Amman, July 9 (Petra) -- Higher education sector in the Kingdom is witnessing growing interest from international students seeking to study at the Jordanian universities, with 1,600 applications submitted since the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research opened admissions for the current academic year early last month.

The ministry said the strong demand reflects increasing confidence in the quality of Jordanian higher education and the academic programs offered by its universities, supported by digital services designed to streamline admission and registration procedures for international students.

Ministry spokesperson Muhannad Al-Khatib told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Thursday that students from Malaysia recorded the highest number of applications, followed by students from the Palestinian territories of 1948, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iraq.

He said the continued growth in international student applications highlights Jordan’s reputation as a regional hub for higher education and the strength of its accredited academic programs. The ministry, he added, is closely following admission procedures to ensure that international students are enrolled in line with established regulations.

Al-Khatib noted that Jordanian universities have earned a strong regional reputation, making them an attractive destination for students from diverse backgrounds. He said the ministry is working with relevant institutions to facilitate the admission process and address any challenges students may face during registration.

He attributed the rise in applications to the ministry’s unified electronic admission platform for international students, introduced for the first time in the 2024-2025 academic year. All applications are now processed exclusively through the platform, following a Higher Education Council decision requiring international student admissions at public universities and colleges to be handled through the electronic system.

The platform allows students to secure preliminary or final admission while still in their home countries, helping them save time and costs by confirming their eligibility before traveling to Jordan. University registrars are responsible for reviewing applications and providing responses within three working days of submission.

The system was launched as part of the Ministry of Higher Education’s Strategic Plan for Attracting International Students for 2023-2027, developed in cooperation with the Jordan Tourism Board and approved by the Cabinet. The initiative also supports the Economic Modernization Vision’s goal of expanding efforts to attract international students.

Al-Khatib explained that the platform enables applicants to obtain equivalency certificates from the Ministry of Education through a dedicated online portal that verifies academic documents and qualifications. It also allows cultural attachés and educational advisers representing students’ countries to track applications electronically.

He said the system aims to improve transparency in the admission process and prevent exploitation by intermediaries who previously charged students high fees for securing admissions, in some cases through fraudulent offers. The platform will also help the ministry identify key markets with high demand for Jordanian universities and strengthen promotional efforts in those countries.

Al-Khatib encouraged international students interested in studying in Jordan to visit the "Study in Jordan" platform for detailed information on universities, academic programs, and tuition fees before submitting applications through the unified admission system.

//Petra//WH