Located in the most north-westerly region of Algeria, the Abou Bakr Belkaïd University of Tlemcen is a coeducational public university that received university status in 1989. It had been founded as the Centre Universitaire de Tlemcen in 1974.

Most of the university's campuses are based in the vibrant city of Tlemcen, the capital of the province of the same name, 50km from the Mediterranean sea, which is renowned for its architecture. A historic trade city built on the site of the old roman town of Pomaria, Tlemcen is vibrant, welcoming, home to good food, noteworthy caves, temples and mosques, and blessed with spectacular views of the Tlemcen Mountains. The university also has a campus in the smaller town of Maghnia, 30km to the west.

A modern university with up-to-date facilities, a sizeable library and several quality labs and computer centres, the University of Tlemcen has featured among the top 75 universities in the Arab world. The eight faculties include:

• Faculty of Science u Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of Law and Politics
• Faculty of Languages
• Faculty of Nature and Earth Sciences
• Faculty of Medicine u Faculty of Economic
• Faculty of Social Sciences.

The university has campuses in different parts of the city:

• The city centre
• Imama
• Kiffane
• Bel-Horizon
• the new pôle (La Rocade)
• Chetouane

In addition, Maghnia, a town located 40 km west of Tlemcen, hosts a campus of the university. The PAUWES Institute is located on the campuses in Chetouane and La Rocade.

Tlemcen has its own international airport but is also easily accessible from Algiers, which has a wider range of transport links, including ferries.