Top 10 Universities in Kuwait for International Students

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Kuwait is a Western Asian country bordered by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. While it’s known for its rich petroleum reserves, it has become one of the most preferred destinations by international students. With its top-notch universities and diverse academic offerings, Kuwait is slowly emerging as the next big thing in international education. In this article, we will be looking at universities in Kuwait for international students.

Are foreign students enjoying their stay at universities in Kuwait?

Yes. In fact, Kuwait is the top destination for Gulf students, who make a huge chunk of the country’s student population.

What are the programs commonly taken by international students in Kuwait?

Foreign students in Kuwait usually take up Marketing, IT, and Management.

How many international students are based in Kuwait?

There are 15,897 foreigners in Kuwait, most of them coming from gulf countries.

What is the top Kuwaiti university for international students?

Kuwait University is the best institution for foreign students.

Best Universities in Kuwait for International Students

1. Kuwait University

Kuwait University or Kuniv is the best university in Kuwait for international students. Founded in 1966, it is the country’s first public university for higher learning and research. It is also the only institute to enter the Times Higher Education’s prestigious World University Rankings.

Kuniv offers 76 undergraduate and 71 graduate programs through its 17 colleges. These are the Institutes of Allied Health, Arts, Architecture, Business, Dentistry, Computer Science, Education, Law, Engineering, Life Science, Pharmacy, Medicine, Science, Public Health, Social Science, and Graduate Studies.

The university has a main campus in Kuwait City, with branches in Fintas, Khaldiya, Keifan, Adailiya, Shuwaikh, and Jabriya.

2. Gulf University for Science and Technology

The Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), founded in 2002, is Kuwait’s first public university. It was established to support Kuwait University, which was the only higher education institution during the time.

GUST has 2 colleges, namely that of Arts & Science and Business Administration. The former oversees the studies of English, Computer Science, Humanities, Mathematics, and Mass Communication.

The Business College, on the other hand, offers undergraduate programs in Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Management & Organizational Behavior, Business Administration, and International Business. It offers an MBA degree as well.

The university has a dual-enrollment option together with the University of Missouri – St. Louis. As such, applicants are encouraged to take the TOEFL before entering the university. In the absence of this, applications will be required to undergo the GUST placement exam.

3. American University of the Middle East

Next on our list of top universities in Kuwait for international students is the American University of the Middle East, a private educational institution established in the year 2008. It is based in Egaila, with a sprawling campus covering an area of 161,000+ square meters. Reflective of its’ name, the university is affiliated with Indiana’s Purdue University.

AUM has 2 academic departments. The first is the College of Engineering & Technology, which offers programs in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and Architecture.

The College of Business Administration, on the other hand, offers bachelor’s degrees in Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Management of Information Systems. It has a graduate program in Business (MBA) as well.

4. Arab Open University – Kuwait

The Arab Open University (AOU) system was founded in 2002. Its Kuwaiti campus is one of its first 3 branches, which was launched alongside the campuses in Lebanon and Jordan. Currently, AOU also operates in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, and Sudan.

In partnership with UK’s Open University, AOU delivers several courses in the English Language. These include undergraduate honors programs in Business (Marketing, Management, Accounting, and Systems Practice), Information Technology, Graphic & Multimedia Design, English Language & Literature, Elementary Education, and Special Education.

AOU also offers post-graduate degrees in Business (MBA), Computing, Information Security & Forensics, English Literature, Educational Technology, and Educational Leadership.

5. American University of Kuwait

The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is a private college with an inclination towards the liberal arts. Founded in 2004, the sister school of Dartmouth College follows the American system of education. The American University of Kuwait is one of the best universities in Kuwait for international students.

AUK’s non-smoking campus is located in Salmiya, Kuwait City. Here, students can choose from a variety of undergraduate programs, including that of Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Management, Human Resource Management, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Electrical Engineering, English Language, Communications, Graphic Design, International Studies, Systems Engineering, and Behavioral Science.

The university has international professors coming from the US, UK, and Canada, among many other countries.

6. Australian College of Kuwait

The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK), founded in 2004, is the country’s first private technical institute. The college, which started as a maritime vocational college, is currently situated in Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber.

ACK follows a 2+2 program, wherein students start with a 2-year diploma study. Afterward, the enrollee has the option to seek work or study for another 2 years to complete his/her bachelor’s degree.

ACK’s academic departments include the School of Engineering, which offers diploma and bachelor’s programs in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Petroleum, and Electronics). It also has a School of Business that provides 2+2 programs in Marketing and Management.

The college also has an available diploma program in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.

7. Maastricht School of Management Kuwait

The Maastricht School of Management (MSM) Kuwait is a private business school founded in the year 2004. As the counterpart of the Dutch MSM, it offers the first private graduate-level MBA in the country. Add to that, this program is the only internationally-recognized MBA degree available in Kuwait.

The part-time course is taught 3 times a week for 3 hours apiece. This is designed in such a way so professionals can attend to their studies after work.

MSM features professors from the Netherlands and other foreign countries. Through its relationship with the National Bank of Kuwait, MSM’s top students are absorbed by the institution every year.

8. Algonquin College Kuwait

Algonquin College Kuwait, another top university in Kuwait for international students, is a private educational institution based in Jahra, Kuwait. It was founded in 2015 as a branch of Algonquin College, an institute based in Ottawa, Canada.

The college offers 2-year courses with diplomas coming from both Canada and Kuwait. These programs include Computer Programming, Internet & Web Development, Interactive Media Design, Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Business Accounting, and Business Marketing. These courses can then be converted to a bachelor’s degree through the college’s various educational pathways.

9. Kuwait College of Science & Technology

The Kuwait College of Science & Technology (KCST) is one of the country’s younger institutions. Founded in the year 2016, this small private college operates out of Doha District, Kuwait.

The university offers undergraduate programs that were structured in conjunction with the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi. Its lone academic department is the Faculty of Engineering, which oversees courses in Electronics & Communications Engineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering. Its Faculty of Business Management is slated to open soon.

KCST’s faculty members, which come from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, are mostly Ph.D. researchers.

10. Kuwait Technical College

The final university in our list of best universities in Kuwait is the Kuwait Technical College. Also known as KTECH, this institution is a school that promotes a practical approach to education. Founded in 2014, it has a modern campus located in Abu Halifa, Al Ahmadi Governorate, Kuwait.

The school offers 2-year Associates Degrees in Network Systems Administration & Security, Network Design & Administration, E-Commerce, Management of Information Systems, and Sales & Marketing. It also offers 2-year diploma courses in Web Applications & Programming and Software Applications & Programming.

After finishing any of these degrees, KTECH students are free to further their studies. This can be done through an online program that the college has established with Kaplan University, USA.

 

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