The University of Balamand (UOB) was founded in 1988 and is situated on the hills of Balamand in the Koura region of northern Lebanon, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. As one of Lebanon’s flagship private institutions of higher education, it follows a liberal arts curriculum, with instruction primarily conducted in English, while also offering courses in French and Arabic. It is a non-profit educational institution open to students from around the world.
In less than four decades, Balamand has risen to become one of Lebanon’s top universities, boasting 10 colleges, 50 undergraduate programs, and 39 graduate programs spanning disciplines such as humanities, business, engineering, medicine, and the arts.
Rising International Rankings: From Second in Lebanon to the Global Top 1,200
The University of Balamand continues to demonstrate strong momentum in international rankings. The university ranked 1,145th in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, placing second in Lebanon and placing it among the top 43% of universities globally. In the QS Student-Faculty Ratio ranking, the university was once ranked 115th globally, reflecting the exceptional quality of its small-class, elite education. Its chemistry program ranks first in Lebanon on the Nature Index. In the Arab University Rankings, Balamand consistently ranks among the top 10. Get a Lebanese University diploma to boost your career prospects
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- Globally Recognized Accreditation: As Lebanon’s second-ranked university, UOB’s Business School holds AACSB accreditation—a distinction held by only 6% of business schools worldwide; its School of Engineering is also accredited by the U.S.-based ABET. These are international hallmarks of top-tier educational quality and are highly valued by multinational corporations.
- Outstanding Career Support: The university operates a dedicated Career Services Center that provides job-search guidance and resources; simultaneously, the annual job fair attracts approximately 60 multinational companies, creating abundant internship and employment opportunities for students.
- Excellent Reputation Among Employers: UOB scores highly in the QS rankings for employer reputation, indicating that its graduates are highly regarded in the job market. Furthermore, leveraging an alumni network spanning over 20 countries and high-quality industry-academia collaboration resources, graduates can further expand their career development opportunities.
Authoritative Dual Accreditation: AACSB and ABET Lead the Way in Lebanon
Balarmand University is the only institution in Lebanon to hold AACSB and ABET dual international accreditation—a combination that is truly unique in the country.
- AACSB International Accreditation is regarded as the highest honor for business schools worldwide, with fewer than 6% of business schools globally receiving this distinction. Balarmand Business School is the only AACSB-accredited business school in Lebanon, signifying that its educational quality ranks among the world’s best.
- ABET Engineering Accreditation covers all five of the university’s bachelor’s degree programs in engineering—Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. ABET is the authoritative accreditation body of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; obtaining this accreditation signifies that the quality of education for its engineering graduates meets the highest global industry standards, enabling them to enter the professional workforce directly in signatory countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
In addition, Balamand’s degrees are accredited by the German accreditation body **ACQUIN**, and its alumni are spread across Lebanon, the Gulf states, North America, and Europe, forming an extensive professional network.
