Universities in Afghanistan ^New

Explore the uniRank League Table and University Ranking of 97 Universities in Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces (Arabic: wilayah), which are further subdivided into districts (Arabic: wuleswali). The majority of higher education institutions that meet the uniRank selection criteria are concentrated in Kabul Province, located in the east of the country. Kabul Province, which hosts Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, is the most populous province in the nation. The following uniRank sub-rankings or league tables consider all provinces that have at least one Afghan higher education institution meeting the uniRank selection criteria.

()  
Badakhshan (1)  
Baghlan (4)  
Balkh (10)  
Bamyan (1)  
Faryab (1)  
Ghazni (1)  
Helmand (2)  
Herat (4)  
Jowzjan (1)  
Kabul (56)  
Kandahar (2)  
Kapisa (1)  
Khost (2)  
Kunar (1)  
Kunduz (1)  
Laghman (1)  
Nangarhar (3)  
Paktia (1)  
Parwan (2)  
Takhar (1)  

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Overview of Afghan Universities

Afghanistan's higher education system comprises universities offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs across diverse fields. The sector includes both public institutions (government-funded) and private universities (for-profit and non-profit). Most universities are concentrated in major urban centers like Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif. Academic programs typically follow a semester system with instruction in Dari, Pashto or English. Key challenges include infrastructure limitations and gender disparity in enrollment, though recent decades saw expansion in private institutions. Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan.

Top 10 Afghan Universities

1. The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF)
   Founded 2006 in Kabul. Private non-profit university. Comprehensive programs in Business, IT and Social Sciences. Offers bachelor's and master's degrees. Country Rank: 1 | World Rank: 7489
2. Kabul University (KU)
   Established 1932 in Kabul. Public non-profit. Comprehensive research university. Fields include Medicine, Law, Engineering and Humanities. Bachelor's to PhD levels. Country Rank: 2 | World Rank: 8680
3. Kardan University (KU)
   Founded 2003 in Kabul. Private for-profit. Specialized in Business and Economics. Bachelor's and master's programs. Country Rank: 3 | World Rank: 10471
4. Khatam Al Nabieen University
   Established 1966 in Kabul. Private for-profit. Comprehensive programs including Islamic Studies and Engineering. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 4 | World Rank: 10496
5. Herat University (HU)
   Founded 1988 in Herat. Public non-profit. Comprehensive university with Agriculture, Medicine and Arts programs. Bachelor's to master's degrees. Country Rank: 5 | World Rank: 11157
6. Kabul Polytechnic University (KPU)
   Established 1963 in Kabul. Public non-profit. Specialized technical university. Engineering-focused programs. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 6 | World Rank: 11246
7. Kateb University (KU)
   Founded 2007 in Kabul. Private non-profit. Comprehensive programs in Law, Journalism and Computer Science. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 7 | World Rank: 11332
8. Balkh University (BU)
   Established 1988 in Mazar-i-Sharif. Public non-profit. Comprehensive university. Fields include Education, Engineering and Agriculture. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 8 | World Rank: 12029
9. Nangarhar University (NU)
   Founded 1964 in Jalalabad. Public non-profit. Comprehensive programs including Medicine and Islamic Studies. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 9 | World Rank: 12138
10. Ghalib University
    Established 2010 in Herat. Private for-profit. Comprehensive university. Business, Law and Computer Science programs. Bachelor's degrees. Country Rank: 10 | World Rank: 12163

Analysis of University Types

Afghanistan has 97 universities nationwide. Afghan public institutions constitute 24.7% (24 universities), while private universities dominate with 75.3% (73 institutions). This distribution reflects significant private sector growth since 2002, concentrated primarily in Kabul. Private universities are predominantly for-profit (58 of 73), with only 15 non-profit private institutions.

Global Ranking and Standing

Afghan universities face challenges in global rankings. Currently, 0 institutions rank among the world's top 200 universities (0% of national universities). Similarly, 0 universities appear in the global top 1,000 (0% of national institutions). This highlights opportunities for international collaboration and research investment to enhance global competitiveness of Afghanistan higher education.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the oldest university in Afghanistan?
A: Kabul University, established in 1932, is Afghanistan's oldest and largest higher education institution.

Q: Are there English-taught programs in Afghan universities?
A: Yes, select universities like The American University of Afghanistan offer English-medium programs, particularly in business and technology fields.

Q: How many women enroll in Afghan universities?
A: Enrollment varies by region, with higher female participation in urban centers. Recent reports indicate approximately 25-30% overall female enrollment before 2021.

Q: Do Afghan universities offer postgraduate degrees?
A: Select public universities like Kabul University offer master's and PhD programs, though most institutions focus on bachelor's degrees.

Q: What are popular fields of study?
A: Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business Administration and Islamic Studies are among the most sought-after disciplines.

Since 2005, UniRank provides original research, valuable information and resources to help you explore and make informed decisions about Afghan universities and their online presence.

• Oldest Universities in Afghanistan
  Explore the most traditional and long-established Afghan post-secondary institutions according to uniRank's original research.
• A-Z Universities in Afghanistan
  Search for Afghan higher education institutions listed alphabetically from A to Z.
• Afghan Universities by Town
  Look for tertiary institutions located in a particular Afghan town or city.
• Top Public Universities in Afghanistan
  Discover Afghan public higher education institutions with potentially lower tuition fees.
• Top Private Universities in Afghanistan
  Find out about Afghan private higher education institutions.
• Top Non-Profit Universities in Afghanistan
  Explore Afghan not-for-profit higher education institutions that may offer lower tuition fees.
• Top For-Profit Universities in Afghanistan
  Look for Afghan for-profit higher education institutions.
• Top Afghan Universities on Facebook
  See which tertiary institutions in Afghanistan have the most followers on Facebook, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Afghan Universities on Twitter
  Discover the Universities in Afghanistan that are most followed on Twitter, based on uniRank's original research.
• Top Afghan Universities on Instagram
  Find out which post-secondary institutions in Afghanistan are the most followed on Instagram, according to uniRank's original research.
• Top Afghan Universities on YouTube
  Explore the Universities in Afghanistan with the most subscribed channels on YouTube, based on uniRank's original research.