Private university
Private universities and private colleges are higher education institutions not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. However, they often receive tax breaks, public student loans, and government grants. Depending on the country, private universities may be subject to government regulations. Private universities may be contrasted with public universities and national universities which are either operated, owned or institutionally funded by governments. Additionally, many private universities operate as nonprofit organizations.
Across the world, different countries have different regulations regarding accreditation for private universities and as such, private universities are more common in some countries than in others. Some countries do not have any private universities at all.
Africa
Egypt
currently has 21 public universities with about two million students and 23 private universities with 60,000 students.Egypt has many private universities including the American University in Cairo, the German University in Cairo, The British University in Egypt, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Misr University for Science and Technology, Misr International University, Future University in Egypt and the Modern Sciences and Arts University.
In addition to the state-funded national and private universities in Egypt, international university institutions were founded in the New Administrative Capital and are hosting branches of Universities from abroad. The Knowledge Hub and European Universities in Egypt are among these institutions.
Ethiopia
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church doctrine embraces traditional higher institutions in Ethiopia. Modern higher education could be traced back to the regime of Emperor Haile Selassie, with the first university, the University College of Addis Ababa, formed in 1950. In 1954, the Haramaya University opened.As of 2022, there are 83 private universities, 42 public universities, and more than 35 institutions of higher learning.
Ghana
There were a few private universities in Ghana before the beginning of the 21st century. However, since then, Ghana has seen a surge in the establishment of private universities and colleges – a reflection of the country's stable governance and the pace of economic growth. Most of these universities are not known to be sponsored by foreign corporate organizations or government universities, and the aim is to avoid the Ghanaian government's excessive payment of bonds, which is a requirement for all foreign institutions endeavoring to operate businesses in the country. Almost all the private universities in Ghana focus on similar areas of academic study, including business administration, human resources, accounting, information technology, and related fields, which are offered by universities like Ashesi, Regent, Valley View, Ghana Telecom, and others. In addition, the recent discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities has influenced the development of oil and gas management courses within the private universities' curricula.Kenya
The Commission for Higher Education in Kenya is the institution responsible for acknowledging universities as private. There are currently 33 private universities in Kenya.Libya
has several recognized private education institutions and universities that the Ministry of Higher Education has approved. They are ranked and qualified to specialize in academic programs in Business Administration, Computer Science, Law, Medicine, and Humanitarianism.Nigeria
The National Universities Commission of Nigeria holds the responsibility to approve private universities and accredit their courses. This ensures a minimum standard in curriculum and teaching. There are currently 60 approved private universities in Nigeria, and many applications are being processed.South Africa
In South Africa, only public institutions can be classified as a 'university'; and there are many distinctions between public schools and what are officially termed private higher education institutions. Recognised private higher education institutions include Akademia, Regent Business School, Eduvos, Varsity College, Vega School, Milpark Education, Midrand Graduate Institute, and Regenesys Business School.Asia and Middle East
Bangladesh
Numerous private universities have been established in Bangladesh since the enactment of the Private University Act, 1992, which was later repealed and replaced by the Private University Act, 2010. The 2010 Act introduced a structured regulatory framework for private higher education, requiring each institution to establish a Board of Trustees, Syndicate, and Academic Council. It also mandates that a university may receive provisional approval for up to seven years, after which permanent certification is granted if the university meets the prescribed academic and infrastructural standards.All private universities must obtain approval from the University Grants Commission before commencing operations, and their programmes and curricula are subject to UGC oversight. As of April 2025, there are 109 approved private universities operating across Bangladesh.
Brunei
Private institutions must confer the students with external programs such as BDTVEC, the largest awarding body in the country, BTEC, and Cambridge International Examinations pathways. Accreditation by the Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council is crucial to establish a private institution.Cambodia
Private universities have been established in Cambodia since 1997.China
Since 2003, joint-partnership private universities have been established in the People's Republic of China. Typically, the partners may include a Chinese university and a non-Chinese institution. English is often the only language of instruction at such universities and many focus on providing a comprehensive liberal arts education modeled after research universities in the United States and Europe.India
Universities in India are recognized by the University Grants Commission, which draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Private universities in India are regulated under the UGC Regulations, 2003. Per the UGC act and these regulations, private universities are established by acts of state legislative assemblies and listed by the UGC in the Gazette upon receiving the relevant act. As confirmed by the ruling of the Supreme Court of India, recognition by the UGC is required for the university to operate. Also, per the 2003 regulations, the UGC sends committees to inspect the state private universities and publishes their inspection report.The UGC publishes and regularly updates the lists of state private universities., the UGC lists 471 state private universities.
Japan
, Japan had 597 private universities, 86 national universities, and 95 public universities. Private universities thus account for over 75% of all universities in Japan. A large number of junior colleges in Japan are private and like public and national universities, many private universities use National Center Test for University Admissions as an entrance exam.Jordan
There is one private university in Madaba city, the American University of Madaba.Kuwait
There are 11 private universities and colleges in Kuwait.Lebanon
There are 19 private universities in Lebanon. Among these, the American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University are internationally acknowledged.The languages used for teaching in private universities are mainly French and English; Arabic is widely used in religious universities and Armenian is used in the Armenian university.
The first university opened in Lebanon was the Syrian Protestant College in 1866. It was founded by Daniel Bliss, a Protestant missionary. The second university opened in Lebanon was the Université Saint-Joseph, founded by the Jesuits in 1875.
Oman
is home to several private universities, including Sohar University, the University of Nizwa, Middle East College, and the German University of Technology in Oman. These universities offer a range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in fields such as business, engineering, and information technology. Private universities in Oman offer a more personalized and interactive learning experience, as the student-teacher ratio is typically lower and there are more opportunities for hands-on learning. Additionally, private universities in Oman often have more flexible curricula and can respond quickly to changing labor markets and global trends.All private universities in Oman must be recognized by the Omani Ministry of Higher Education to offer degree programs and receive approval for new degrees. The Ministry has procedures and standards that all universities must meet to receive accreditation and recognition as an institution of higher education.
Pakistan
The Higher Education Commission, formerly the University Grant Commission, is the primary regulator of higher education in Pakistan. It also facilitates the development of the higher educational system in Pakistan. Its main purpose is to upgrade the schools to be world-class centers of education, research, and development. It also plays a leading role in building a knowledge-based economy in Pakistan by giving out hundreds of doctoral scholarships for education abroad every year.Despite the criticism of the HEC, its creation had a positive impact on higher education in Pakistan. Its two-year report for 2004 to 2006 states that according to the Institute of Scientific Information, the total number of publications appearing in the 8,000 leading journals indexed in the Web of Science arising out of Pakistan in 2005 was 1,259 articles, representing a 41% increase over the past two years and a 60% increase since the establishment of HEC in 2002. The HEC digital library now provides access to over 20,000 leading research journals, covering about 75% of the world's peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Until 1991, there were only two recognized private universities in Pakistan: Aga Khan University, established in 1983, and Lahore University of Management Sciences, established in 1985. By 1997, there were 10 private universities. From 2001 to 2002, this number had doubled to 20. Among the first to gain degree awarding status was Hajvery University, Lahore, established in 1990. From 2003 to 2004, Pakistan had a total of 83 private degree-granting institutions.