The Lebanese University (LU; Arabic: الجامعة اللبنانية) is the only state-funded public universityinLebanon. Established in 1951, the Lebanese University has played a major role in expanding general education in Lebanon.
The university's main campus was originally located in Beirut, but a few satellite campuses were opened due to travel restrictions during the Lebanese Civil War.[2] It has three geographically distributed campuses: Rafic Hariri Campus, Fanar Campus and North Campus.[3]
The university currently enrolls thousands of students and is organized into 16 faculties. It offers a range of degree programs, include undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. The primary language of instruction is Arabic.[2]
The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hamid Frangieh, during the closing ceremony of the Third UNESCO Conference in Beirut held on 11 December 1948, during which he said: "Lebanon hopes to see the creation of a Lebanese university having the spirit of UNESCO."
The establishment of the Lebanese University came as a result of a popular and student mobilization initiated on 23 January 1951 with a general strike that lasted for a long period during which, secondary and university students, mostly from Saint Joseph University participated. The movement included demonstrations and clashes with security forces that lead the Council of Ministers to meet on 5 February of the same year.[4]
The university issued successive decrees since its inception, establishing faculties and institutes, which contributed to its expansion and development until reaching 16 faculties:[6]
The university is also affiliated with the Institute of Applied Sciences and Economics[26](CNAM-ISAE), which operates in cooperation with CNAM in France.
In 2009, the Lebanese University started awarding honorary doctorates to Lebanese personalities, including:
Minister Fouad Boutros, Minister Ghassan Tueni, Minister Laila Solh Hamada, Former Head of Press Syndicate Mohamed Baalbaki, As-Safir's Editor-in-Chief Talal Salman, Governor of the Banque du Liban Riad Salamé, Archbishop Grégoire Haddad, writer and poet Salah Stétié, Architect Rahif Fayad, Professor Philip Salem, and artist Majida El Roumi.
The Lebanese University collects registration fees from its affiliated students for the academic year 2023-2024 as follows:
A- Lebanese students, students born to Lebanese mothers, and Palestinians:
For the bachelor’s degree in theoretical colleges, the amount is 12,500,000 LBP.
For the bachelor’s degree in applied colleges, the amount is 12,500,000 LBP.
For the postgraduate level, the amount is 17,500,000 LBP.
For the doctoral studies stage, the amount is 22,500,000 LBP.
B - Foreign students:
For the bachelor’s degree in theoretical colleges, the amount is 60,000,000 LBP.
For the bachelor’s degree in applied colleges, the amount is 60,000,000 LBP.
For the postgraduate level, the amount is 100,000,000 LBP.
The doctoral studies stage: an amount of 300,000,000 LBP.
C - Participation fee for the entrance competition in colleges and institutes to which affiliation is subject to the competition condition: 500,000 LBP.
The Lebanese University is the only public institution in Lebanon carrying out the functions of the public higher education with its various majors and degrees, scientific research, and continuous training.[30]
^ abNajem, Tom; Amore, Roy C.; Abu Khalil, As'ad (2021). Historical Dictionary of Lebanon. Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham Boulder New York London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 195. ISBN978-1-5381-2043-9.
^"Campuses". Lebanese University. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
^"History". Lebanese University. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
Media related to Lebanese University at Wikimedia Commons
