Université de Skikda

Situated in Algeria's third-largest port on the Mediterranean, the Université de Skikda reflects its colonial history, both in name and location.

Originally, the university's campus housed the school of agriculture and viticulture, known as Philippeville during the French colonial rule until 1962. Instead of commemorating an independence struggle hero, the university chose to honour the date of August 20, 1955, a significant moment in the conflict, marked by a massacre and subsequent French reprisals in Philippeville.

Established as a University Centre in 1998, the institution experienced rapid growth, achieving full university status in 2001, enrolling over 10,000 students by the 2002 academic year. This steady growth has continued, with current enrolment surpassing 30,000.

The university comprises six faculties, with science and technology being the largest, followed by humanities and social science, natural and life sciences, letters and languages, economics, management, and commerce, and law and political science. Postgraduate enrolment has also seen significant increases over the years.

The university boasts a strong representation of female students, with women being the majority in most faculties, especially in humanities and social science and natural and life science.

It also welcomes international students, with 92 overseas students, primarily hailing from Palestine and West Sahara. The campus includes a botanical garden and several specialist gardens, including exotic and Mexican gardens.