Education system
J ordan
described and compared with the Dutch system Education system | Evaluation chart
Education system Jordan
This document contains information on the education system in Jordan. We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Jordan for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education.
Disclaimer We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of errors or incomplete information in this document.
With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence. Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/home/copyright for more information on the reuse of this publication.
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Education system Jordan
Education system Jordan
PhD L8 اﻟ دﻛﺗوراة (university education) 3-5
Master L7 Higher Diploma L7
دﺑﻠوم اﻟ دراﺳﺎت اﻟﻌﻠﯾﺎ اﻟﻣﺎﺟﺳﺗﯾر postgraduate (university education) (university education)
2 1-2
Bachelor L6 Intermediate Diploma L5 اﻟ دﺑﻠوم اﻟﻣ ﺗوﺳط اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس (university education) (community college)
undergraduate 4-6 2-3
General Secondary L4 Vocational Secondary L3 Vocational training L2 ﺗدرﯾب ﻣﮭﻧﻲ Education Certificate Education Certificate secondary vocational) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟ دراﺳﺔ اﻟ ﺛﺎ ﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟ دراﺳﺔ اﻟ ﺛﺎ ﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ (education اﻷردﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ
2 2 1-2
L1 Basic education
10
0 Duration of education
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Evaluation chart
The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common qualifications applicable to admission to higher education. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the comparable levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks.
Foreign degree or Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF qualification level
General Secondary HAVO diploma 4 4 Education Certificate
ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ
Vocational Secondary MBO diploma (qualification level 2 2-3 2-3 or 3) Education Certificate
ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ اﻷردﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ
Bachelor (4 years) HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years 6 6 of WO اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس
Bachelor (5 years) WO bachelor’s degree 6 6 اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس
Bachelor (6 years) 1 year of a 3-year WO master’s 6 6 degree اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس
Master 1-year HBO or WO master’s degree 7 7
اﻟﻣﺎﺟﺳﺗﯾر
NB • The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from which no rights may be derived. • NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework; EQF = European Qualifications Framework. • The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content, however it does give an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a certain programme of study. • Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our website: the Dutch education system. • The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB), evaluates foreign qualifications and vocational training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands.
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Education system Jordan
Introduction
Jordan is a country in the Middle East. Its official name is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Political structure Jordan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1946. It is a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral legislature and judiciary. The head of state is King Abdullah II, who succeeded his father upon his death in 1999.
Conflict in Syria Due to conflicts in Syria since 2011, refugees have been crossing the border to Jordan in large numbers. This has put pressure on the Jordanian government, particularly since these extra people wish to make use of the infrastructure, food and water facilities, and education.
Language Jordan’s official language is Arabic. Many people also speak good English.
Education All Jordanian primary and secondary schools (including private schools) are The Ministry of Higher .(وزارة اﻟﺗﻌﻠﯾم واﻟﺗرﺑﯾﺔ) regulated by the Ministry of Education is responsible for (وزارة اﻟﺗﻌﻠﯾم اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻲ واﻟﺑﺣث اﻟﻌﻠﻣﻲ) Education and Scientific Research higher education in Jordan.
General features • Compulsory school age: 6-16 years • Language of education: Arabic and English. • Length of the academic year: September to June.
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Primary and secondary education
Primary education Primary (basic) education in Jordan lasts 10 years (grades 1-10) and is intended for children aged 6 to 16. • Public schools: free (70% of all students). • Private schools: school fees (30% of all primary school students). • Various subjects, including English in grades 5-10. • No certificate is issued on completion. • Level upon completion: comparable to 3 years of HAVO.
Secondary education Secondary education takes 2 years. Pupils can choose between: • general secondary education; • vocational secondary education.
General secondary education offers 3 streams: • sciences • literature • information management .(اﻟﺗوﺟﯾﮭﻲ) Students conclude their studies with a national final exam • Content: usually 10 exam subjects. Arabic, English, mathematics, and Islamic education and cultural studies are compulsory; the remaining subjects vary according to the stream. (General Secondary Education Certificate) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ : Qualification
In terms of level, the General Secondary Education Certificate is comparable to a HAVO diploma.
Vocational secondary education consists of: • vocational subjects • general subjects About one-quarter of pupils choose this pathway after basic education. Vocational Secondary) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻻردﻧﯾﺔ : Qualification Education Certificate). This diploma grants admission to community colleges, and in principle also to universities, although this is uncommon in practice.
In terms of level, a Vocational Secondary Education Certificate is comparable to an MBO diploma at qualification level 2 or 3, depending on the specialisation.
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Secondary vocational education Students in Jordan can also opt for a 1 or 2-year vocational training programme that combines schooling with work placements.
Admission to higher education
Admission to higher education in Jordan requires a General Secondary Education Certificate or Vocational Secondary Education Certificate. Students with the latter qualification usually continue their studies at community colleges (see Higher professional education).
Institutions select students based on their average final exam mark and stream. Students generally do not need to take an admission exam.
Admission requirements Each year, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research determines: • the number of available places within a faculty; • the exact entry scores for various fields of study.
The requirements therefore differ between fields, however the following generally applies: • public universities: a score of at least 65%; • private universities: a score of at least 60%. NB Prerequisite scores are highest for medicine, dentistry, engineering and the natural sciences.
Higher education
Jordanian higher education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, with the Council for Higher Education being the coordinating body.
The University of Jordan became the country’s first public university in 1962. Recognised private universities have been authorised to provide education since 1989. Current institution numbers: • 10 public universities • 20 private universities • 2 regional universities
The universities offer both professional and academic education, at different levels: • Bachelor • Higher Diploma • Master • PhD
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Universities design their study programmes themselves. The Higher Education Accreditation Commission (HEAC, a division of the responsible ministry) sets the official curriculum guidelines. The academic year is divided into 2 semesters, with a total study load of 32 weeks; an academic semester consists of 15-17 weeks. Each credit represents 1 contact hour per week of the semester. In the summer holidays students can take up to 9 credits during a third, optional semester.
The language of education is Arabic. Due to the growing number of international programmes, some study programmes are also offered in English.
In addition to universities, Jordan also has a large number of community colleges, that mainly provide higher professional education programmes. Since 1997, all community colleges have fallen under the auspices of Al Balqa Applied University.
University education
As mentioned, the universities offer both professional and academic education in a variety of programmes.
Bachelor’s programmes • Duration: - 4 years, around 132 credits; - 5 years for dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, architecture and veterinary science; - 6 years + 1 year internship for medicine (Medical Doctor). • Content: introductory subjects during the first year, and usually a final project. • Objective: further study or entry to the labour market. the field of study. Universities + (اﻟﺒﻜﺎﻟﻮرﯾﻮس) Qualification: bachelor’s degree also often provide diplomas in English (in addition to Arabic).
In terms of level, a bachelor’s degree from a 4-year programme is comparable to an HBO bachelor’s degree or two years of university education (WO), depending on the type of study.
In terms of level, a bachelor’s degree from a 5-year programme in dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, architecture or veterinary science is comparable to a WO bachelor’s degree in the same field.
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In terms of level, a bachelor’s degree from a 6-year medicine programme is comparable to 1 year of a 3-year WO master's in medicine.
After their bachelor’s programme, students can continue studying for: • a Higher Diploma, or a Master’s.
Higher Diploma • Duration: 1-2 year professionally-oriented programme, usually at least 24 credits. • Admission: not particularly selective. This pathway is not popular, as a Higher Diploma does not grant access to a doctorate (although in principle it does grant access to a master's programme). .(Higher Diploma) دﺑﻠوم اﻟدراﺳﺎت اﻟﻌﻠﯾﺎ : Qualification
Master • Duration: 2 years, around 33 credits. • Content: a final project with a thesis or final exam. • Admission: a bachelor in a relevant field, a minimum score of ‘good’, and a desired level of English demonstrated by a minimum score in TOEFL-IBT, IELTS or the National TOEFL exam of the English language (score requirements vary per study programme). with a title such as Master of Arts or ,(اﻟﻣﺎﺟﺳﺗﯾر) Qualification: master’s degree Master of Science. However there are many other titles that indicate the field in which the degree was obtained, such as a Master of Laws, Master in Communications Engineering, or a Master of Education.
In terms of level, a Master is comparable to a completed 1-year HBO or
WO master’s degree, depending on the type of study programme.
PhD • Duration: minimum 3 years, maximum 5 years; 54 credits • Content: primarily research and a dissertation, usually also includes coursework. • Admission: a master’s degree in the same subject area, with a score of at least ‘very good’. (اﻟدﻛﺗوراة) Qualification: PhD A PhD is comparable to a doctorate issued in the Netherlands.
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Higher professional education
A General Secondary Education Certificate or Vocational Secondary Education Certificate also allows students to continue on to public and private community colleges, that provide higher professional education (see Overview of higher education institutions). • Duration: 2 or 3 years, 72 or 92 credits. • Content: a programme on various subjects, such as art, science, management, business administration and engineering, concluding with a comprehensive exam. Intermediate Diploma). This certificate is also known) اﻟدﺑﻠوم اﻟﻣﺗوﺳط : Qualification in Jordan as an Associate Degree.
Assessment systems
Jordanian education uses 2 different systems to assess results: • Percentages are used in primary and secondary schools and higher education; the minimum pass mark for subjects is 50%. • Higher education also uses number and letter grades; the system used by universities may vary between institutions or even faculties.
Higher education, numbers and letters:
In letters In numbers Percentage
A 4.0 95%-100%
A- 3.67 90%- <95%
B+ 3.33 85% -<90%
B 3.0 80%-<85%
B- 2.67 75% -<80%
C+ 2.33 70%-<75%
C 2.0 65%-<70%
C- 1.67 60%-<65%
D+ 1.33 55%-<60%
D 1 50%-<55%
D- 0.67 < 50%
F 0 < 50%
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Higher education, percentage system:
Percentage Assessment
90%-100% Excellent
80%-89% Very good
70%-79% Good
60%-69% Fair
50%-59% Weak
35%-49% Fail
Example of the number assessment system used by Al Balqa Applied University:
In numbers In letters
4.00 A
3.50 B+
3.00 B
2.50 C+
2.00 C
1.50 D+
1.00 D
0 F
The cumulative grade average used by community colleges:
Percentage Assessment
84%-100% Excellent
76%-84% Very good
68%-76% Good
60%-68% Fair
50%-60% Weak
< 50% Fail
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Qualification frameworks
Jordan is involved in the Erasmus+ project titled Towards a National Qualifications Framework for Jordan, coordinated by the University of Barcelona. The project was launched in 2015, and will run until the end of 2018.
Accreditation and quality assurance
The Ministry of Education is responsible for quality assurance in primary and secondary education.
In 2007, the Higher Education Accreditation Commission (HEAC) became responsible for accreditation and quality assurance in higher education institutions in Jordan. The HEAC website offers information in Arabic.
For accredited institutions, please see the Overview of higher education institutions.
Composition of file
Ideally, a file from Jordan should consist of: • a diploma or certificate of graduation including a list of marks in Arabic; • a translation of both documents.
Sometimes Jordanian higher education institutions will issue a diploma and accompanying list of marks in English. The same applies to the certificates issued for general secondary education.
Jordanian qualifications need to be checked closely for authenticity. When in doubt, contact Nuffic.
Overview of higher education institutions
• Universities and institutes (English) • Universities and institutes (Arabic)
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Education system Jordan
Useful links
• Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (English) • Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Arabic) The Ministry’s website includes the list of public and private higher education institutions.
• Study in Jordan (English & Arabic) A website especially for foreign students where the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research provides useful information about higher education in Jordan.
• Ministry of Education (English) • Ministry of Education (Arabic) The Ministry of Education provides information on primary and secondary education.
• Association of Arab Universities (Arabic) The Association of Arab Universities organises the collaboration among various Arab universities, and is a member of the Arab League.
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