Al Balqa Applied University

Al-Balqa Applied University (BAU) is a public Jordanian university distinguished for its applied education across all disciplines and academic levels. Established by Royal Decree on August 22, 1996, and legally approved under Law No. 13 of 1997 on March 25, 1997, the university commenced academic instruction in the 1997/1998 academic year. BAU was created as an umbrella institution for applied and intermediate university education, assuming academic, technical, and administrative supervision over all public, private, military, and UNRWA community colleges in Jordan.
BAU’s main campus is located in the city of Al-Salt and includes 13 academic colleges such as Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, Sciences, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Law, Business, Applied Agricultural Sciences, and the Prince Abdullah Bin Ghazi Faculty for IT. It also encompasses the College of Graduate Studies, the Deanship of Scientific Research and Innovation, the Deanship of Student Affairs, and the newly established College of Allied Medical Sciences. In central Jordan, additional colleges include Princess Rahma University College, the Polytechnic College, Amman University College for Financial and Administrative Sciences, Princess Alia University College (for women), and Zarqa University College. In northern and southern regions, the university operates colleges in Irbid, Ajloun, Al-Huson, Karak, Shoubak, Ma'an, Aqaba, and Jerash (currently under development), each offering specialized applied programs.
BAU is composed of 28 university and community colleges directly affiliated with it and supervises 31 other public, military, private, and UNRWA colleges, totaling 55 colleges throughout the Kingdom. The university plays a strategic role in Jordan’s higher education landscape by offering academic programs that respond to national workforce demands, supporting economic development, and contributing to societal advancement through practical training, partnerships with the local community, and specialized centers such as the Aqaba Marine Education and Training Center.
Academically, BAU provides a wide range of programs including intermediate diploma degrees, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in fields such as engineering, medical sciences, computer science, business, education, and humanities. As of the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year, the total number of students at BAU reached 66,978, distributed as follows: 26,149 diploma students, 39,882 bachelor’s students, and 947 postgraduate students. With its broad geographic reach, strong focus on labor market needs, and commitment to sustainability and academic excellence, the university is poised to remain a pillar of higher education in Jordan and the wider region.