About NHU-Riyadh

The University of New Haven is the first U.S. university approved to establish an international branch campus in Saudi Arabia, bringing more than a century of academic excellence to the heart of Riyadh.

Our story in the Kingdom

The University of New Haven has been an active supporter of higher education in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years, both within the Kingdom and on our Connecticut campus. Thousands of Saudi students have graduated from the University since the early 2000s, going on to make significant contributions to the Kingdom's public and private sectors.

In 2024, the University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, Ministry of Investment, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to begin the process of establishing an international branch campus. On 7 October 2025, the Council of Ministers granted formal approval, making the University of New Haven the first institution to receive consent to establish under the Kingdom's new framework for international higher education.

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a U.S.-based institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, subsequently approved the Riyadh Campus, paving the way for the first incoming class of students in autumn 2026. Learn more about our accreditation.

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A students-first philosophy

Founded on the Yale University campus in 1920, the University of New Haven is a private, coeducational institution recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report for academic excellence. Today the University is home to nearly 6,700 students from across the globe, with campuses in West Haven, Connecticut; Prato, Italy; and now Riyadh.

At the heart of the University's approach is a simple idea: put students first. Our mission is to prepare students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society by providing the highest-quality education through experiential, collaborative, and discovery-based learning. We call this our students-first philosophy, and it shapes everything we do, from curriculum design to the way our faculty engage with every individual learner.

The experience of learning at the University of New Haven is both personal and pragmatic, guided by a distinguished faculty who care deeply about individual student success. As leaders in their fields, faculty members provide the inspiration and mentorship needed for students to fulfill their potential and succeed at whatever they choose to do.

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The Riyadh Campus

The Riyadh campus will deliver transformative student outcomes, maximize return on investment for graduates, and support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals. Vision 2030 provides a blueprint for diversifying the Kingdom's economy, empowering citizens, increasing private-sector participation in higher education, and creating a vibrant environment for both local and international talent.

Within the next ten years, the University of New Haven – Riyadh is projected to be home to approximately 13,000 undergraduates and graduates. The campus will be built around three colleges: Business and Digital Innovation, Arts and Applied Sciences, and Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be offered alongside executive education and micro-credentials to support lifelong learning. Students will have access to both the University's main campus in West Haven, Connecticut, and its Tuscany campus in Prato, Italy, as well as the many educational and career-related resources available to all University of New Haven students worldwide.