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UoB

University of Balamand

2026–27 informationApplications: sisweb.balamand.edu.lb
Apply on sisweb.balamand.edu.lb

Programs​

65

UoB's Admissions Guide 2026-27 counts 58 undergraduate degrees across eight faculties and one institute (the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts, the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology and the faculties of Arts and Sciences, Business and Management, Engineering, Health Sciences, Medicine and Medical Sciences, Issam M. Fares Faculty of Technology and Postgraduate Medical Education). It reports 5,761+ enrolled students and 28,000+ graduates.

UoB's contact page says the university has five campuses across Lebanon but lists four: Al Koura (main, North Lebanon), Dekouaneh (near Beirut; ALBA, Health Sciences, Medicine and Postgraduate Medical Education), Beino in Akkar (Issam M. Fares Faculty of Technology) and Souk El Gharb in Aley. Its home page and undergraduate catalogue say four campuses, and no current UoB page names a fifth.

The majority of UoB's programs follow the American system of education and are taught in English, except for a few programs in French and Arabic (Theology also uses Greek). ALBA's Dekouaneh programs are counted in ECTS credits; most are taught in French, Arts Visuels, Architecture du Paysage and Design de Mode in French and English, and Television and Digital Media in English.

Credit counts in the program list are Sophomore-entry degree totals (Lebanese Baccalaureate holders; the Freshman year is not included), except ALBA Dekouaneh, which counts in ECTS. Engineering totals come from UoB's 2023-24 catalogue, since no newer Engineering catalogue is published — see SOURCES.md for this and every other program-level exception and source.

Sources:UoB Admissions Guide 2026-27 (PDF)About UoB

Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts (ALBA)17 programs​

  • Architectural StudiesALBA Architecture (Al-Koura)BS4 years128 creditsEN
  • Interior Architecture & DesignALBA Interior Design (Al-Koura)BFA3 years116 creditsEN
  • Computer Graphics and Interactive MediaALBA Visual Arts (Al-Koura)BFA3 years116 creditsEN
  • Graphic DesignALBA Visual Arts (Al-Koura)BFA3 years116 creditsEN
  • Etudes ArchitecturalesALBA Architecture (Dekouaneh)Licence4 years240 creditsFR
  • Arts VisuelsALBA Visual Arts (Dekouaneh)Licence3 years180 creditsFR/EN
  • Architecture d'IntérieurALBA Decorative Arts (Dekouaneh)Licence3 years180 creditsFR
  • Graphisme et PublicitéALBA Decorative Arts (Dekouaneh)Licence3 years180 creditsFR

Application​

Application Types + Windows​

UoB takes applications for Spring admission, Early Admission (Fall) and Regular Admission (Fall). Applications are submitted online at sisweb.balamand.edu.lb. The dates below are for undergraduate admission. Admission is conditional on receiving the student's leaving certificate or high school diploma, and applicants cannot register until every condition is met. Applicants who are not granted Early Admission are considered with the Regular Admission applicants. UoB asks applicants to check its website for updates and extended deadlines.

  • Spring 2026-27
    Apply byDec 18, 2026
    Round
    Regular Admission
  • Fall 2027-28
    Apply byMid-January 2027 (no exact day published)
    Round
    Early Admission
    Decisions
    Mid-February 2027
  • Fall 2027-28
    Apply byEnd of July 2027 (no exact day published)
    Round
    Regular Admission
    Decisions
    Not stated

Source:UoB Undergraduate Admissions

Difference between rounds:

Early Admission
for Fall 2027-28, apply by mid-January 2027. Decisions are released in mid-February. Applicants who are not granted Early Admission are considered with the Regular applicants. The Merit Scholarships list Early Admission as their deadline (see Scholarships).
Regular Admission
Spring 2026-27 closes on Dec 18, 2026; Fall 2027-28 closes at the end of July 2027.
How admission is decided
the criteria are the entrance examinations UoB assigns (the SAT or other exams), the secondary school grades and the class rank. Admission is competitive: 50% is the SAT (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) for applicants to whom it applies, and 50% is the grade 10 and 11 averages, compared with the class average and with the averages of applicants from the same school over the past 5 years. Grade 12 results do not count in the decision, but must be submitted as soon as available and before registration is completed.

Entrance and language exams (UoB's English and French placement tests) are held on Dec 4, 2026, Jan 8, 2027, Mar 5, 2027, Jul 9, 2027 and Aug 6, 2027.

Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences: for AY 2026-27 UoB set two rounds, apply by Jan 30, 2026 (answer by Mar 20, 2026, MCAT scores by Feb 27, 2026) or by Mar 30, 2026 (answer by Jun 19, 2026, MCAT scores by mid-June 2026). Both have closed, and UoB has not yet published dates for 2027-28.

Semester calendar 2026-27 (all faculties except Medicine):

SemesterRegistrationClasses beginDrop and addFinal exams
Fall 2026-27New students Aug 19–21, 2026; late registration Aug 24–28, 2026Aug 26, 2026Aug 26–28, 2026 (drop period ends Nov 27, 2026)Dec 10–18, 2026 (reading period Dec 8–9, 2026)
Spring 2026-27Pre-registration Nov 30 – Dec 4, 2026; late registration Jan 11–15, 2027Jan 13, 2027Jan 13–15, 2027 (drop period ends May 7, 2027)May 21–31, 2027 (reading period May 19–20, 2027)
Summer 2027Pre-registration May 4–6, 2027; late registration Jun 7–11, 2027Jun 7, 2027Jun 9–11, 2027 (drop period ends Jul 19, 2027)Jul 29–31, 2027 (reading period Jul 28, 2027)
Fall 2027-28Pre-registration May 10–14, 2027; new students Aug 18–20, 2027; late registration Aug 23–27, 2027Not in this calendar——

Other dates: Christmas and New Year vacation Dec 23, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027. Medicine I and II: pre-registration Aug 3, 2026 and the academic year begins Aug 17, 2026; Medicine III and IV: pre-registration Apr 19, 2027 and the academic year begins May 10, 2027 (2027-28). UoB's calendar also lists the public holidays; the dates of the Islamic holidays depend on the sighting of the moon. Reference: UoB Academic Calendar 2026-27 (PDF)

Sources:UoB Undergraduate AdmissionsUoB Admissions Guide 2026-27 (PDF)Faculty of Medicine admissionsAdmission results

Application Price​

All fees below are non-refundable.

FeeAmount (USD)

Undergraduate applicationOther fees for placement tests may apply depending on the major (Admissions Guide)
$55
Graduate applicationPost-graduate application is also $65
$65
Interview—
$35
English language test—
$45
French language testTest de Positionnement
$25
Medical examinationThe Admissions Guide lists a medical exam and a physical exam for Physical Education applicants
$55
Physical examinationSee above
$35

Source:UoB Tuition Fees 2026-27 (PDF)

The Apply Now button at the bottom-left of this page opens UoB's online application portal at sisweb.balamand.edu.lb.

Tuition (AY 2026-2027)​

UoB publishes these rates as "Tuition Fees, Academic Year 2026-2027". Undergraduate tuition is per credit hour, in USD with the Lebanese lira amount UoB prints beside it.

Faculty / ProgramUSD per credit

FreshmanLBP per credit: LBP 3,290,000
$435
Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Arts)LBP per credit: LBP 3,290,000
$435
Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Sciences)LBP per credit: LBP 3,590,000
$485
Faculty of Business and ManagementLBP per credit: LBP 3,550,000
$480
Faculty of Health SciencesLBP per credit: LBP 3,615,000
$485
Faculty of EngineeringLBP per credit: LBP 3,910,000
$535

Graduate tuition per credit hour (for reference):

Faculty / ProgramUSD per credit

Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Arts)LBP per credit: LBP 5,125,000
$730
Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Sciences)LBP per credit: LBP 5,015,000
$710
Faculty of Business and ManagementLBP per credit: LBP 4,560,000
$640
Faculty of Health SciencesLBP per credit: LBP 5,050,000
$720
Faculty of EngineeringLBP per credit: LBP 3,965,000
$545
ALBA — Dekouaneh CampusLBP per credit: LBP 2,165,000
$255
ALBA — Balamand CampusLBP per credit: LBP 3,790,000
$515

Programs charged as a set amount:

ProgramBasis

Faculty of Medicine (MD)USD: $31,000
Yearly tuition
Executive MBAUSD: $26,000
Program tuition
Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA)USD: $48,000
Program tuition

Residence fees (UoB's sheet does not say for what period):

Room typeBeit Talibat

Single RoomLa Maresa: $1,335
$1,265
Double RoomLa Maresa: $945
$900
Single PremiumLa Maresa: $1,635
$1,610
SuiteLa Maresa: $1,360
—

Other fees:

FeeAmount

Library and laboratory depositRequired of every student enrolling; held until graduation or discontinuation, then returned minus any debts
$170
National Social Security Fund (NSSF), medical branchLebanese law requires Lebanese students to enroll
30% of the legal minimum salary, for the year
Student activities—
$215 per semester
Internet—
$35 per semester
GraduationCharged when the clearance form is submitted
$150
Late registration or late instalmentCharged to students who do not register or pay the instalment on time
$100 per semester

Payment is made in cash at the university Cashier's Office. Deferred payment (monthly installments at 0% interest) is arranged at registration through the Comptrollers' Office.

Withdrawal refund schedule: if a duly registered student withdraws for justifiable reasons, tuition is refunded as follows:

When you withdrawTuition refunded

Before the official beginning of classes
100% of full tuition (except the non-refundable deposit)
During the first week of classes
75%
During the second week of classes
50%
After the second week of classes
0% (the student receives a W in all courses and is 100% financially responsible)
Summer session
No refund

UoB notes that "the University reserves the right to change any or all fees at any time without prior notice. Such changes are applicable to students currently registered in the University as well as to new students."

Source:UoB Tuition Fees 2026-27 (PDF)

Scholarships​

22

University-offered scholarships​

UoB reports more than $21 million in financial support in AY 2024-25, covering 3,479+ scholarship recipients (Admissions Guide). Its Financial Support page says support ranges from 10% to 100% of tuition, based on need and/or academic merit. Where the Admissions Guide (January 2026) and the current Financial Support page differ, this page follows the Financial Support page and says so. The guide also writes average thresholds as "at least" (75 for faculty support and athletic scholarships, 70 for financial aid and student work) where the current page writes "above"; a student exactly on a threshold should ask the Office of Financial Aid.

Merit scholarships​

Awarded to newly admitted students based on Lebanese Baccalaureate rank or SAT performance, for the years of their first degree. Deadline: Early Admission (Admissions Guide).

CoverageEligibility

100%Renewal: Cumulative average above 85 at the end of each academic year
Newly admitted students who rank first in any of the four Lebanese Baccalaureate official exams in each governorate or among the top five in Lebanon (the top-five wording is on the Financial Support page only); or the top 4 newly admitted applicants who rank in the top 20% of their school in grades 10 and 11 and score at least 1450 on the SAT
75%Renewal: Cumulative average above 83
Rank 2nd or 3rd in any of the four Lebanese Baccalaureate official exams in each governorate; or the top 6 applicants in the top 20% of grades 10 and 11 with an SAT score of at least 1400
50%Renewal: Cumulative average above 80
Rank 4th or 5th in any of the four Lebanese Baccalaureate official exams in each governorate; or the top 10 applicants in the top 20% of grades 10 and 11 with an SAT score of at least 1300

Source:UoB Financial Support

Renewal wording differs: the Financial Support page says the cumulative average must stay above 85 / 83 / 80 at the end of each academic year, while the Admissions Guide says at least 85 / 83 / 80, renewable at the beginning of each academic year for the 100% scholarship and for each academic year for the 75% and 50% ones.

Dean's Honor List (Admissions Guide; not on the current Financial Support page) — a 100% scholarship for the following semester for the top 4 continuing full-time undergraduates with a semester average of at least 95, and a representative scholarship for continuing full-time undergraduates with a semester general average of at least 85.

Athletic scholarships​

CoverageEligibility

10-20% of tuitionConditions: The Selection Committee sets the amount per academic year within the approved budget, and UoB's application form says the scholarship is valid for one semester only. No student may receive more than 70% of total financial support. Failed and repeated courses are not covered, and dependents of current faculty and staff are not entitled. New students apply by mid-August (Fall) or mid-January (Spring), with a letter from the club, the original sports federation card or club ID if available, medical reports for any health problem signed by a physician and the UoB infirmary, a sports résumé and a recommendation from the varsity coach or the Office of Athletics, Wellness and Recreation (Hariri Gymnasium Building, Room 112-113). To keep the scholarship the athlete must maintain an average above 75, attend team trainings and games, take part in international tournaments and help with sports-related social activities.UoB Athletic Scholarship form and UoB Financial Support
Member of a UoB varsity team, affiliated with a national team or a first- or second-division club, with a proven record of accomplishments at school and a good team spirit; regular full-time student with at least 12 credits; clear academic standing with a cumulative average above 75 (at the end of each semester); has submitted a Financial Aid application; not on disciplinary probation

Requirements​

SAT​

UoB requires the SAT from undergraduate applicants holding the Lebanese Baccalaureate or its equivalent (IB, IGCSE, French Baccalaureate), except:

  • Applicants to non-scientific disciplines at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
  • Applicants to ALBA
  • Applicants to majors taught in French
  • Applicants to Tourism and Hotel Management
  • Transfer students from other universities who completed one year or have 20 transferable credits
  • Applicants with an average of at least 16/20 or 88/100 in grades 10 and 11 (except Freshman program applicants), who must instead take language aptitude tests to place their language level (this exemption is on the current Undergraduate Admissions page only; the Admissions Guide's exemption list does not include it)

UoB's program tables list "SAT or Math Test" for Nursing and for the French track of the Issam M. Fares Faculty of Technology. When registering for the SAT, use UoB code 2960 and ask the Educational Testing Service to send the scores directly to the Office of Admissions; contact the nearest AMIDEAST testing center for details.

Freshman applicants provide SAT or ACT results before admission, as follows:

TrackSAT

Arts (Freshman)ACT: 15
870
Sciences (Freshman)ACT: 17
950

Source:UoB Undergraduate Admissions

The Freshman Program page asks instead for SAT Subject Tests (Mathematics II plus two of Biology, Chemistry or Physics for the Sciences track; Mathematics I plus any two for the Arts track), taken before admission or during the freshman year; ask admissions which applies. Holders of the Lebanese Baccalaureate or its equivalent may not apply to the Freshman class. Reference: UoB Freshman Program

High-school grades​

  • Sophomore level: the Lebanese Baccalaureate or its equivalent: French Baccalaureate, Syrian Baccalaureate, Jordanian Tawjihi, German Abitur, Official Government Secondary School Leaving Certificate, the full IB Diploma (3 HL and 3 SL subjects), or IGCSE/GCE (at least five subjects at Ordinary Level and three at Advanced Level, or six Advanced Subsidiary Level subjects with a minimum grade of D).
  • Freshman level: a secondary school certificate based on 12 years of schooling starting with Grade One, awarded by a school recognized by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and UoB; permission from the Ministry's Equivalence Committee to pursue higher education on the basis of a foreign program; and the SAT or ACT results above. The Ministry may ask for evidence of having lived and studied outside Lebanon for at least two years. The Freshman year totals 30 credits, with minimum credits in Humanities and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Natural Sciences and at most 3 elective credits of fine arts; after it, students obtain the equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate and are promoted to Sophomore without UoB entrance exams.
  • Documents for the admission decision: a recent passport-size photograph (within 6 months); a copy of the identity card (Lebanese applicants) or passport; grades and recommendation for grades 10 and 11 in a sealed and stamped envelope mailed by the school, or emailed by the school to admissions@balamand.edu.lb; SAT scores if applicable; an English or French proficiency test if applicable; and the application fee.
  • Documents for enrollment: a certified official secondary school certificate when received; non-Lebanese Baccalaureate students must submit the equivalence of the Sophomore credential from the Equivalence Committee at the Lebanese Ministry of Education; and evidence of having completed grade 12.
  • ALBA (Dekouaneh): the Licence majors taught in French ask for French level B2 ("Niveau français B2") and English language proficiency exams, and admission is by file review ("Etude de dossier"); Television and Digital Media, taught in English, asks for language proficiency exams. Master's admission is by interview after file review, for holders of a bachelor's degree in the field (Admissions Guide).
  • Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences (MD): admission follows a bachelor's degree and needs the MCAT and an interview. For AY 2026-27 UoB weighted the standardized premed average 30%, the general average 20%, the major average 20%, the MCAT 25% and the interview 5%, and acceptance was contingent on completing the degree by the end of Spring 2026.
  • International applicants coming from abroad: obtain a visitor visa from the Lebanese Embassy on presenting UoB's acceptance letter, then apply for residency after arriving in Lebanon; hold a valid passport and obtain residency before the visitor visa expires. The high school diploma must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the student lives and then by the Lebanese Ministry of Education (International Students Office, Zakhem Building, first floor, Room 120).
  • Transfer students: hold the Lebanese Baccalaureate or its official equivalent and had met UoB's admission requirements before entering their previous institution. Sophomore transfers must submit the required test scores; Junior and Senior transfers may apply without SAT scores. Submit an official transcript with course descriptions. Credits (not grades) may be transferred for comparable courses, subject to department review and Admissions Committee approval.
  • Readmission: students in good standing who withdraw voluntarily are readmitted automatically to their former program if they return within four regular semesters of the end of the session in which they withdrew.
  • Special Orientation Program (SOP): for applicants who completed secondary education outside Lebanon or hold the Technical Baccalaureate appropriate to the major; applications are studied case by case.

Sources:UoB Undergraduate AdmissionsUoB Admissions Guide 2026-27 (PDF)UoB Freshman ProgramUoB International Students

Graduate admission (for reference)​

  • A bachelor's degree from a recognized institution with an undergraduate cumulative average of at least 80/100; applicants with at least 77/100 may be considered for conditional admission. Departments and faculties set and supervise the criteria.
  • Documents: a certified copy of the diploma, two recommendation letters, the diploma equivalence from the Lebanese Ministry of Education (if applicable), an official transcript with course descriptions, and the application fee. Transfer credits may reach 40% of the degree credits, for courses with an average of at least 80 that match UoB courses. A full-time graduate student registers for 9 to 12 credits per semester.

Sources:UoB Graduate AdmissionsUoB Admissions Guide 2026-27 (PDF)

Contacts​

Campus / OfficePhoneEmailAddress
Al-Koura Campus (Main)+961-6-930250 (fax +961-6-930278)info@balamand.edu.lbP.O. Box 100, Tripoli, Lebanon
Office of Admissions+961-6-930250 ext. 3945admissions@balamand.edu.lb / orientation@balamand.edu.lb—
Office of Financial Aid+961-6-930250 ext. 1054 (fax +961-6-930275)financial.aid@balamand.edu.lbP.O. Box 100, Tripoli, Lebanon
International Students Office+961-6-930250 ext. 3935iso@balamand.edu.lb—
Student housing (on campus)+961-6-930250 ext. 5697——
Office of Student Affairs (off-campus housing list)+961-6-930250 ext. 3930osa@balamand.edu.lb—

Mailing address: University of Balamand, P.O. Box 100, Tripoli, Lebanon. The International Students Office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00-16:30 in the Fall and Spring semesters and 8:00-14:00 in the Summer semester.

Sources:UoB Contact UsStudent HousingInternational StudentsAcademic Calendar 2026-27 (PDF)