Syria’s new rulers restrict women’s access to universities
Quick Look
Syria's transitional government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has barred women from enrolling in military engineering, legal and social sciences, management, and economics programs at the National University for Defense Sciences and restricted access at the Syrian University for Security Sciences and technical institutes for the 2026-2027 academic year, drawing criticism from students and educators despite a constitutional guarantee of women's right to education.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Ahmed al-Sharaa, former leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, became transitional president of Syria in January 2025 after the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December 2024, pledging to build an inclusive government despite implementing restrictions on women's university enrollment.
Syria’s new Islamist government has barred women from enrolling in several university and technical programs, drawing public criticism.
The rules for the 2026-2027 academic year affect several institutions, including two universities established in July under Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa, a former leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), rose to power following the overthrow of Bashar Assad in December 2024. He was appointed transitional president in January 2025 and has since pledged to build an inclusive government.
According to documents published by the Ministry of Higher Education, women are excluded from military engineering programs, as well as legal and social sciences, management, and economics at the National University for Defense Sciences. Another institution, the Syrian University for Security Sciences, reserves several programs for men, although women remain eligible to study cybersecurity.
The restrictions extend to technical institutes specializing in oil and gas, railway transport and radio and television directing. Under the previous academic year’s rules, women could still enroll in certain oil and gas programs, including accounting and precision instruments.
Criticism has come from students and educators. “No one has the right to force me to choose a particular field of study or exclude me from another,” Israa Salloum, a high school graduate preparing to apply to university, told AFP.
A constitutional declaration adopted in March 2025 guarantees women’s right to education.
The rules contrast with recent efforts to expand women’s participation in law enforcement. In September, Syria graduated its first class of 150 female police officers following six months of training.
Since taking power, Syria’s new authorities have faced criticism over measures affecting women’s freedoms. In September, a prominent Damascus school reportedly announced plans to separate male and female students from middle school onward. Four feminist and civil society organizations also accused the authorities in August of restricting freedoms and imposing forms of social control that particularly affect women.
The new admission rules do not include a blanket ban on women studying law or engineering, with such programs remaining available at other Syrian universities.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
International human rights bodies will issue formal statements criticizing Syria's education restrictions
Likely · Within weeks
Syrian women's rights organizations will increase advocacy and documentation efforts
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How will these restrictions affect Syria's long-term human capital development?
- What is the legal basis for overriding the March 2025 constitutional guarantee of women's right to education?
- Will international actors impose sanctions or diplomatic pressure in response to these education restrictions?
- How do these policies align with Syria's stated goals of rebuilding inclusive institutions post-Assad?
