Université Privée de la Santé et des Sciences d’Agadir

What Université Privée de la Santé et des Sciences d’Agadir does

UPSSA is a private higher education institution headquartered in Agadir, Morocco, in the Souss-Massa region. Founded in 2023 by Moroccan pharmacist-entrepreneur Hamid Ouahbi, it operates four health sciences faculties: Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing Sciences and Health Techniques. The university delivers six-year integrated programs (semesters 1–12) culminating in Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Surgery, or Doctor of Pharmacy degrees, alongside three-year license tracks in general nursing, anesthesia-resuscitation, medical laboratory technology, and medical imaging. It also runs Formation Continue (continuing education) Diplômes Universitaires for practicing healthcare professionals and provides dedicated support services for international students. Recruitment is funneled through an annual competitive entrance exam (concours d'accès) for medical programs, direct admission with psychotechnical testing for nursing and technician tracks, and an online pre-inscription platform (candidature.upssa.ac.ma).

Technically, UPSSA differentiates through a simulation-based medical education stack combining high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality platforms including Touch Surgery, and augmented reality devices such as Microsoft HoloLens for AR overlays of CT and MRI imaging. An on-campus Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) is intended to provide supervised clinical rotations alongside the theoretical curriculum. Teaching modalities span audiovisual amphitheaters, digital library resources, simulation laboratories, and a multi-modal VR/AR environment used for clinical decision-making, anatomy visualization, and procedure rehearsal. UPSSA's stated strategic alignment is with Morocco's PACTE ESRI 2030 and the King Mohammed VI–led social protection and health system reform agenda, and it maintains a partnership with the Direction Régionale du Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection Sociale for public health initiatives.

Commercially, UPSSA operates a tuition-driven B2C model with disclosed annual fees of 27,000–125,000 Moroccan dirhams depending on faculty, supplemented by a one-time 5,000 Dhs registration fee and 500–800 Dhs entrance exam fees. Revenue is recurring and contract-anchored by multi-year program durations (3–6 years), with merit-based scholarships covering 5–100% of remaining tuition and sibling discounts of 10–15%. Marketing is digital-first, centered on the upssa.ac.ma website, an Instagram presence (@upssa.ma), and WhatsApp-based prospective-student support, supplemented by annual Journées Portes Ouvertes (open days) and community health awareness events. No external investors, parent company, or public listing were identified; ownership is concentrated with the founder-president, consistent with a founder-controlled Moroccan private educational enterprise in early-stage operation.

Name

Université Privée de la Santé et des Sciences d’Agadir

Legal name

Université Privée de la Santé et des Sciences d'Agadir

Website

https://upssa.ac.ma

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UPSSA is a private Moroccan health sciences university in Agadir, founded in 2023, that trains future physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and nurses across four faculties using VR/AR simulation, a Medical Simulation Center, and an on-campus university hospital.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Sciences Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Health sciences education
• Medical training programs
• Pharmacy higher education
• Clinical simulation training
• Nursing and dental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Souss-Massa-Dr

HQ country

Morocco

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: UPSSA generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged for its various health sciences programs. Students pay annual tuition fees ranging from 27,000 to 125,000 Dhs depending on the faculty. Additional revenue comes from one-time registration fees (5,000 Dhs) and entrance exam fees (500–800 Dhs). Scholarship and financial aid programs are available to support equity and access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UPSSA is a private health sciences university in Agadir, Morocco, delivering undergraduate and doctoral training across four faculties: Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing Sciences & Health Techniques. Programs combine theoretical coursework, clinical rotations at an on-campus University Hospital Center (CHU), and immersive practice in a Medical Simulation Center using high-fidelity mannequins, VR, and AR. The university also offers continuing professional education (Diplômes Universitaires) and dedicated support for international and scholarship students.

Product overview

UPSSA is a private health sciences university offering a multi-faculty portfolio of academic programs and clinical training infrastructure. The institution operates four faculties: Faculty of Medicine (general medicine), Faculty of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Nursing and Health Techniques. Supporting these academic programs are specialized facilities including a Medical Simulation Center with virtual reality technology and high-fidelity mannequins, and a University Hospital Center. The university also provides continuing education for healthcare professionals, scholarship programs for meritorious and socially disadvantaged students, and support services for international students. Located in Agadir, the campus features modern laboratories, amphitheaters, a digital library, and sports facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Faculté de Médecine: Faculty of Medicine offering a 6-year medical program leading to Doctor of Medicine degree.
• Faculté de Médecine Dentaire
• Faculté de Pharmacie
• Faculté des Sciences Infirmières et Techniques de Santé

Products and services

• Faculté de Médecine (Faculty of Medicine) Six-year medical program (12 semesters) covering pre-clinical fundamentals, half-time externship, full-time externship in various specialties, and a mandatory doctoral thesis leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree. Designed for baccalaureate holders seeking a full medical doctorate.
• Faculté de Médecine Dentaire (Faculty of Dental Medicine) Six-year odontology program (12 semesters) covering five competency domains: professionalism, prevention and public health, knowledge management, clinical data collection and treatment, and oral health maintenance, leading to the Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.
• Faculté de Pharmacie (Faculty of Pharmacy) Six-year pharmacy program (12 semesters) leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, with industry partnerships in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including internat and residency specialization options.
• Faculté des Sciences Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (Faculty of Nursing and Health Techniques) License cycle programs including Infirmier Polyvalent (3-year general nursing), Infirmier Anesthésie-Réanimation (anesthesia and resuscitation nursing), Technicien en Laboratoire d'Analyses Médicales (medical lab technician), and Technicien en Imagerie Médicale (medical imaging technician).
• Formation Continue (Continuing Education) Professional development programs for healthcare workers including Diplômes Universitaires (DU) in Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Health Professions. Targeted at licensed healthcare professionals seeking specialization and skill updates.
• Centre de Simulation Médicale (Medical Simulation Center) Simulation center featuring high-fidelity mannequins and advanced virtual reality devices. Recreates authentic hospital environments and complex medical scenarios ranging from surgical emergencies to multidimensional health crises, enabling students to practice clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and patient management.
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (University Hospital Center) On-campus university hospital equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, designed to provide clinical training immersion for students while delivering healthcare services to the community.
• International Student Services Personalized support for international students from application through campus integration, including administrative services, multicultural environment, and academic guidance.
• Bourses d'Études (Scholarship and Financial Aid Programs) Merit and social criteria scholarships, excellence scholarships, and sibling financial aid (10-15% tuition reduction for second and third enrolled siblings) covering 5-100% of remaining student fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6-year integrated curriculum from foundational science through clinical specialization to doctorate thesis, aligning with international medical education standards.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nair Abakar (Roving Ambassador of Chad)minorOthers · 9 December 2025Nair Abakar, Chad's Roving Ambassador, participated at UPSSA's Innovation and AI workshop and introduced football legend Roger Milla during his campus visit, contributing to the university's international outreach and intercultural dialogue initiatives.
• Direction Régionale du Ministère de la Santé et de la Protection SocialecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025UPSSA partners with the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection for public health initiatives. Notably, they collaborated on 'Octobre Rose,' a breast cancer awareness campaign involving students, healthcare professionals, and ministry representatives, emphasizing early screening and women's health prevention.
• Entreprises Pharmaceutiques et Start-ups de BiotechnologiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPSSA maintains close collaboration with leading pharmaceutical companies and innovative biotech startups for its Pharmacy program. This synergy supports the development of new therapies with national and international reach, providing students with industry exposure and research opportunities in strategic industrial sectors including biotechnology.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Université Privée de Marrakech (UPVM): Moroccan private university offering health sciences tracks including nursing and medical technology. Comparable as a regionally focused private higher education peer with similar GTM (entrance exams, in-person recruitment).
• Université Mundiapolis: Casablanca-based private Moroccan university with health sciences and nursing tracks. Comparable as a private multi-faculty institution offering health programs in Morocco and competing for the same applicant pool.
• Université Internationale de Rabat (UIR): Large private Moroccan university with a health sciences cluster including medicine and dentistry. Direct competitor for top Moroccan baccalaureate candidates seeking private medical education.
• Université Mohammed VI des Sciences de la Santé (UM6SS): Leading Moroccan private health sciences university offering medicine, pharmacy, dental and nursing programs with strong hospital and simulation infrastructure. Closest direct competitor, also Morocco-based and focused exclusively on health sciences training.

Regional players

• Medical University of Sfax: Tunisian public medical university representing the broader North African francophone medical-training model. Comparable on curriculum structure and regional medical training standards, though public and broader in scope.
• Al Akhawayn University: English-language private Moroccan university with science and pre-medical tracks. Comparable on private-university positioning and Morocco footprint, though broader in scope than health sciences.

Others

• Touch Surgery (Digital Surgery): AI-driven surgical simulation platform already integrated into UPSSA's training. Adjacent technology partner and enabler rather than a competitor; relevant as an ecosystem participant shaping VR surgical training norms.

Emerging players

• Université Saint-Joseph (USJ): Leading private Francophone medical university in the MENA region with a Faculty of Medicine and Hôtel-Dieu de France teaching hospital. Comparable on language, teaching-hospital model, and private medical school structure.
• Université Saint-Esprit de Kaslik (USEK): Lebanese private university with health sciences faculties including medicine and nursing. Comparable as a Francophone private institution offering full health-sciences curricula with clinical training.

Broad incumbents

• Université Hassan II de Casablanca: Major Moroccan public university with one of the country's largest faculties of medicine and dentistry. Sets the benchmark for medical training capacity and competes with UPSSA for top candidates through lower tuition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/upssa.ma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Université Privée de la Santé et des Sciences d’Agadir