Syria implements gender-based restrictions on university admissions

New university admission rules for the 2026-2027 academic year in Syria have sparked controversy regarding gender-based restrictions on certain fields of study. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research stated that while most of the approximately 1,000 available specializations are open to all, certain limitations exist due to the nature of specific roles and institutional requirements.

Under the new regulations, women are excluded from several programs at the newly established National University for Defense Sciences, including military engineering, legal and social sciences, management, and economics. The Syrian University for Security Sciences also reserves certain programs for men, though women remain eligible for cybersecurity studies. Additional restrictions affect technical institutes specializing in oil and gas, railway transport, and radio and television directing.

Officials defended the measures, noting that the restrictions on the new defense and security universities are determined by the Ministries of Defense and Interior to prepare officers for specific military duties. They noted that alternative paths, such as the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology, remain available for women interested in fields like aviation and software engineering. However, educators and students have criticized these policies, arguing they limit educational freedom and contradict constitutional guarantees of women's rights to education.