The Islamic University of Gaza – First in the Strip and 83rd in the Arab Region in QS 2026 | Faculties, Programs, Admission, and Graduate Studies

The Islamic University of Gaza 2026 | Programs, Faculties, Graduate Studies, and Global Ranking

Islamic University of Gaza

The Islamic University of Gaza (Islamic University of Gaza – IUG) is an independent Palestinian academic institution founded in 1978 in Gaza City, and was the first university established in the Gaza Strip. It is overseen by the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education and is connected to a network of academic relations with Palestinian, Arab, and international universities and institutions.

The university offers academic programs in the fields of medicine, engineering, information technology, nursing, health sciences, science, arts, Sharia and law, theology, education, and commerce, through 11 faculties. Data published on the official website in August 2026 show that the university offers more than 170 academic programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels.

Official website of the Islamic University of Gaza

The Islamic University of Gaza in Numbers

The university's homepage indicates 171 academic programs and 33 scientific and research centers in the latest published data, while QS indicates the presence of 11 faculties and student data published on the university's page.

History of the Islamic University of Gaza

The Islamic University of Gaza was founded in 1978, at a time when no universities inside the Gaza Strip offered students a university education, and students seeking higher education had to travel outside the Strip, particularly to Egypt.

The university began with three faculties, then gradually expanded to become a multidisciplinary institution comprising 11 faculties and programs at various levels of higher education.

Its academic mission is to provide higher education, scientific research, and community service, with particular attention to the applied aspect and the use of technology in the educational process.

Faculties of the Islamic University of Gaza

The university comprises 11 faculties according to university data and Times Higher Education, as follows:

1. Faculty of Medicine
2. Faculty of Engineering
3. College of Information Technology
4. Faculty of Nursing
5. Faculty of Health Sciences
6. Faculty of Science
7. Faculty of Arts
8. Faculty of Sharia and Law
9. Faculty of Theology
10. Faculty of Education
11. Faculty of Commerce

This structure represents a mix of health, engineering, technological, scientific, humanities, administrative, and religious specializations.

Specializations of the Islamic University of Gaza

The university offers programs in a wide range of academic fields, including:

Medical and Health Majors

• Medicine.
• Nursing.
• Health sciences.
• Applied health specializations and fields.

engineering

• Civil engineering.
• Architectural engineering.
• Electrical engineering.
• Industrial engineering and other engineering fields.

Information Technology

• Computer science.
• Information technology.
• Information systems.
• Computing and digital-technology specializations.

Science

• Mathematics.
• Physics.
• Chemistry.
• Biology and natural sciences.

Business and commerce

• Business Administration.
• Accounting.
• Economics.
• Finance and banking.
• Management Information Systems.

Humanities

• Arabic Language.
• English Language.
• Journalism and media.
• History.
• Geography.
• Psychology.

Sharia and Islamic studies

• Sharia.
• Principles of religion (usul al-din).
• Islamic Studies.
• Law.

The university currently indicates the availability of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, with ongoing development of academic programs to meet community and labor-market needs.

Top Programs at the Islamic University of Gaza

It is difficult to define the “best program” at the university in absolute terms, since evaluating a program depends on the labor market, academic accreditation, students, and scientific research.

However, the fields that form clear pillars of the university's identity can be identified:

1. Engineering and Architecture

Engineering is among the university's oldest academic fields and includes multiple engineering programs. In 2026, the Department of Architecture showed notable academic activity through student projects addressing visions for rebuilding housing in Gaza after the war.

2. Information Technology

Information technology is one of the university's core fields, supported by a system of digital services and e-learning, including the Moodle platform, recorded lectures, and electronic student services.

3. Health Sciences and Medicine

The university comprises the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Faculty of Nursing, and in-person training in the Faculty of Health Sciences laboratories resumed in August 2026, according to the university's official news.

4. Journalism and Media

The university offers programs in media and journalism, and the department's activity is evident in training and media-cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding announced in August 2026 to strengthen media, training, and production aspects.

Graduate Studies at the Islamic University of Gaza

The university offers master's and doctoral programs in a number of academic specializations.

The university's official page confirms that graduate programs include master's and doctoral degrees, and the university announced in June 2026 the opening of applications for graduate programs for the first semester of the academic year 2026/2027.

Graduate study fields include specializations in:

• Education.
• Engineering.
• Information technology.
• Science.
• Commerce and business administration.
• Sharia and law.
• Principles of religion (usul al-din).
• Arts and humanities.
• Health sciences.

The university also announced in August 2026 that applications for graduate programs remain open.

Scientific Research

The university hosts an extensive research system and lists on its official website 33 scientific and research centers.

Research activity covers multiple fields such as:

• Engineering.
• Applied sciences.
• Water and the environment.
• Health and medical sciences.
• Technology and artificial intelligence.
• Social sciences and humanities.
• Education.
• Economics and business administration.

In July 2026, the university participated in a scientific day addressing the management and reuse of treated sludge in Palestine, with support from UNESCO—an example of how some research activities are connected to local environmental and development issues.

The Islamic University of Gaza and the Global Ranking 2026

The year 2026 saw an improvement in the Islamic University of Gaza's presence in several international rankings, with the need to distinguish between the general ranking, sustainability rankings, and regional rankings.

QS Arab Region 2026

The Islamic University of Gaza made progress in QS World University Rankings: Arab Region 2026, where it placed:

83rd in the Arab region

compared to rank 93 in the Arab region in the 2025 edition, meaning it advanced by 10 places in a single year.

It also ranked:

• first among Gaza Strip universities.
• third among Palestinian universities.

The QS Arab Region ranking relies on a set of indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, scientific research, and international cooperation.

QS Arab Region Rankings 2026 – Islamic University of Gaza

The Islamic University of Gaza in QS Sustainability 2026

The Islamic University of Gaza appeared in QS Sustainability Ranking 2026 for the first time, placing in the band:

1401–1500 worldwide

The university's official QS page shows that its 2025 result was 1351–1400 before becoming 1401–1500 in the 2026 edition.

Here, it is important to note that the QS Sustainability Ranking is not the general QS World University Rankings; therefore, the 1401–1500 band should not be used as the university's overall world ranking.

The Islamic University of Gaza in Webometrics 2026

Webometrics results changed between the January and July 2026 editions.

January 2026 edition

The university achieved:

• 1360 worldwide.
• 83rd in the Arab region.
• second among Palestinian universities.

according to the university's announcement in January 2026.

July 2026 Edition

According to the official announcement published in August 2026 regarding the July edition:

• 2865 worldwide.
• 95th in the Arab region.
• 4th in Palestine.
• first among Gaza Strip universities.
• Among Top 9% of universities worldwide based on the number of institutions included in the referenced edition of the ranking.

Webometrics relies on indicators related to digital presence, scientific research, openness, and research excellence; it therefore does not measure the quality of university education in the same way that rankings such as THE or QS measure overall standing.

International Rankings Table 2026

These results show that the university has a presence in more than one international framework, but the QS Arab, QS Sustainability, and Webometrics figures should not be compared as a single measure; each ranking uses a different methodology.

Is the Islamic University of Gaza globally ranked in 2026?

Yes.

However, the result must be stated precisely:

• 83rd in QS Arab Region 2026.
• 1401–1500 globally in QS Sustainability 2026.
• 2865 globally in Webometrics – July 2026.
• 95th in the Arab region in Webometrics – July 2026.

Nor should the QS Sustainability or Webometrics result be regarded as a general ranking equivalent to the QS World University Rankings or THE World University Rankings.

Admission to the Islamic University of Gaza

The university receives applications for admission to its academic programs through the Deanship of Admission and Registration and provides an electronic portal for new students.

In August 2026, the university announced 11 faculties and 168 distinguished academic programs in its admission campaign for new students, while the university's homepage later shows a total of 171 programs; the difference likely reflects an update to the programs or the way they are counted, so it is preferable to rely on the most recent figure on the official page when publishing admission data.

Scholarships are also available for students, and the scholarships announced on the university's website cover areas related to academic excellence, social circumstances, and students' special conditions.

Admission and Registration Portal – Islamic University of Gaza

Digital Transformation and E-Learning

The university has an electronic services system that includes:

• A student services portal.
• The Moodle e-learning system.
• Recorded lectures.
• University email.
• Electronic systems for staff and students.

Previous investment in digital infrastructure helped some educational activities continue during the exceptional circumstances faced by the university and the higher-education sector in Gaza.

The Islamic University of Gaza Under Exceptional Circumstances

The university's performance in 2026 must be understood in its institutional context; its infrastructure sustained extensive damage during the war, yet the university has continued to develop certain educational, research, and digital activities.

University news in August 2026 points to the resumption of in-person training in the Faculty of Health Sciences laboratories, and the holding of academic and engineering activities, alongside projects related to the reconstruction of Gaza.

This context is important when analyzing the university's data, but it should not become a substitute for objective academic indicators when evaluating performance.

An Analytical Reading of the Islamic University of Gaza's Standing

The university's position in 2026 can be read through four axes:

1. Improved Arab-Region Presence

The university's move from 93rd to 83rd in the Arab region in QS Arab Region between 2025 and 2026 represents a clear improvement in its regional position according to the QS methodology.

2. Strength of Digital Presence

The university ranked 2865 globally in Webometrics July 2026, and 95th in the Arab region — an indicator of its continued digital and research presence in the ranking database despite the difficult circumstances.

3. Academic Diversity

The university is no longer an institution specialized in a single field; it comprises 11 faculties and programs in medicine, engineering, information technology, science, health, business, humanities, Sharia, law, and education.

4. Continuity of Academic Activity

Recent official data indicate the continuation of academic programs, graduate studies, scientific research, and practical training, including health, engineering, and digital activities during 2026.

The Islamic University of Gaza 2026: Summary

Alnoor University was founded The Islamic University of Gaza was founded in 1978, and it is one of the principal academic institutions in the Gaza Strip, currently comprising 11 faculties And more than 170 academic programs according to the university's latest published data.

It is distinguished by the diversity of its programs in medicine, engineering, information technology, health sciences, science, business, humanities, Sharia, law, and education, alongside master's and doctoral programs.

As for international rankings in 2026, its most notable results are:

• 83rd in QS Arab Region 2026.
• 1401–1500 globally in QS Sustainability 2026.
• 2865 globally in Webometrics July 2026.
• 95th in the Arab region in Webometrics July 2026.
• 4th in Palestine in Webometrics July 2026.
• First among Gaza Strip universities in QS Arab Region and Webometrics, according to the announced results of the two editions mentioned.

Editorial assessment: When listing the Islamic University of Gaza on the platform Top Arab Universities, it is preferable to highlight its progress in QS Arab Region, its presence in QS Sustainability, its Webometrics results, and its academic and research diversity, while keeping each ranking separate from the others and not converting the results of different rankings into a single global standing.