The university of souk ahras was established in 1998 as an annex attached to the university of anna, offering only three courses in the areas of law and management, information technology, and exact sciences, computer science and technology. In 2001 the annex became a university centre and in 2012 it was granted full university status.
The university is located in souk ahras, a town in northeast Algeria. The name ‘Souk Ahras’ derives from the Arabic word ‘souk’ which means ‘market’ and the Chaoui Berber word ‘Ahra’ which means ‘lion’, in reference to the lions which existed in the neighbouring forests until their extinction in 1930.
The university is organised academically into six faculties: the faculty of science and technology, faculty of natural and life sciences, faculty of economic, commerce and management sciences, faculty of law and political science, faculty of arts and languages, and the faculty of social sciences and humanities. Each faculty is divided into different departments, which offer a wide range of degree programmes at bachelor, master's and doctoral level.
There are also two institutes: the institute of agriculture and veterinary sciences and the institute of science and techniques of physical and sporting activities.
Research is an important part of the university’s activity. Throughout the year, it carries out numerous research projects in a wide variety of subject areas. There are several laboratories that facilitate these projects including the laboratory of electrical engineering and renewable energy, the laboratory of psychology of sport and physical activity, and the laboratory of linguistic and literary studies.