Azerbaijan University is a private higher education institution located in Azerbaijan. It was established in 1991 as the Higher Humanitarian College, which was founded on July 16, 1991, following an order issued by the
Minister of Public Education and the General Assembly of the Higher Humanitarian College. The institution initially operated as a
college before transitioning into a private university under the name Azerbaijan University in January 1993. The university went through a series of official recognitions and registrations. On March 3, 1993, it was included in the State Register No. 01 after being approved by the State Higher Expert Commission (SHEC). A further decision by the Collegium of the Ministry of Education, dated April 8, 1993. Following the establishment of a new State Supreme Expert Commission in September 1994, the university received a license from the
Ministry of Education, confirming its continued operation as a private higher education institution. On March 4, 1995, the
Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan officially recognized the university. Over the years, Azerbaijan University has undergone multiple accreditations and evaluations by the relevant government bodies. On February 24, 2009, the university was officially re-accredited by the Accreditation Commission of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Following this, a special approval for the university's continued operation was granted on July 10, 2009, under Order No. 929 from the Minister of Education, allowing the university to function for another five years. Later, in 2016, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan approved the university's continued operation without a time limit. Another re-accreditation took place on July 20, 2018, when the university was granted approval to function for an additional five-year period. The academic structure of Azerbaijan University has expanded over time. In 1997, the university introduced a
master's degree program. By 2003, it had started offering doctoral and dissertation training at the
Ph.D. level. Since 2006, the university has operated in accordance with the
Bologna Process, which standardizes higher education systems across
Europe. As part of this, it has implemented the
European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which ensures compatibility with international education standards. Additionally, in 2009, the Ministry of Education designated Azerbaijan University as a pilot institution for the implementation of a credit-multiple-point system. At present, Azerbaijan University consists of three
faculties, seven
academic departments, and six
research centers. It offers a range of
undergraduate,
graduate, and
doctoral programs, with instruction available in both
Azerbaijani and
English. Students enrolled in English-language programs are required to complete a one-year language preparatory course before beginning their main studies. The university also participates in international academic exchange programs, including
Erasmus+, Mevlana, and
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), which allow students and faculty members to engage in academic mobility with universities in
Turkey,
Germany, and various
European countries. Since 2019, Azerbaijan University has partnered with
Kharkiv National University of Radioelectronics in
Ukraine to offer an International
Dual Diploma Program in computer engineering, covering both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2021, the two institutions expanded their cooperation by establishing a joint teaching-research laboratory focused on information security. The university also operates an Intra-University Two Diploma Program (IUTDP), which enables students to earn two diplomas in different fields of study within a period of four years. In addition to its degree programs, Azerbaijan University functions as an official accredited test center for the
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), an internationally recognized certification for computer proficiency. It also serves as a
Pearson Test of English (PTE) sub-center, where English language proficiency exams are administered. Throughout its history, Azerbaijan University has been led by several rectors. From 1991 to 2006, the university was headed by
Salahaddin Khalilov, a
Doctor of Philosophy and Corresponding Member of ANAS. He was followed by Farahim Sadigov, a professor of Pedagogical Sciences, who served in 2006–2007. Other past rectors include Akif Musayev (2007–2011), Aslan Kahramanli (2011–2012), Eldar Kahramanov (2012–2015), and Farid Ahmadov (2015–2017). The current rector, Saadat Aliyeva, was appointed on March 13, 2017. ==Campus==