Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Students Choose Jordan
Jordan offers affordable, English-taught programs (notably medicine and engineering); respected universities; a safe and stable environment; a great place to learn Arabic; and rich history and culture — a welcoming Arab study hub.
Affordable — + English medicine
Safe & stable — welcoming
Arabic — great to learn
How to help: Weigh Jordan’s affordable English-taught medicine/engineering and stability against restricted work rules — for English-taught health sciences on a budget, it’s a strong choice.
Good to know: Jordan’s flourishing health sector and internationally regarded medical programs are a major draw — often taught in English.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the System
Leading universities include the University of Jordan (UJ — Amman, highest-ranked), Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST — Irbid, medicine/engineering), Yarmouk, the Hashemite University, Princess Sumaya University for Technology, and the German Jordanian University. Most use a semester system (medicine/dentistry run annually).
UJ — Amman, top-ranked
JUST — medicine & engineering
+ Yarmouk, PSUT — & others
How to help: Choose by field — JUST for medicine/engineering, UJ for breadth, PSUT/German Jordanian for tech — and note medicine/dentistry run on an annual (not semester) system.
Watch out: Jordan is especially known for English-taught medicine and engineering — confirm the program’s language and structure.
Step 3 of 10
Apply via the “Study in Jordan” Portal
For public universities, international admission runs only through the government’s “Study in Jordan” portal (studyinjordan.jo), run by the Ministry of Higher Education’s International Student Affairs Unit (application fee ~35 JOD/$50). Private universities may use the portal or take direct applications — no paid intermediary is needed.
Public — via the portal only
~JOD 35 / $50 — application fee
Private — portal or direct
How to help: Apply to public universities through the “Study in Jordan” portal (the only route for them), or to private universities via the portal or directly — no intermediary or extra fees needed.
Watch out: Public-university international students admitted through the portal are often treated like Jordanians for tuition — a real saving.
Step 4 of 10
Get the Student Visa & Residence Permit
After admission, apply for a student visa at a Jordanian embassy (a long-term student visa is about 60 JOD, multiple-entry; processing is quick, ~3–5 days), or arrange status on arrival. For longer stays you obtain a residence permit (Ikama). You’ll show your acceptance, first-semester tuition payment, funds, and accommodation details.
Student visa — ~JOD 60, multi-entry
Fast — ~3–5 days
Residence permit — Ikama (longer stays)
How to help: Apply for your student visa (with acceptance, tuition-payment proof, funds, and accommodation details), and obtain a residence permit (Ikama) for a longer stay.
Good to know: The student-visa process is quick (~3–5 days) — your university’s international office assists with the Ikama.
Step 5 of 10
Plan for Tuition & Funding
Tuition is affordable, varying by university and program: public universities are cheaper than private, with medicine and dentistry the higher outliers. External scholarships (Fulbright, Chevening, DAAD, Erasmus+) and university funding can help. Living costs are low.
Public — cheaper than private
Medicine — the higher outlier
Scholarships — Fulbright, DAAD, Erasmus+
How to help: Budget the affordable tuition (public cheaper; medicine pricier) plus low living costs, and explore external scholarships (Fulbright, DAAD, Erasmus+) and university funding.
Good to know: Tuition varies by program — confirm the exact per-credit or annual figure on the official university/portal page.
Step 6 of 10
Meet the Financial Requirement
For the visa/admission you must show a bank statement with sufficient funds to support your stay, plus proof of paid first-semester tuition, accommodation details, and photos. Confirm the exact evidence with your university and the Jordanian mission.
Funds — bank statement
Tuition — first-semester paid
+ accommodation — details
How to help: Prepare a bank statement showing sufficient funds and proof of first-semester tuition, plus accommodation details — confirm specifics with your university and mission.
Good to know: Requirements are set by your university and the mission — follow their official checklist rather than third-party lists.
Step 7 of 10
Meet Language Requirements
The official language of instruction is Arabic, but many programs — especially medicine, engineering, technology, and business — are taught in English (prove via IELTS/TOEFL). For Arabic-taught study, or for daily life, building some Arabic is valuable.
Arabic — official medium
English — medicine, eng., business
Some Arabic — valuable
How to help: Confirm your program’s language — choose English-taught medicine/engineering/business (IELTS/TOEFL) or prepare Arabic — and learn some Arabic for daily life.
Good to know: The English-taught programs cluster in medicine, engineering, technology, and business — the majors that attract most international students.
Step 8 of 10
Prepare for the Move
After arriving, arrange your residence permit (Ikama), accommodation, banking, and insurance. Universities offer dormitories (some with dedicated foreign-student housing); private apartments and homestays are also available. Jordan is safe and stable, with a low cost of living; Amman and Irbid are the main student cities.
Ikama + housing — first tasks
Dorms — some for foreign students
Low cost — Amman, Irbid
How to help: Handle arrival admin — Ikama, accommodation, banking, insurance — and choose housing (dorms, private, or homestay) in Jordan—s safe, affordable cities.
Good to know: Some universities offer dedicated dormitories for foreign students — apply early, or arrange private housing/homestay.
Step 9 of 10
Understand Work Rules
Be clear on this: international students on a Jordanian student visa are generally not permitted to work. Any limited part-time work would require a work permit applied for via your university (to the Ministry of Interior); don’t assume you can work. Plan to fund your studies fully.
Work — generally not permitted
Any work — needs a permit via university
Fund fully — don’t rely on work
How to help: Understand that work is generally not permitted on a student visa (any exception needs a university-arranged work permit) — budget to fund your studies, helped by Jordan’s low costs.
Watch out: Don’t assume you can work — it’s generally not allowed, and any part-time role needs a work permit arranged through your university.
Step 10 of 10
Thrive & Work After Study
Jordan’s health and engineering sectors — and its role as a regional hub — offer opportunities, and your (often English-taught) degree is internationally regarded. To work after study you’ll need a work permit and residence permit, which an employer initiates; confirm the current pathway.
Health & engineering — regional hub
Degree — internationally regarded
Post-study — employer-initiated permit
How to help: Leverage your internationally regarded degree (medicine/engineering especially), and if you want to work in Jordan, plan for an employer-initiated work and residence permit.
Good to know: Post-study work needs an employer-initiated work permit and residence permit — the student visa doesn’t convert automatically.
Quick Reference
Studying in Jordan: The Essentials
A snapshot — figures change, so confirm with the “Study in Jordan” portal, your university, and the Jordanian mission.
- The systemUniversity of Jordan (Amman, top-ranked), Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST — medicine/engineering), Yarmouk, Hashemite, Princess Sumaya (PSUT), and the German Jordanian University; medicine/dentistry run annually.
- Admission & visaPublic-university international admission runs only through the “Study in Jordan” portal (~35 JOD fee); private universities via the portal or directly; then a student visa (~60 JOD, multi-entry) and a residence permit (Ikama) for longer stays.
- Tuition & fundingAffordable (public cheaper than private; medicine/dentistry higher; portal-admitted students often pay Jordanian rates); external scholarships (Fulbright, DAAD, Erasmus+) and university funding; low living costs.
- Money & languageShow a bank statement plus proof of first-semester tuition and accommodation; Arabic is the official medium, with English widely used in medicine, engineering, technology, and business (IELTS/TOEFL).
- Work & afterStudents generally can’t work (any exception needs a university-arranged permit); post-study work requires an employer-initiated work and residence permit; degrees are internationally regarded.
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal or immigration advice. Jordanian rules, tuition, and funds change; confirm all details with the Study in Jordan portal (Ministry of Higher Education), your university, and the Jordanian mission.
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