Morocco, whose coasts are bathed by the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, has influences from the Berber, the Arab, the Jewish, the Spanish, and the French. This makes it the perfect destination for international students, who will benefit from its rich culture, history, and traditions.
To attract international students, the Moroccan government has made important efforts to improve education, form more professionals, and reduce the illiteracy rates, which translates into better universities that are affordable. When you look at history, Morocco has the oldest university in the world, and it is Karaouine University, which has been operating since the year 859.
Unfortunately, the public universities in Morocco don’t publish the tuition fees for international students publically. There are private universities in Morocco that do, but those are generally much more expensive than their public counterparts. Thus, we’ve used third-party aggregators and information for these tuition fees, so you do need to double-check these figures with the university if you are interested in attending. Now, let’s go over the affordable universities in Morocco for international students.
Affordable Schools in Morocco for International Students
1. Mohammed V University (UM5)
- Tuition Fees: from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Bachelor’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Master’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Doctoral)
Mohammed V University (UM5) is a major public university in Rabat offering a broad spectrum of degrees across arts and humanities, law and economics, sciences, and engineering. Administration is primarily in Arabic and French, with an expanding set of English‑taught options in STEM and business. Students benefit from accessible tuition, active student clubs, research centers aligned with regional priorities, and campuses typically located near historic districts and transport hubs.
2. Hassan II University of Casablanca (UH2C)
- Tuition Fees: from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Bachelor’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Master’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Doctoral)
Hassan II University of Casablanca (UH2C) is a major public university in Casablanca offering a broad spectrum of degrees across arts and humanities, law and economics, sciences, and engineering. Administration is primarily in Arabic and French, with an expanding set of English‑taught options in STEM and business. Students benefit from accessible tuition, active student clubs, research centers aligned with regional priorities, and campuses typically located near historic districts and transport hubs.
3. Cadi Ayyad University (UCA)
- Tuition Fees: from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Bachelor’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Master’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Doctoral)
Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) is a major public university in Marrakesh offering a broad spectrum of degrees across arts and humanities, law and economics, sciences, and engineering. Administration is primarily in Arabic and French, with an expanding set of English‑taught options in STEM and business. Students benefit from accessible tuition, active student clubs, research centers aligned with regional priorities, and campuses typically located near historic districts and transport hubs.
4. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA)
- Tuition Fees: from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Bachelor’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Master’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Doctoral)
Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University (USMBA) is a major public university in Fez offering a broad spectrum of degrees across arts and humanities, law and economics, sciences, and engineering. Administration is primarily in Arabic and French, with an expanding set of English‑taught options in STEM and business. Students benefit from accessible tuition, active student clubs, research centers aligned with regional priorities, and campuses typically located near historic districts and transport hubs.
5. Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (UAE)
- Tuition Fees: from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Bachelor’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Master’s) | from 9,000–48,000 MAD/year (Doctoral)
Abdelmalek Essaâdi University (UAE) is a major public university in Tetouan & Tangier offering a broad spectrum of degrees across arts and humanities, law and economics, sciences, and engineering. Administration is primarily in Arabic and French, with an expanding set of English‑taught options in STEM and business. Students benefit from accessible tuition, active student clubs, research centers aligned with regional priorities, and campuses typically located near historic districts and transport hubs.
FAQS About Studying in Morocco
How Is the Higher Education System in Morocco?
Universities in Morocco are divided into public and private, and as of right now, there are 15 public institutions and a growing number of private colleges. Although private universities outnumber public ones, public universities continue to provide a better education. Actually, less than 5% of students are enrolled at private universities. Medicine, engineering, and business administration are the areas that are growing the most in higher education, and last but not least, there are also some schools that specialize in a field, such as music conservatories.
How is the Admission Process in Moroccan Universities?
In order to be admitted to most universities, students will have to submit the required documents along with a revalidated high school diploma. However, for highly specialized programs, like medicine or engineering, universities often require applicants to take an entrance test. After being accepted into admissions, the application for a student visa must be done right after you receive your acceptance letter. The process is not very complicated as it mainly consists of submitting certain documents and paying the fees.
What Is the Language of Instruction at Moroccan Universities?
During the 19th century, France and Spain were strongly interested in Morocco. After different disputes, Morocco became a French protectorate in 1912, which ended in 1956. This is why French is used as the language of instruction during secondary and higher education, even when the official languages are Arabic and Berber. However, the population and authorities have emphasized the importance of English, and many universities are including English programs in their academic curriculum. Even if your program is taught in English, we highly recommend learning a little bit of French or Arabic since that will help you as you go outside of the school campus.
How Much Are Tuition Fees in Morocco?
Tuition fees will obviously depend on the university you choose. Although there have been attempts to charge higher prices, these have failed, and in general, most universities are very affordable. You can expect to pay up to 5,000 USD per semester, but for most universities in Morocco, the tuition fees are cheaper than $5,000 USD, which can be of help to international applicants.
Is Living in Morocco Expensive?
In Morocco, the living fees are pretty low since it is really cheap to rent an apartment, and even cheaper when it comes to buying food. The tricky part about living in Morocco is transportation. Since there’s no metro in the big cities, buses are usually very crowded, which can make your travel quite uncomfortable. However, there are also grand and petit taxis. The former carries up to six different passengers and can be a little bit dangerous since there’s no seatbelt and drivers don’t really follow most traffic regulations. Petit taxis are for one client and are in better condition, but be aware and ask the price in advance. Don’t let them overcharge you!
We hope that this article on the cheap universities in Morocco was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
