OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1875 by the Society of Jesus, Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) is a private Lebanese university with public utility status. It counts 13 faculties: Religious Studies, Medicine, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Nursing Science, Engineering and Architecture, Law and Political Science, Economics, Business, Humanities, Science, Education, and Languages and Translation. It also includes 14 specialized institutes and 9 schools affiliated with its various faculties. Teaching is delivered either at its campuses in Beirut or at its regional campuses: the North Lebanon Campus in Tripoli, the South Lebanon Campus in Saida, and the Zahle and Beqaa Campus in Zahle. 

USJ oversees Hôtel-Dieu de France (HDF), its university medical center, along with its hospital network. Medical students, interns, and residents receive hands-on clinical training at hospitals affiliated with or accredited by the Faculty of Medicine. The University also manages the Dental Care Center, the Center for Diagnosis and Therapy in Speech and Language Therapy, the Center for Diagnosis, Therapy and Research in Psychomotor Therapy, and the University Center for Psychological Support.

USJ sustains several institutes and associations affiliated to it, including Berytech Technological Park, Health Technology Pole (PTS), and Recherche et Développement SARL.

USJ’s mission encompasses three main dimensions: advancing knowledge through research, transmitting knowledge through teaching, and placing knowledge at the service of society. USJ defines itself as a Francophone institution that promotes multiculturalism and trilingualism (French, English, and Arabic), while actively fostering innovation and digital transformation. Accessible to students from all social backgrounds and communities, and dedicated to serving both the country and the wider region, USJ integrates into its teaching and research a sustained engagement with sustainable development, human rights, justice, democracy, intercultural dialogue, and the search for meaning. International in outlook, the University draws strength from the global network of Jesuit and Catholic universities. Its vision and mission are anchored in the Jesuit educational tradition and guided by principles of autonomy, collaboration, participation, freedom of conscience, political independence, and social responsibility. Together, these values sustain a commitment to academic, professional, and ethical excellence, supported by a strong intellectual and cultural foundation that fosters personal growth and the development of each individual. 

Saint Joseph University of Beirut was awarded unconditional international institutional accreditation by ACQUIN in March 2019. In 2025, the University successfully renewed this accreditation, again without conditions, for an eight-year term. Many of the University’s faculties and academic units have also secured either institutional accreditation or accreditation for specific programs.

This accreditation is of significant importance for higher education institutions. It delivers clear and lasting benefits to USJ’s students, alumni, instructors, and partners, while consolidating its position at the national, regional, and international levels. It strengthens the University’s position in national, regional, and international rankings, enhances graduates’ competitiveness in the job market, supports academic mobility, and facilitates the development of partnerships with leading universities and international organizations.