Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University logo

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University

(PNU)

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia / Riyadh Region / Riyadh
Est. 1970

About

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, formerly Riyadh University for Women, is a public women's university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest women's university in the world. Established in 1970 during the reign of King Faisal bin Abdulalziz, it assumed its current name in 2008 when it was granted university status by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and is named after Noura bint Abdul R...

Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, formerly Riyadh University for Women, is a public women's university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is the largest women's university in the world. Established in 1970 during the reign of King Faisal bin Abdulalziz, it assumed its current name in 2008 when it was granted university status by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and is named after Noura bint Abdul Rahman, elder sister and adviser of King Abdulaziz ibn Saud and the eldest daughter of Abdul Rahman bin Faisal, the last emir of the Second Saudi State.

Ranking Overview

Ranking Snapshot

Ranked Top 301 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems

ARWU #301-400 (2025)
THE #401–500 (2026)

Ranked in 40 subject rankings

QS QS World University Rankings
# 801-850
70
2027
THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings
# 401–500
100
46.2
2026
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities
# 301-400
2025
US News U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
# =521
311
51.8
2026

Key Facts

Students
20,015
Student-Staff Ratio
11.0 : 1
Int'l Students
12%
Female : Male
100 : 0

Historical Trend

Longitudinal View
QS QS
THE THE
ARWU ARWU
US News US News
1 201 401 601 801 1001 1201 1401 1601 1700 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Rank
:
Score:

Top Subjects

Best-performing areas
86
Polymer Science
Top 100
101-150
Mathematics
Top 200
=112
Optics
Top 200
=113
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Top 200
151-200
Metallurgical Engineering
Top 200
151-200
Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Top 200
=180
Condensed Matter Physics
Top 200
185
Green and Sustainable Science and Technology
Top 200
186
Physical Chemistry
Top 200
201-300
Instruments Science & Technology
201-300
Energy Science & Engineering
201-300
Artificial Intelligence
201-300
Agricultural Sciences
201-300
Veterinary Science
201-300
Dentistry

Subject Rankings

Detailed breakdown

US News

19 subjects

ARWU

17 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Mathematics 101-150 - 2025
Metallurgical Engineering 151-200 - 2025
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 151-200 - 2025
Instruments Science & Technology 201-300 - 2023
Energy Science & Engineering 201-300 - 2025
Artificial Intelligence 201-300 - 2025
Agricultural Sciences 201-300 - 2025
Veterinary Science 201-300 - 2025
Dentistry 201-300 - 2024
Nursing 201-300 - 2025
Statistics & Operational Research 201-300 - 2025
Medical Technology 301-400 - 2024
Chemistry 401-500 - 2024
Electrical & Electronic Engineering 401-500 - 2025
Computer Science 401-500 - 2024
Chemical Engineering 401-500 - 2025
Materials Science 401-500 - 2025

THE

7 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Life Sciences 251–300 47.1 2026
Physical Sciences 301–400 43.0 2026
Business & Economics 301–400 39.5 2026
Computer Science 401–500 38.3 2026
Social Sciences 401–500 34.6 2026
Clinical & Health 501–600 33.9 2026
Education & Training 501–600 29.0 2026

QS

6 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 301-350 - 2026
Engineering & Technology 401-450 - 2024
Mathematics 501-600 - 2026
Medicine 551-600 - 2026
Computer Science 601-650 - 2026
Physics & Astronomy 601-675 - 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ranking of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University?

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 801-850, THE Rank 401–500, ARWU Rank 301-400, US News Rank =521.

When was Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University founded?

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University was founded in 1970.

What are the top subjects at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University?

Top subjects at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University include: Polymer Science, Mathematics, Optics, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Metallurgical Engineering.

Where is Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University located?

Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.