American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah (AUS) is a private, independent, not-for-profit university founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Set on a purpose-built 123-hectare campus in Sharjah's University City, it is modelled on American higher education, teaches entirely in English on a credit-based system, and enrolled 6,727 students from 103 nationalities in Fall 2025 across its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, School of Business Administration, and College of Architecture, Art and Design. AUS offers 33 undergraduate majors, 49 minors, 24 master's programmes and eight PhD programmes. AUS has been licensed since 1999 by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and is one of the few universities in the region to hold US regional accreditation, from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (since June 2004). Six of its engineering degrees are accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission and its computer science degree by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission, the School of Business Administration has been AACSB-accredited since 2011, and the Bachelor of Architecture was the first programme outside North America to earn NAAB accreditation. Ranked #258 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and among the top three universities in the UAE, AUS is also ranked first in the country for employer reputation, reflecting its strong graduate-employment outcomes.
1 years · Undergraduate (Foundation)
2 years · Postgraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
Undergraduate tuition is a flat AED 110,876 per year (AED 55,438 per semester for a 12-16 credit load) for every major. Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour: AED 4,371 per credit for master's programmes in the College of Arts and Sciences, and AED 5,480 per credit for every other master's programme and for every doctoral programme, including the two PhDs in Arts and Sciences. AUS publishes the resulting programme totals: a 30-credit master's is AED 131,130 (Arts and Sciences) or AED 164,400 (Engineering, Business, Architecture Art and Design), the 33-credit MBA and Master of Urban Planning are AED 180,840, the 57-credit MFA is AED 312,360, a 54-credit PhD is AED 295,920 and the 60-credit PhDs in Finance and Management are AED 328,800. VAT is NOT charged on tuition, residential hall charges or the Plan II health insurance; the 5% rate applies to the student activities fee, Plan I insurance and the dorm utilities service fee. AUS offers an extensive range of merit, need-based and athletic scholarships. New first-time students can combine a financial grant, a merit scholarship and the Family Tuition Grant up to a total of 55% of tuition and fees, and across all sources AUS plus external sponsorship may not exceed 100% of a semester's tuition. Awards run for a maximum of 8 to 11 semesters depending on the credit total of the degree.
Open only to applicants who completed their secondary education OUTSIDE the UAE. Covers 100% of tuition and lab fees, waives the application fee, and adds a monthly stipend, on-campus housing, three round-trip tickets across the years of study and student medical insurance. For first-time students entering in the fall, renewable while conditions are met. Requires IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 94, plus 98% across Grades 10-11 with 3 APs at grade 5 or SAT 1400 (American curriculum), 3 A-levels and 5 GCSEs at grade A (British), or 40+ IB points.
The counterpart for applicants who completed their secondary education IN the UAE. Covers tuition and lab fees in full, waives the application fee, and adds on-campus housing and student medical insurance. For first-time students entering in the fall, renewable while conditions are met. Requires IELTS 7.0, TOEFL iBT 94 or EmSAT English Achieve 1725, plus results such as an Elite Diploma with 98% across Grades 10-11 and 2 APs at grade 5.
Offered automatically at admission, with no separate application, to first-time students averaging 95% or above across Grades 10 and 11. Grade 12 results are not considered. Transfer students are not eligible, offers depend on available funding, and changing major after an offer may affect eligibility.
Awarded in fall semesters only. Each partner Sharakah school may nominate one exceptional AUS applicant, assessed by a school committee on leadership and personal qualities, scientific or literary contribution to the community, honours for community service and extracurricular activities, and a minimum 95% average across Grades 10 and 11. Cannot be combined with a financial grant or a Merit Scholarship.
A 25% discount on tuition (up to 16 credit hours) and lab/technology fees for each sibling after the first, where two or more are enrolled at the same time as full-time undergraduates or English Bridge Program students. Siblings of students holding a 100% AUS scholarship are not eligible.
Need-based support for admitted first-time students with limited resources. Enrolled students must hold a CGPA of 2.0 and be full-time (at least 12 credits) or registered in the Achievement Academy Bridge Program. The award normally applies to tuition for up to 16 credit hours, and students in a shared or double room on campus may receive partial help with residential hall fees.
American University of Sharjah admits students for three semesters a year, Fall (the main intake), Spring and Summer, on an American-style rolling basis. Admission decisions are based on secondary-school performance, English-language proficiency and, for most majors, a mathematics admission test. International students apply from anywhere in the world and are supported through the residence-visa process.
Create an account and submit the application at apply.aus.edu, selecting the applicant type that matches your background (new, transfer, graduate).
Submit your attested secondary-school certificate and grade reports, passport/ID, photo and supporting documents.
Pay the non-refundable application fee of AED 400 + 5% VAT (AED 450 + VAT for graduate applicants).
Provide TOEFL/IELTS/EmSAT English scores and, for undergraduates, the SAT or EmSAT mathematics score before the semester begins.
The Office of Enrollment Management reviews your file and issues an admission decision.
Confirm your place by paying the AED 5,000 non-refundable seat-reservation deposit, then register for courses (and begin the visa process if you are an international student).
A secondary intake for most programmes; classes begin 11 January 2027.
A shorter summer entry point for selected programmes; classes begin 31 May 2027.
Fall 2026: AUS publishes an early file completion date rather than a hard undergraduate deadline for Fall; applications opened 13 October 2025. Complete your file early to secure a place and scholarship consideration. Graduate applicants: 28 May 2026 with a graduate assistantship, 23 July 2026 without.
Spring 2027: Application deadline for the Spring 2027 intake, with early file completion by 21 December 2026.
Summer 2027: Application deadline for the Summer 2027 intake, with early file completion by 3 May 2027. Seat reservation deposit due 20 May 2027.
AUS sponsors the Sharjah residence visa for admitted international students who are not GCC nationals or UAE residents. After paying the seat-reservation deposit, students submit a visa request at least two months before arrival; AUS applies for the entry permit, and on arrival students complete a medical examination, biometrics and Emirates ID through AUS Visa & Equalization Services (VES). A one-year visa with Emirates ID is approximately AED 1,114.50; a two-year visa approximately AED 1,314.50.
American University of Sharjah is a residential, American-style campus in University City where over 1,400 students live in separate men's and women's halls, and a large and growing number of student clubs and organisations shape a vibrant student community. Students compete as the AUS Leopards across 36 varsity teams, 19 men's and 17 women's, and Career Services, which helped AUS earn the UAE's #1 ranking for employer reputation, connects them to internships and employers across the region.
AUS is a residential campus with separate men's and women's halls of residence housing over 1,400 students in a secure, multicultural community a short walk from classes, laboratories and the library.
AUS Career Services, on the first floor of the Student Centre, supports students with one-on-one advising, internships and co-ops, employer recruitment days and mentorship. QS 2027 ranks AUS #1 in the UAE for employer reputation and among the top three in the country for employment outcomes.
American University of Sharjah occupies a purpose-built 123-hectare campus in Sharjah's University City, 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the centre of Sharjah. The distinctive architecture of the domes and arches of the academic and administrative buildings is accentuated with graceful Arab motifs. The centre of the campus comprises 13 academic buildings housing classrooms and lecture halls, a large library, laboratories, workshops and studios, and faculty and administrative offices. The campus also includes separate residential halls for men and for women, a large Sports Complex, a Sports Pavilion, the AUS Tennis Center and the Student Center. About 25 percent of the student body lives in campus housing and, unusually for an American-model university, AUS requires faculty members and their families to live on campus, giving a continuous faculty presence at the heart of the campus.
A central library with around 135,000 physical items plus access to more than one million electronic books, group study rooms, quiet study areas, media viewing rooms and about 140 computers.
Specialised laboratories across the College of Engineering supporting chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering teaching and research.
Biology, chemistry, physics and environmental-science laboratories for hands-on undergraduate and graduate research.
Computer laboratories across the academic buildings supporting computing, data and design coursework.
Dedicated design studios and workshops for the College of Architecture, Art and Design.
The Interactive Trading Floor (ITF), funded by HSBC and launched in February 2016, replicates the trading floors of Wall Street and DIFC investment firms. It has 22 terminals in a 23-seat learning environment carrying the same live feeds, tools and software, and AUS is the only Bloomberg experiential education partner in the region.
A main auditorium hosting lectures, ceremonies and campus events.
A dedicated sports complex with indoor and outdoor facilities supporting varsity and intramural sport for the AUS Leopards.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and President
Appointed Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and President of American University of Sharjah in January 2023, to align the institution with Sharjah's socio-economic, workforce and innovation priorities. She is UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, and chairs the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK), the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority and the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa).
Chancellor
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
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American University of Sharjah, University City, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, UAE
