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Damascus University
جَامِعَةُ دِمَشْقَ
Emblem of Damascus University
Former names	Syrian University (1923–1958)
Motto	وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Motto in English	And say: My Lord, increase me in knowledge (Quran, 20:114)
Type	Public
Established	1923 (Medical School in 1903)
Academic affiliation	UNAI UNIMED
President	Mohammad Osama Aljabban
Administrative staff	2,697
Students	182,503
Undergraduates	169,067
Postgraduates	13,436
Doctoral students	1,211
Other students	9,289 international students
Location	Damascus , Syria
Campus	Urban

The University of Damascus (Arabic: جَامِعَةُ دِمَشْقَ, Jāmiʻatu Dimashq) is the biggest and oldest university in Syria. It is located in the capital city, Damascus. The university also has campuses in other Syrian cities.

It was started in 1923 and was first called the Syrian University. This happened when the Medical School (which began in 1903) and the Institute of Law (which began in 1913) joined together. The university got its current name, Damascus University, in 1958. This was after the University of Aleppo was founded.

Before the war in Syria began in 2011, Damascus University was known as one of the best universities in the Arab world. It has many different parts, including faculties (like colleges), higher institutes, and a nursing school. There is also a special institute that teaches the Arabic language to people from other countries. This is the largest institute of its kind in the Arab world.

History of Damascus University
What You Can Study
University Rankings
University Logo
Notable People Who Attended
Gallery
See also

History of Damascus University

La Caserne Hamidieh, a former main building of the Syrian University, is now the Faculty of Law building.

An aerial view of the university's main area in 1933.

The story of Damascus University began in 1901. That year, people approved the idea of starting a School of Medicine in Damascus. This school opened in 1903 and became the very first part of what is now the university. It taught both medicine and pharmacy. The lessons were given in Turkish back then.

Later, in 1913, a Law School opened in Beirut. Most of its teachers were Arabs, and they taught in Arabic. This Law School moved to Damascus in 1914. Around the same time, the School of Medicine moved to Beirut. However, by the end of World War I, the Law School returned to Beirut.

After the war, in 1919, both the Institute of Medicine and the School of Law reopened in Damascus. The Medical Institute started in January, and the Law School followed in September.

In 1923, the School of Law was renamed the Institute of Law. This institute, along with the Institute of Medicine, the Arab Society, and the Center of Arabic Heritage, were all brought together. They formed a new organization called the Syrian University. A few years later, in 1926, the Arab Society and the Center of Arabic Heritage became separate again.

In 1928, a new School of Higher Literary Studies was created. It quickly joined the university's management. By 1929, it became the School of Letters, but it closed down in 1935–1936.

From 1946 onwards, the university grew much larger. It was no longer just the Institutes of Medicine and Law. Many new faculties (colleges) and higher institutions were added for other subjects.

A new law in 1958 changed how universities were organized in Syria. This law officially changed the name "Syrian University" to "Damascus University." It also led to the creation of a second major university, the University of Aleppo.

In 1959, the College of Fine Arts was started in Damascus. It became a part of Damascus University in 1972.

DamascusUniversityCityMazzah1993DrAdelabu

International students, including Nigerian Researcher Dr. Abdul-Fattah Adelabu (middle), at Damascus University City Mazzah in 1993.

What You Can Study

Degrees and Programs

The Damascus University main building in Baramkeh.

Damascus University offers different types of degrees. You can get a Bachelor's degree, which is an undergraduate degree. The time it takes to earn a Bachelor's degree is usually 4 to 6 years, depending on the subject.

The university also offers graduate degrees like Master's and Ph.D. degrees. Master's programs usually take two to three years and involve both classes and research. Ph.D. degrees are mostly research-based and can take two to five years to complete.

Faculties (Colleges)

A map showing parts of Damascus University.

Damascus University has many different faculties, each focusing on a specific area of study:

Medicine: Started in 1903. It's known for training many doctors who go on to work in places like the United States.
Pharmacy: Also founded in 1903.
Dentistry: Started in 1921.
Information Technology: Began in 1994.
Civil Engineering: Started in 1961.
Mechanical Engineering & Electrical Engineering: Both began in 1963.
Economics: Founded in 1956.
Arts and Humanities: Started in 1928.
Education: Began in 1946.
Agriculture: Founded in 1963.
Islamic Jurisprudence: Started in 1954.
Architecture: Began in 1960.
Sciences
Fine Arts: Started in 1960.
Political Science: Began in 1979.
Law: Founded in 1913.
Tourism

Higher Institutes

These institutes offer specialized studies:

Higher Institute of Laser Research and Applications
Higher Institute of Administrative Development
Higher Institute of Seismologic Studies and Research (about earthquakes)
Higher Institute of Languages
Higher Institute of Translation and Interpretation

The Arabic Language Institute at Damascus University is very famous. Many people consider it the best place in the world to learn Arabic if you are not a native speaker. It focuses on immersion, which means you are surrounded by the language. This helps students learn Arabic quickly and naturally. The teachers at this institute focus on teaching classical Arabic.

Technical Institutes

These institutes offer two-year programs. After completing the program, students receive a diploma in their chosen field.

Technical Institute of Business Administration and Marketing: You can study Business Administration, Marketing, or Public Relations here.
Technical Institute of Finance and Banking Sciences: This institute offers studies in Accounting, Financial Markets, and Banking. The best students can sometimes continue their studies at the Faculty of Economics.
Technical Institute of Medicine
Technical Institute of Dentistry
Technical Institute of Engineering
Technical Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Electricity
Technical Institute of Computer Science
Technical Institute of Agricultural Studies

In 2012, a new branch of Damascus University was opened in Quneitra. This city is located in the Syrian Heights.

Open Learning

The Open Learning Center allows students to study in a more flexible way. It offers degrees in these main subjects:

Legal studies
Computer and informatics
Minor and intermediate projects
English language

University Library

The main library at Damascus University started in 1903. As of 2011, it had about 169,000 books and almost 4,000 different magazines and journals.

University Hospitals

Al Assad University Hospital in Damascus.

The university also runs eight hospitals in Damascus. These hospitals are important for teaching medical students and for providing healthcare to the community:

Al Assad University Hospital
Al Mouwasat University Hospital
Obstetrics & Gynecology University Hospital
Cardiac Surgery University Hospital
Dermatology Diseases University Hospital
Children's University Hospital
Al Bairouni University Hospital
Oral Maxillofacial Surgery Hospital

Career Support Centers

The university has centers like Business Clinics (Shabab-Damascus) to help students with their careers. Damascus University also works with other universities both in Syria and around the world.

University Rankings

In 2023, Damascus University's ranking improved in the QS Ranking, placing it between 1201-1400 globally. This improvement was due to things like research related to sustainable development and how often its research is cited by others. The university's ranking also went up in the Webometrics ranking, which looks at university websites. In 2023, it ranked below 3150 in this list.

University Logo

The emblem (logo) of Damascus University has a special meaning. It shows how important science is and how humans always want to learn more. It also highlights Damascus's special role in developing science and supporting scientists.

The color of the logo is like a raspberry. This represents the unique Damascene raspberry fruit, which is only found in Damascus. This color shows that the university is also unique. The president of Damascus University even uses this specific color for their signature, which is a special tradition.

The lamp in the logo is a common symbol for knowledge in many cultures. It shines the light of knowledge and science. Above the lamp, there is a verse from the Quran that says: "say oh my Lord, increase me in knowledge." This verse is the motto of Damascus University and shows its constant search for more knowledge.