New Student Guide
Congratulations! You’re a #ProudAUSer!
By joining the AUS community, you are becoming part of a proud tradition of academic excellence, community contribution and personal transformation. We can’t wait to see what you will achieve during your time with us.
This page provides important information on finalizing your admission and settling into life at AUS. If you have any questions about the process, please contact us—we want to hear from you.
Finalize Your Admission
To finalize your admission to AUS, you will need to do the following:
- Read your Admission Letter: Log in to your AUS account to check your Admission Letter for conditions and deadlines.
- Pay your Seat Reservation Deposit: Check your Admission Letter for the payment deadline.
- Attest your documents: To complete your file and register for courses, you will need to submit certified or attested secondary school grades and certificates as applicable.
- Apply for your Certificate of Equivalency: The UAE Ministry of Education requires all enrolled students to obtain a Certificate of Equivalency for their secondary education. Find out how to apply for the UAE Ministry of Education Certificate of Equivalency here.
- Transfer your credits: If you have achieved a minimum grade equivalent to B in IB Higher Level, GCE A-Level, the Lebanese Baccalaureate, the French Baccalaureate, the Spanish Baccalaureate, the German Abitur or the American Advanced Placement tests, you could be awarded course credits for first-year-level courses. For more information, click here. If you have any questions, you can ask them during your File Completion session.
- Book your English proficiency test/SAT: In case you have not already done so, you will need to complete and submit your valid score report 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. For more information and to book/verify your TOEFL or IELTS, please refer to the AUS Testing Center. Note: If you score below the required English Language Proficiency (ELP) score for the semester of entry, you will be invited to join the Achievement Academy Bridge Program (AABP). Our admissions advisors can assist you with any inquiries about joining the AABP.
- Attend pre-orientation: Pre-orientation opens in July for new students joining in the fall semester and in December for the spring semester. During pre-orientation you will participate in scheduled training and information sessions, and complete a series of mandatory tasks, including:
- Book your placement tests: Make sure you book the placement tests relevant to your major.
- Complete your admissions file: You will not be able to register for courses in your first semester until your admissions file is complete. Your file is considered complete only when all the requirements mentioned in the Admission Letter have been received by the Admissions Office. Please refer to your Admission Letter and emails received from the Admissions Office to note and prepare all the missing documents, including important dates for early file completion. You must book an online meeting with AUS admissions staff to complete your application file. During this session you can discuss any holds you may have on your admission file.
Got questions?
If you need any assistance in completing these tasks, please contact us to book a meeting with an admissions advisor.
We can also assist you with other admissions related inquiries, such as:
- Deferring your application: You may defer your application to AUS for up to two semesters by request via apply.aus.edu
- Changing your major: It's not uncommon for students to change their minds about their major once they have applied and even after they have enrolled. Now that you have been admitted to AUS, you cannot make changes to your original application before you enroll. If you want to change the major you have selected now, you will need to submit a new application for your new intended major. You will not need to pay the admission fee again, but you can only do this once before you enroll. As before, your new application will be evaluated against your school grades and availability of seats in the major you are interested in pursuing. You will be notified of the decision, and, if approved, you will receive a new Admission Letter showing the new major. If you decide to change your major after you have begun your studies at AUS, you can discuss this with your academic advisor and follow the process for changing your major with the Office of the Registrar.
Before You Arrive
We know you’re excited to get to campus, but before you do, there are a few key things you need to do.
- Apply for a financial grant or scholarship. Opportunities for financial support are available for eligible AUS students, including first-year students.
- Apply for student accommodation, if you plan to live on campus.
- Apply for your student visa if required.
- Complete the University Health Services Medical Form and organize health insurance. As a new student, you will be required to submit a Medical Record Form to University Health Services (UHS). You can wait to submit the form until you are physically attending classes on campus. The Medical Record Form must be endorsed and stamped by a physician. You can complete it in your home country with a licensed general physician or have it completed by AUS University Health Services. Medical insurance is compulsory for all AUS-sponsored students (that is, students with a visa sponsored by AUS) and for all students who don’t have health insurance coverage of their own. Read more about the plans we have for students here.
- Make sure your laptop meets IT requirements. To access the software and electronic resources needed to study at AUS, you must own an internet-capable laptop or similar device capable of running Microsoft Windows or macOS applications.
You may choose to use an existing laptop or device. If you plan to purchase a new one, you should select a laptop with the recommended specifications according to your college/major here.
If you have any questions and would like to discuss your laptop or software requirements, please contact the IT ServiceDesk at Tel +971 6 515 2121| [email protected] | https://itfaq.aus.edu. - Coordinate your airport pickup. New students can request pick-up service from Sharjah International Airport and Dubai International Airport. If you need pick-up service, please submit the Airport to Campus Transportation Form. An AUS representative will be assigned to welcome you at the airport. Rates for the transportation service are listed on the request form. Click here for any other transportation-related questions or email [email protected].
Orientation and Class Registration
Orientation
Our week-long New Student Orientation takes place the week before classes start, and will include events for both you and your parents. The program is packed with important information and memorable activities to help you get your AUS experience off to a great start. We’ll introduce you to AUS and your college/school, help you connect with classmates, and introduce you to the various support services available to you.
At orientation, you will also register for the classes you will take in your first semester. To be able to register for these classes, your application file must be complete.
Once your file is completed you will be contacted by your college or school to be registered for the courses that you will be taking in your first semester at AUS. You will be required to attend an Academic Orientation where you will find out the process for course registration. By the end of orientation week you will receive your class schedule for this semester.
Orientation is extremely important to ensuring all new AUS students receive the best start to university life possible and is therefore mandatory. We will email you with all the information you need to participate in orientation closer to the event.
Settling In
Once you’re on campus, we’ve got a lot of great resources designed to help you get a great start as a Proud AUSer.
You'll find a comprehensive list of support services on the New Student Orientation page, but we've highlighted some of this information below for your quick reference.
We also encourage you to check out the AUS Resources brochure and browse the information below.
Other Ways to Get Ready
Contact Us
American University of Sharjah
Office of Enrollment Management - Undergraduate Admissions
Phone +971 6 515 1000
infodesk.aus.edu
www.aus.edu
