What are the floor plans for the Private, Semi-Private and Sharing room?
The typical layout for three room types i.e. Private, Semi-Private and Sharing room are shown below. Slight variation may exist in the design and furniture based on the various residential halls available at AUS.
Private and Sharing Room Floor Plan
Semi-Private Room Floor Plan
What is the difference between each residential hall and how to I decide on the preference while filling my housing application form?
Note: On-line housing application requires you to mention your preference for a specific dormitory block. All residential halls consist of two blocks. So for example, residential hall AB Women is “A Women” and “B Women” interconnected blocks.
Although the room types and design is quite similar for all dorms, however please note certain differences as follows:
Specific differences:
AB Men and IJ Men room doors open in to a garden area unlike other dorms where the room doors open into corridors.
AB Men and IJ men do not have a fitness room
CD Men rooms (Single and Double) do not have bathroom or kitchenette area inside the room unlike other dorms. Therefore, the Common Bathrooms are on each floor/block. Similarly, there is a common kitchen on each floor.
MN and PQ men residential halls do not have Private rooms and are only made-up of Sharing and Semi-private Rooms.
All Women residential halls have similar design and room types except the Dormitory “I Women” that has some additional rooms with bathrooms for students with physical disability. Furthermore, “I Women” has an elevator facility to go to first floor.
What type of rooms are there in the residential halls?
There are three main room types in men’s and women’s dorms:
Private, Semi-private and Sharing
Additionally, a limited number of two other room type called Single and Double exists in one men’s dormitory (CD Men only).
Details as below:
Type of Room
Description
Private room
Single occupancy with private bath and kitchenette
(men's and women's dorms)
Semi-private room
Single occupancy with a shared bath and kitchenette
Note: The bath and kitchenette is shared between the two occupants of adjacent semi-private rooms only.
(men's and women's dorms).
Sharing room
Double occupancy with a shared bath and kitchenette.
Note: The two occupants of this room share the bath and kitchenette facility available inside this one room.
(men's and women's dorms)
Below room types limited to Men’s Residential Halls (CD Men Dormitory)
Single room
( Limited to men’s residential halls, CD Men Dormitory only)
Single occupancy with a common bath and no kitchenette
( each floor of this dormitory has common bath and a main kitchen)
( limited to men’s residential halls CD Men Dormitory only)
Double room
(Limited to men’s residential halls, CD Men Dormitory only)
Double occupancy with a common bath and no kitchenette
( each floor of this dormitory has common bath and a main kitchen)
( limited to men’s residential halls CD Men Dormitory only)
What are the facilities and services in the dorms?
High-speed Wi-Fi in all common areas and student rooms
Computer Rooms with network printers
Laundry rooms are available in each dorm with heavy duty washer and dryers ( free to use but detergent is not provided).
Once a week room cleaning by cleaners
Fitness room in most dorms
Table tennis and foosball table
Vending machines for snacks /soft drinks/coffee/tea ( coin operated)
Large screen TV with satellite TV channels in student lounge
Free-to-air satellite channels available inside all rooms ( TV not provided)
Do you provide meals in the dorms?
All residential halls are self-catered accommodations but a variety of restaurants, on and off campus, serve the residents.
What type of electric plugs and voltage are used?
We have the three-pin British Standard electric plug and a voltage rating of 230V, 50 Hz.
Do you provide wheelchair access for disabled persons?
We request that any applicant who has a physical disability shoud contact the Studnet Residential Life Department thought res-halls@aus.edu to get further clarification prior to applying.
The room size and entrances are large enough to accommodate wheelchair users on the ground floor. There is a ramp at the entrance of each residential hall.However, only one women's residential halls has limited number of rooms with bathroom designed specifically for students with disability.
Can I put up my own pictures/decorations in my room?
As long as the pictures/decorations are easily removable and leave no stains or holes in the wall and furnishings, there will be no objection. If the wall is damaged due to the use of nails or if there is damage to the wall or furniture, there will be charges at checkout time.
Is there a quiet wing for graduate students?
There is no assigned quiet wing in any of the residential halls. Quiet hours are designated daily between 12 midnight and 7 a.m. Excessive noise can be reported to the staff on duty at any time.
Is there a room cleaning service in the residential halls?
Yes. Each student's room is cleaned once a week according to a set schedule.
Do you provide bed linens and towels?
We only provide a new set of bed linen once to each new resident (i.e., bed sheet, pillow, pillowcase, and a quilt). The washing of the linens during the semester has to be done by the resident.
What are the laundry facilities in the dorms?
There are heavy-duty washers and dryers in each of the residential halls' laundry rooms.
Do you have a common kitchen in the residential halls?
Yes. Each residential hall has a common kitchen and all rooms, except those in CD Men Dormitory, have kitchenettes with a hotplate and a sink.
Do you provide accommodation for couples or families?
Currently we do not have residential halls for couples or families.
Is there a shop on the campus for hall residents?
Two minimarts are located on campus: one in the Student Center and one in the Women's Welcome Center located in front of the women's residential halls. They offer a variety of grocery items, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other household items. Also on campus are women's salon, a men's barbershop and a pharmacy.
Can I stay at AUS during vacations?
Your stay in residential halls during semester breaks and when the university is officially closed has to be approved by Student Residential Life management.
During short semester breaks of three weeks or less, you can stay in the hall as long as you are registered for courses and have reserved a room for the next semester. You will be charged AED 30 per night during this overstay period.
Any student who wants to stay during the short semester breaks of three weeks or less but who has not reserved a room for the next semester must pay AED 90 per night. A maximum three-night stay is allowed in such a case.
Students who want to stay during the summer term must attend summer courses or be enrolled in an AUS-approved internship. Those students enrolled in AUS-approved internships must submit the following documents if they plan to live in the residential halls during the summer:
1) letter from the college/school confirming your internship
2) letter from parents confirming that you can stay in the residential hall during summer
3) letter from the employer confirming the internship period
Can I leave my belongings in my room during the vacations?
During the short breaks between semesters of three weeks or less, you can leave your belongings in the residential halls; however, AUS is not liable for any loss or damage to your belongings. All items to be left behind should be properly packed and labeled. Leaving items in storage is subject to storage space availability and must be coordinated with residential halls staff.
During the summer vacation you have to remove all your belongings from the room. Limited storage may be provided, subject to availability, for international students without local residence. These packed belongings should not exceed two cartons/suitcases. You need to also must have a room reservation for the Fall semester in case you are leaving your belongings in the storage areas. AUS and the Residential Halls department will not be responsible for damage or theft of your belongings stored in the dormitories during summer
Any student belongings left uncollected in storage for more than eight weeks will be donated to a local charity, as per Residential Halls policy.
Students who wish to leave any belongings in the hall must sign a Waiver of Liability, which is available from the Residential Hall Supervisor.
Are shopping malls easily reachable for students living on campus?
There is a scheduled bus servicebetween the halls and malls/supermarkets in Sharjah and Dubai. The schedule is posted on the hall notice boards. More information on transportation can be found here.
Are meals available in the residential halls?
All the residential halls are self-catered. There are kitchenettes in all rooms (except for CD Men) as well as shared common kitchens. However, meals can be ordered from a number of restaurants (both off campus and on campus) until midnight. A number of food outlets are available in the Student Center, and a coffee shop is located in the Library Building.
How long can I stay after my room assignment is cancelled?
You will have 48 hours to vacate your room once the Housing Agreement has been cancelled.
What is the cancellation procedure?
To cancel your room assignment before checking into the residential halls, please send a written notification to res-halls@aus.edu or in person to the Student Residential Life Department.
Cancelling your room assignment after checking in is termed as withdrawal, and this has to be done by approaching your Residential Hall Supervisor in person to document the cancellation and process your check-out. A room fee refund is applicable when you withdraw from the residential halls as follows:
Withdrawal Period
Refund
During Fall and Spring Semesters
During Summer Session
Withdrawal during the first week from the residential hall opening date
Withdrawal during the first two days from the residential hall opening date
90% of room fee
Withdrawal during the second week from the residential hall opening date
Withdrawal during the first four days from the residential hall opening date
70% of room fee
Withdrawal during the third week from the residential hall opening date
Withdrawal during the first six days from the residential hall opening date
50% of room fee
Withdrawal after the third week from the residential hall opening date
Withdrawal after the first six days from the residential hall opening date
No refund
What if I want to transfer to another room?
Students are allowed to switch rooms once only at the beginning of semester. The Residential Halls Management will entertain the request for room transfer based on a valid reason. Students reserve the right to request for change in their room type or residential halls prior to checking in. Students who want to upgrade their room choice are required to pay the difference prior to moving. Students who want to downgrade their room choice will be compensated according to the withdrawal policy stated in the Housing Agreement.
What transportation is available on campus?
A convenient campus bus service runs daily between the residential halls and the academic buildings. Apart from that, on weekends there is a bus service for students going to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, as well as to shopping malls in Dubai and Sharjah. You can also call taxis to pick you up from the residential halls for off-campus trips. The University City service also runs bus services to and from different part of the city to campus. More information on transportation can be found here.
When can I move into my assigned room?
Residential halls open one day before the university orientation date in fall and spring semester.
Will my room be safe and secure?
The university has a security department that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Security staff regularly patrols the campus. No one is allowed in your room without your presence unless it is for cleaning or maintenance purposes or in special circumstances mentioned in your Housing Agreement and the Student Handbook. Doors of the rooms operate through an electronic access using a smart card.
Can I have guests stay in my room?
The only guests who can stay overnight in your room are friends who live in other AUS residential halls. They can visit you in your room for the purpose of study, based on the approval of the Residential Halls Supervisor.
Do I have to vacate my room during breaks between semesters and during short university holidays?
Your Housing Agreement is for one semester and has to be renewed before the end of that semester. If you don't renew your agreement within the set period, as announced by residential halls management, you lose the right to stay in the residential halls. We cannot guarantee that the same room or any other vacant room will remain available.
During the break between fall and spring semesters, you may store your belongings in the residential halls subject to availability of storage space and in coordination with the residential halls staff. However, you need to ensure that you have a room reserved for spring semester.
For summer term, please check to see if your residential hall will be open for summer term students. If it is and you are not staying, you need to vacate your belongings from the room completely. You may contact residential halls staff for temporary storage during this period. If the residential hall is closed for summer, you need to properly pack your items and take all your valuables since there will be maintenance of your room by external vendors.
During other short breaks when the university is closed, most residential halls remain open; however, AUS has the right to close any residential halls building based on the number of students staying in it and for operational requirements.
We strongly encourage you to take all valuables when the university is closed or you are staying out of the residential halls. AUS will not be liable for any of your belongings that you leave behind in the residential halls.
Is there Wi-Fi access in student rooms?
Wi-Fi is available in all studentrooms as well as common areas of the residential halls, such as the TV loungeand computer labs. You can contact the IT Department if you are unable toconfigure your computer to this Wi-Fi.
How do I connect my personal computer to the campus network in my room?
All residential halls rooms have network sockets with high-speed Internet access. You will need to connect your PC/laptop using a network cable. There is no additional fee for this network usage.
What will the phone number for my room be?
Your personal telephone number will be available once you check in your room. Each room has a telephone for local calls only. Telephone cards are easily available for mobile pre-paid service.
Can I bring my car to the AUS campus?
Yes, you can but you will need to register your car with the AUS Public Relations Department. Parking areas are available at each residential hall.
Can I bring my bicycle?
Bicycles are allowed but must be stored outside the residential halls. Bicycle parking racks are available outside most buildings on campus.
Am I allowed to bring my own furniture or fixtures for my room?
No additional furniture or fixtures are allowed in the rooms, but you can bring your other personal belongings such as a TV, an iron and ironing board, a kettle, linens and towels.
What is provided in my room?
All residential halls bedrooms have similar standard furnishings. You will have a single bed, a study desk, a rolling chair, a wardrobe, a TV trolley, a bedside table, Venetian blinds and an air-conditioning unit. One quilt, mattress protector, a pillow and a bed sheet set are also provided. Private rooms also have a sofa and a coffee table. A small fridge and a hotplate are available in each room. In some halls, the fridge is shared if a person is in a double or semi-private room.
*NOTE: The hot plate is not available in the student rooms of the CD men's hall but a common kitchen are available on each floor.
Are there any halls for married students?
All residential halls are single sex, and spouses cannot live together.
Are the halls single-sex or mixed?
All the residential halls are single sex. Men's and women's residential halls are completely separated on campus
How do I find the location of my Residential Hall?
The notification sent to you regarding your assigned room also confirms the residential hall name. The online campus map
shows the location of all of the residential halls.There is segregation areas of campus for men and women residential halls.
How will I know whether my Housing Application Form has reached you?
The Room Assignment Office does not acknowledge receipt of application forms; however, we will send a notification once your application is either accepted or rejected. You can contact us if required at res-halls@aus.edu.
What if I don’t get one of my preferred room choices?
We recommend that you accept what you are offered if you definitely want to live in a residential hall, as we are unable to reallocate rooms before the start of the term. Once the term has begun, if you are still unhappy with your room, it may be possible for you to transfer to another room/hall. However, this would depend upon availability at that time.
Do you guarantee me a place in a residential hall?
Although most applicants get a room in the residential halls, room assignments are subject to availability since a limited number of rooms are available.
How do I know that a room has been reserved for me?
We send a confirmation to you by e-mail to your AUS e-mail account. In case you did not receive this in time please follow-up by e-mailing to us on res-halls@aus.edu .
How will I know whether my Application Form for accommodation has reached you?
We will acknowledge receiving your housing application forms via an email to your AUS e-mail address.
In case you do not receive this acknowledgement , you can send us a follow-up message on res-halls@aus.edu
Receiving this acknowledgementdoes not mean a room has been reserved for you.
Will I be assigned any room type or dormitory I want?
Althought we try to allocate accommodation based upon your preferences but it is not always possible to assign your choice of room type or the dorm .
The chances of you getting your preferred choice depends upon availability.The room assignment is processed in the following order:
The students who are already residing in the residential halls get first preference to their existing room for the coming semester
The next preference is for students who are are applying for the first time
How do I apply for accommodation in the AUS residential halls?
For New Students
You can apply for student housing on campus using either of the two options available for new applicants as long as you have received an acceptance letter from the AUS Office of Enrollment Management.
1. Online Housing Application for New Students
We encourage all new applicants to use the online Housing Application Form if they wish to stay in the residential halls on campus. You will be ableto do this when you receive your AUS email username and password.
1. Please go to banner.aus.edu and login using your AUS email usernameand password.
2. Once logged in, go to Current Applicants and then Housing Application Form for Applicants.
3. Read the Housing Agreement (Download).
4. Select the Residential Hall and Room Type preferences.
5. If you are applying for a sharing or semi-private room and know the AUS ID and name of your roommate, please enter it where asked on the form.
6. Enter remarks or additional information in the Remarks field.
7. Click Submit Application if you have completed all the required information.
Note: You have an option to save the form andsubmit it later.
Once we process your application, we will send you an email to your registered email address confirming your room details.
2. Paper-based Housing Application Form
You can download and print the Housing Application Form here, or pick up a copy from our office in the AUS Student Center, First Floor, Room A258.
Please send the completed housing application by mail or courieraddressed to Student Residential Life Department, PO Box 26666, American University of Sharjah, Al Muweileh Street, Opp Sharjah Airport, UniversityCity, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
You can also send us your housing application form by emailing a scanned copy to roomassignment@aus.edu or faxing the form to +971 6 515 2294. We will send you an email acknowledgement once we receive your application.
Important:
Please ensure that all necessary pre-registration fees have been transferred to AUS. This includes the Room Reservation Fee of AED 500 and the Seat Reservation Deposit of AED 5,000.
Submitting the Housing Application Form along with the required fee does not guarantee that a room will be assigned as this is subject toavailability. All applications are subject to being processed on first-come,first-served basis.
If you have any questions related to the application process or the residential halls, please visit our FAQs webpage or write us at res-halls@aus.edu or call +971 6 515 2244.
For Current AUS Students Living Off Campus
If you are already a student at AUS and want to stay in the residential halls, please pick up a Housing Application Form from the Residential Halls office or download it from here. Complete the form and get it stamped by Student Accounts to ensure that the AED 500 Room Reservation Fee has been paid. Next, submit it in one of the ways mentioned above.
For Resident Students
For students in the residential halls wanting to renew their agreement for the upcoming semester, you will have to log in to the Banner system and apply for a renewal of agreement for the specified semester and during the period of application submission announced by Student Residential Life. It is important to note that the accommodation agreement is valid for full-time registered students only.
