University meets selective order
More than 70% of Algerian high school graduates were placed in one of their top three university choices, according to Higher Education Minister Kamel Baddari.
In a press conference held in Algiers, Baddari revealed that 97.34% of the 2025 baccalaureate holders 331,827 students were successfully oriented during the first phase of university pre-registration. Of these, 70.30% secured a spot in one of their preferred fields.
A striking trend emerged: 65.30% of students chose scientific and technological disciplines, underscoring a national shift toward STEM fields. This aligns with the ninth strategic axis of the 2024–2025 presidential program, which aims to strengthen human capital in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as drivers of a knowledge-based economy.
In a groundbreaking move, the ministry announced that 40,000 university graduates will be directly integrated into the workforce, primarily in health and education. Of these, 32,000 spots are allocated to students in Écoles normales supérieures (ENS), who will be placed in schools upon graduation.
Top-performing students those with “very good” or “excellent” grades were placed in elite institutions such as the National School of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences. This reflects a deliberate strategy to channel talent into future-oriented sectors.
The ministry also addressed equity by creating 50 new academic tracks, including 14 tailored for students from literary backgrounds. As a result, 3,357 literary graduates were able to access scientific programs aligned with emerging needs in services, digital industries, and creative sectors. A notable innovation is the introduction of a medical English degree for first-year medical students, to be offered at the upcoming University of Health Sciences.
The data presented signals a qualitative transformation in Algeria’s higher education landscape, driven by a strategic alignment between academic offerings, student ambitions, and national development priorities.