University of Damascus

The University of Damascus (Arabic: جامعة دمشق jāmi‘at dimashq) is the largest and oldest university in Syria, located in the capital Damascus; it also has smaller campuses in other Syrian cities. It was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913). Until 1958 it was named the Syrian University, but the name changed after the founding of the University of Aleppo. There are nine public universities and more than ten private ones in Syria. Damascus University is one of the seven premier universities of the Arab Union, and one of its most reputable universities, probably second only to Gamal Abdel Nasser University, although this is contested by al-Quds University (the Arabic-language university in Jerusalem).

The University of Damascus consists of several faculties, higher institutes, intermediate institutes and a school of nursing. One of the institutions specialises in teaching the Arabic language to foreigners, which is the largest institution of its kind in the Arab Union. The Faculty of Medicine is considered one of the best in the Arab Union; it runs Damascus University Hospital, which is considered one of the best teaching hospitals in the Arab Union.