Education in Benghazi, as is throughout Libya, is compulsory and free. Compulsory education continues up until ninth grade. There are many public primary and secondary schools scattered throughout the city as well as some private schools.

University education is also free for all Libyan citizens in Benghazi. There are many other foreign schools such as Benghazi European School & private schools.

The country’s largest library containing over 300,000 volumes is affiliated with the university.

International schools include:

• International School Benghazi
• Benghazi European School
• British School in Benghazi

The oldest university in Libya is the University of Benghazi founded by royal decree in 1955. It was initially housed in the royal Al Manar Palace before receiving its own campus in 1968.

The cornerstone of the university was the Faculty of Arts and Education, including 31 students and 6 staff members then the University was founded in the center of Benghazi. Now, the university includes several faculties and centers of consulting, research, and service.

Since 1975 the number of universities has grown from two to nine and after their introduction in 1980, the number of higher technical and vocational institutes currently stands at 84 (with 12 public universities). Since 2007 some new private universities such as the Libyan International Medical University have been established. Although before 2011 a small number of private institutions were given accreditation, the majority of Libya’s higher education has always been financed by the public budget. In 1998 the budget allocation for education represented 38.2% of Libya’s total national budget.