Recent changes to university admissions rules in Syria have put a dent in Lin Najab's plans. The 23-year-old from Damascus is one of the few women at her college studying mechatronics engineering.

"My original plan was to pursue a master's degree," Najab told DW. But earlier in October, new rules were announced by Syria's education ministry regarding two newly created colleges, the National University of Defense Sciences and the Syrian University for Security Sciences. The former now restricts certain courses exclusively to male students, and the latter almost all of them.

These new policies could derail Najab's plans. "Now I have to start thinking about other options," she explained. "For example, I might have to move to another province to study."

It is still possible for Syrian women to study the subjects offered by the two new security institutes, but only at other more generalist universities or colleges.

Moving to another province, away from family, brings other difficulties, Najab continued.…