The University of Petra is located in the western district of the Jordanian capital city of Amman. It is a private institution which was founded in 1991 as Jordan University for Women, but took its present name when it started admitting male students in 1999.
With the slogan "A bridge towards knowledge", it aspires to be “The ‘university of choice" in Jordan.
There are eight faculties including information technology; architecture and design; administrative and financial sciences; arts and sciences; law; pharmacy and medical sciences; mass communication and engineering. Among the newer courses on offer is animation and multimedia which was launched in 2016.
The humanities are taught in Arabic and English is used as the teaching medium in most of the other disciplines. New students undergo Arabic, English and IT assessment tests to specify their levels and are provided with intensive bridging courses if needed.
The campus is well equipped with modern facilities such as workplaces, laboratories, ceremonies and studios.
There is a strong international emphasis, with around a quarter of students coming from 33 different overseas countries.
A priority in recent years has been the development of a Green Campus. Solar power was adopted in 2015 and the campus, which has its own artesian well and the water is treated so that it is suitable for drinking. The campus and has been pedestrianised and the university has its own sewage treatment plant. The aim is to use their own innovations in science, technology and energy to ensure that the university is green.
