Application Requirements

MAKE SURE YOU GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE THE DEADLINE.

BEFORE YOU START AN APPLICATION, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE APPLICATION TYPE.

New Students (Applicants who have completed their high school level education must apply as new applicants)

AUS’s minimum admission requirements depend on the applicant’s type of secondary education program and certificate. 

To make sure you have all the information and documents needed to submit your application, click here. 

Transfer Students (Applicants enrolled in other universities, colleges or any institution of higher education must apply as transfer applicants)

Transfer applicants must have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0 on a scale of 4.00 or its equivalent (good academic standing).

Transfer of credit will be subject to AUS academic rules and regulations. For more information, refer to Transfer Admission section in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Returning Students (AUS Students in good standing who leave AUS for two or more consecutive semesters, inclusive of a semester of complete course withdrawal, must apply as returning applicants )

Returning Students are required to fill a Returning Student Form. Readmission will be subject to AUS academic rules and regulations. For more information, refer to Returning Student section in the Undergraduate Catalog. 

Second Degree Students (Applicants with an undergraduate degree earned at another independently accredited university recognized by the UAE Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division and by AUS must apply as new applicants)

Applicants applying as Second Degree are not eligible to transfer any of the completed credits.

AUS’s minimum admission requirements depend on the applicant’s type of secondary education program and certificate. 

To make sure you have all the information and documents needed to submit your application, click here. 

Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree at AUS are not eligible to apply for a second undergraduate degree at AUS.

Non Degree Students (Applicants who wish to enroll in courses at AUS without pursuing a degree must apply as new applicants)

Applicants who intend to apply as Non-degree students, should notify Undergraduate Admissions at infodesk

AUS’s minimum admission requirements depend on the applicant’s type of secondary education program and certificate. 

To make sure you have all the information and documents needed to submit your application, click here. 

For more information, refer to Non Degree Admission section in the Undergraduate Catalog. 

Exchange Students (Students who wish to take courses at AUS in the context of a semester exchange program must apply as exchange applicants)

An exchange student is not formally admitted to American University of Sharjah but is allowed to take courses at the university in the context of a semester exchange program.

Exchange students should check with their home institutions about the transferability of AUS credit hours to their programs. For detailed information click here.

Transient Students (Applicants who have obtained their undergraduate or graduate degrees from AUS and have returned to take extra course(s) at AUS must apply as transient applicants) 

Applicants must submit to the Office of the Registrar the complete Transient Student Application available here

In courses with enrollment limits, priority is given to AUS students. Normally, a student can register as a transient student for no more than one academic year. For further information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at [email protected]

Visiting Students (Applicants who wish to take courses at AUS for transfer back to their home institution must apply as visiting students)

A visiting student is one who is not formally admitted to American University of Sharjah but is allowed to take courses at AUS for transfer back to the student’s home institution.

Visiting students should check with their home institutions about the transferability of AUS credit hours to their programs.

For detailed information click here.

GENERAL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS 

Applicants are required to upload clear scans of the following supplemental items (required documents) by logging in to apply.aus.edu

• official secondary school certificate certified by the appropriate authorities*

• official grade reports of the last three secondary school classes certified by the appropriate authorities*

• colored passport scan

• colored UAE national ID scan (for UAE nationals and residents)

• colored UAE residence visa scan (for UAE residents)

• official letter stating completion or exemption of the Military National Service (UAE Male Applicants)

• English Language Proficiency Test Scores (if available at the time of applying)

All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of AED 400. Transfer applicants are required to pay a non-refundable transcript evaluation fee of 400 AED (deductible from tuition upon joining AUS).

* Unattested scans will be accepted to start the application process. However, applicants will be required to show attested original documents in person before enrolling at AUS. Applicants graduating from schools outside the UAE are to certify (attest) documents from the country of origin: attestation is required by the authorized educational authority, the country’s ministry of foreign affairs and the UAE Embassy. Applicants graduating from UAE schools are required to attest documents from the UAE Ministry of Education.

Other requirements might apply based on an applicant's specific school system. The Office of Enrollment Management has the right to request any supporting documents.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Recognized Secondary School Certificates

Secondary school certificates are awarded either by ministries of education or by private schools and institutions. AUS recognizes certificates awarded by ministries of education. However, some countries award two levels of secondary school certificates. In this case, the university recognizes the higher certificate.

The university accepts certificates awarded by private secondary schools that are recognized by their host country. The university also accepts certificates awarded by recognized qualification authorities, international boards and national boards.

The UAE Ministry of Education requires enrolled students to obtain a certificate of equivalency for their secondary education certificate. To meet this condition, please refer to Certificate of Equivalency to check if your secondary education certificate requires equivalency and the process of obtaining it.

Following is a list of some common certificates and the corresponding minimum levels of performance required for accepting an application to AUS. These certificates and levels of achievement serve as guidelines only for admission to AUS and may change depending on the education system or school. Moreover, they may differ from other institutions or the standards that are generally accepted in an applicant's native country. The university may consider other types of secondary school certificates.

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMON CERTIFICATES* 

*Other requirements might apply. The Office of Enrollment Management has the right to request any supporting documents.

American High School Diploma

Minimum of B or 80% average in final grade 12 or the best two years of grades 10, 11 and 12.

Applicants are also required to obtain Mathematics SAT score of 450 and above.

UAE National applicants are required to obtain a minimum of:

• EmSAT Achieve English with a minimum grade of 1,550 to be offered admission (Passing TOEFL or IELTS are accepted provided that EmSAT Achieve English score of 1100 is achieved)
• EmSAT Achieve-Mathematics with a minimum grade of 500 points (SAT Math is not accepted)

British System

At least five IGCSE/GCSE (O level) subjects and two GCE (AS/A level) subjects, and obtain minimum grades as required by AUS (Arabic Language and Islamic Education are not counted as part of the above number of subjects).

Applicants must also complete grade 12 in school.

Chinese

Minimum of 80% or more or its equivalent in the final year national exam, or minimum of 80% or more or its equivalent in the best two years.

French/Lebanese Baccalaureate

Obtain the French/Lebanese Baccalaureate in any of the three tracks: Literature, Economics & Social, or Scientific with a minimum score of 11 or more.

German Abitur

Minimum score of 7 in the final year.

Indian Boards

Minimum of 60% or more in the Senior Secondary School Certificate (12th Standard), or 60% or more in the best two years.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Must be awarded the full IB Diploma with six subjects (excluding Islamic Education) with at least three in the higher level, and attain a minimum score of 24 points.

Applicants who were not awarded the IB Diploma but received the IB certificate can apply and will be assessed based on the provided high school credentials.

Iranian Certificate

Minimum score of 16 points in the pre-university certificate, or minimum average of 80% or its equivalent in the best two years.

General Secondary School Certificates (Thanaweya Ammah - Arts or Science)

Minimum average of 80% is required in the best two years of secondary education or 80% in the final public examination.

Nigerian

Minimum of seven subjects with an overall grade equivalent to 80% or more in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) results.

Pakistani Boards

Minimum average of 60% in the Senior Secondary School Certificate (12th Standard), or 60% or more in the best two years.

Russian

Minimum score of 4.0 in the final year (grade 11), or minimum score of 4.0 the best two years, contingent on receiving the Certificate of Equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

English Language Proficiency Tests

Applicants are requested to submit valid score reports from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT Achieve).

TOEFL and IELTS score reports are valid for two calendar years

IELTS Academic/IELTS Indicator	TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT at Home Edition	TOEFL iTP	Cambridge English Linguaskill Online	EmSAT
6.5	80	550	176	1550

English Language Proficiency Tests Exemptions

Applicants may not be exempted from English Language Proficiency Tests; all admitted students must provide proof of English Language Proficiency Test to be fully admitted.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

For Applicants Who Have Completed the American High School Diploma

A  valid Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) report, or Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) report is required.

• SAT: a minimum Mathematics score of 450
• EmSAT: a minimum Mathematics score of 500

UAE CERTIFICATE OF EQUIVALENCY 

The UAE Ministry of Education requires all enrolled students to obtain a certificate of equivalency for their secondary education certificate.

For Students Completing their Secondary Education in the UAE

Applicants who earned their secondary education certificate from a private school inside the UAE should apply for a Certificate of Equivalency through their school. This excludes students from the UAE General Secondary School Certificate system (Thanaweyya 'Ammah).

For Students Completing their Secondary Education Oustside the UAE

Applicants who earned their secondary education certificate from a school outside the UAE must present a Certificate of Equivalency for their secondary education certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education.

UAE Certificate of Equivalency Application Process

• The first step is registering online on at www.moe.gov.ae under MOE Eservices – Service Catalog and getting a registration number. For a detailed list of the requirements and documents, visit www.moe.gov.ae under the Certificate Equivalency section. You may also contact +971 (800 51115) or email [email protected].
• Applicants have to prepare and attest all the required high school certificates and transcripts before leaving their home country and/or the country in which they graduated. For information about the required attestations, please see the section Required Attestations.
• Documents for equivalency applications have to be submitted in person in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Applicants are encouraged to visit the UAE and submit their applications at least two weeks prior to the first day of class.New accordion content.

Please note that AUS is not involved in the equivalency process or decisions. Issuing of the Certificate of Equivalency is controlled fully by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Applicants who have applied for a Certificate of Equivalency but have not concluded the equivalency process by the time of registration will be given the chance to register for the first semester, provided that they sign the Conditional Admission Contract. Applicants selecting this option must present a copy of the MOE Application Receipt.