Al Azhar University
Egypt
About
Located in Cairo, Egypt, Al Azhar University is renowned globally as the historic and premier center of Arabic literature and Islamic learning, drawing scholars from across the Muslim world for centuries. Academically, the university is best known for its robust faculties of theology, Islamic jurisprudence, and Arabic language, alongside comprehensive modern disciplines including medicine, engineering, and science. International students constitute a vibrant part of the campus community, supported by a dedicated city for foreign students and specialized administrative offices that assist with admissions, housing, and cultural integration. While most traditional programs are taught in Arabic, the institution's distinctive characteristic is its status as one of the world's oldest degree-granting universities, offering an immersive spiritual and intellectual heritage unlike any other academic setting.
Background
Al-Azhar University is a public university in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970, and associated with the Al-Azhar Al-Sharif religious institution in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university, and one of the oldest universities in the world. It is known as one of the most prestigious universities for Islamic learning. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students. As of 1996, over 4,000 teaching institutes in Egypt were affiliated with the university. Founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. Today it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. In 1961 additional non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum. Its library is considered second in importance in Egypt only to the Egyptian National Library and Archives. In May 2005, Al-Azhar in partnership with a Dubai information technology enterprise, IT Education Project (ITEP) launched the H.H. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum...
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Wondering if Al Azhar University is the right fit for you?
omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.