Business Incubator Center supports students and graduates developing startup ideas. No current official graduate salary or placement rate was identified, so applicants should not infer a particular employment outcome.