The Education Council approved the admission of 38,131 students into regular bachelor’s programs at public universities for the 2025-2026 academic year. This figure marks a change from the previous period, as public university bachelor's admissions for the 2024-2025 academic year totaled 38,260 students. Decisions regarding these enrollment numbers fall under the authority of the council as it manages access to higher education across Jordan. The new intake levels apply to the upcoming term, reflecting adjustments in the capacity of institutions operating within the country. Official data confirms that the current admission count is lower than the total reported for the prior academic cycle.
Regulating Stagnant Academic Majors
Higher Education Institutions Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission officials implemented new restrictions on enrollment capacity for the 2025-2026 academic year. The reduction rate for admissions to stagnant and oversaturated majors rose to 60% for this period. Azmi Mahafzah indicated that these adjustments aim to align university output with the current labor market needs in Jordan. Students applying to programs categorized as oversaturated will face these stricter intake limits compared to previous cycles. Amman authorities expect these measures to address the long-term imbalance between academic specializations and employment opportunities. Institutions must now adhere to these lower admission ceilings when processing applications for the upcoming term.
Expanding Student Financial Support
Authorities raised the University Student Support Fund allocation to JD40 million in August 2026. This financial expansion follows consistent growth in the total funding provided to students across Jordan. The allocation for the University Student Support Fund reached JD30 million in 2025. These figures mark an increase from the 2024 academic year, when the fund’s total budget stood at JD20 million. The distribution of these resources assists students enrolled in higher education programs by providing direct financial support. The government maintains these funding levels to manage the costs associated with university attendance.
Historical Impact of Support Fund
Jordanian authorities nominated 64,841 students for domestic scholarships and loans for the 2025-2026 academic year. This figure represents the total number of individuals selected to receive financial assistance through the established national aid programs for that term.
Data regarding the long-term reach of these initiatives shows that the University Student Support Fund provided assistance to more than 747,000 students between 2004 and the end of 2025. The cumulative expenditure for this support reached approximately JD687.5 million over that 21-year period. These distributions served to offset costs for students across various higher education institutions in the country.
Minister of Education and Human Resources Azmi Mahafzah initiated a planning phase for institutional budgeting in March 2026. During this time, Azmi Mahafzah called on public university presidents to prepare financial plans covering the years 2026 to 2029. These documents are intended to guide the fiscal management of public universities as they operate within the framework of the national higher education system.