American University of Sharjah

The American University of Sharjah is the UAE's leading American-model university — US-accredited, deeply international, and home to standout programmes in engineering, architecture, and business. With over 90 nationalities on campus and a 55% international student body, AUS offers the rigour of an American liberal arts education in the heart of the Gulf. This guide gives you everything you need to plan, apply, and succeed.

Real, freely-licensed photographs of the campus (via Wikimedia Commons).

AUS is the only university in the UAE to hold simultaneous accreditation from multiple US accrediting bodies — making its degrees recognised and respected globally. For ambitious students who want an American-quality education in the Gulf, AUS is the benchmark institution.

AUS's 60% acceptance rate reflects a selective-but-accessible model: applicants must meet genuine academic thresholds (85%+ secondary average, English proficiency, subject prerequisites), but the university admits students across a broad profile. The competition is for places in high-demand programmes — Engineering, Architecture, and Business — where the effective threshold is meaningfully higher.

AUS accepts applications through its own online portal at apply.aus.edu — not through the Common App or UCAS. The application is document-based and grade-focused. Prepare the following items before applying.

AUS evaluates applicants primarily on academic merit — secondary school grades, subject prerequisites, and English proficiency are the core criteria. Beyond the academic floor, for competitive programmes and scholarships, the profile expands to include extracurricular engagement, leadership, and community contribution.

AUS offers a structured range of merit scholarships and need-based financial grants for international students. Average aid covers approximately 30% of tuition costs. The flagship President's and Chancellor's Scholarships can cover full tuition plus housing, stipend, and travel — making AUS genuinely accessible for high-achieving students with financial need.

Scholarship amounts and eligibility criteria are subject to change. Verify current requirements at aus.edu/admissions/financial-grants-and-scholarships.

American University of Sharjah does not conduct formal admissions interviews for undergraduate applicants. The admissions process is entirely document and grades-based. However, competitive scholarship applicants — particularly for the President's and Chancellor's Scholarships — may be invited for an interview as part of the scholarship selection process.

AUS maintains a residential campus in Sharjah's University City, with seven men's and five women's residential halls housing over 1,800 students. All halls are supervised 24/7 and equipped with internet, computer labs, gyms, entertainment rooms, and laundry facilities. Campus housing is available for all undergraduate students — not just first-year students.

AUS graduates enjoy strong employment outcomes across the Gulf's leading organisations. An 88% employment rate reflects the practical, industry-aligned nature of AUS's ABET, AACSB, and NAAB accredited programmes. The UAE's role as a regional business and construction hub creates direct demand for AUS-trained engineers, architects, and business professionals.

In 60 minutes our AUS admissions specialists will evaluate your academic profile, identify your scholarship eligibility, map your application timeline across Fall/Spring intakes, and help you build a strategy for AUS's most competitive programmes and awards.

What grades, English scores, and academic preparation do AUS's admitted students actually need? And how does AUS evaluate IB, A-Level, and other international curricula?

AUS sets a minimum equivalent of 85% or 3.0 GPA for admissions consideration. In practice, competitive programmes and scholarships demand noticeably stronger academic records.

The 85% floor is a necessary condition, not sufficient for competitive programmes. Engineering, Architecture, and Business applicants should target 90%+ to compete effectively, particularly for scholarship consideration.

AUS explicitly evaluates admissions in context. The same 85% average from a rigorous international school may read differently than from a less demanding institution — but AUS's published minimum applies universally as a floor.

AUS Middle 50% SAT Range (admitted students)

AUS does not publish ACT-specific data. ACT scores are not required or commonly used at AUS for UAE-curriculum or international non-US applicants.

AUS operates a conditional test policy: standardised tests are required only in specific circumstances. Understanding when submission is required — and when it is strategic — is important for AUS applicants.

AUS recognises AP courses as a rigorous qualification for American curriculum students. For applicants from international schools offering AP, strong AP results can strengthen both the admissions application and scholarship candidacy.

AUS evaluates not just your final average, but whether you challenged yourself with appropriate subject rigour — particularly in the prerequisites relevant to your intended programme.

Taking the most rigorous courses available at your school, in subjects relevant to your intended AUS programme.

AUS's engineering and science programmes require genuine quantitative preparation at the secondary level. The prerequisite requirements are firm, not flexible.

AUS operates entirely in English. English proficiency is a non-negotiable requirement for all applicants whose secondary education was not in English. Meeting the minimum threshold is a prerequisite, not a strength.

AUS's campus culture, classroom participation, group projects, and social environment are conducted in English. Students who meet the minimum threshold but struggle with academic English in practice will find the university challenging. Aim to exceed the minimum.

AUS admits students directly to their chosen programme, unlike US universities where students are admitted to the university and declare a major later. Ensure your secondary academic record meets the specific prerequisites for your intended AUS programme.

The following profiles represent the academic backgrounds of students TYCHR has helped gain AUS admission or AUS scholarship awards. They illustrate the range of preparation that succeeds — and what made each application compelling.

AUS's structured scholarship programme, need-based financial grants, and competitive tuition for a US-accredited education make it one of the most financially accessible quality universities in the Middle East. Here's exactly what AUS costs, how the aid programme works, and what you need to do to access it.

At $28,000 in tuition, AUS is substantially less expensive than comparable US-accredited institutions in the US itself — while offering ABET, AACSB, and NAAB accreditation, a deeply international campus, and direct access to the Gulf's largest employment market. For students from the MENA region, South Asia, and Africa, AUS offers the academic credential without the transatlantic relocation cost.

Both merit scholarships and need-based grants are available to international students at AUS. Unlike many universities that limit financial aid to domestic students, AUS's aid framework is open to all enrolled students meeting the relevant criteria.

AUS financial aid requires separate applications depending on the type of support sought. Here is the complete process.

AUS's financial aid programme is fully accessible to international students. Both merit scholarships and need-based grants are available without restriction by nationality — a distinction from many institutions that limit international student aid.

Approximate Scholarship Coverage by Academic Standing

Figures are estimates based on AUS's published scholarship criteria. Individual awards depend on annual scholarship competition, seat availability, and full application review. Confirm current awards at aus.edu.

For the highest-achieving applicants (98%+, IELTS 7.0+, strong leadership), the President's Scholarship can make AUS effectively cost-free. For students in the 90–95% range, the Merit Scholarship reduces tuition by 10–20%, with need-based grants available to further offset costs.

AUS operates a parallel merit and need-based aid model. Both pathways are accessible to international students. Here is the full landscape of what is available and who qualifies.

Beyond AUS's own financial aid programme, international students may be eligible for government scholarships from their home countries or international organisations that support study in the UAE.

AUS does not operate a student loan programme of its own. UAE banking institutions and some international financial institutions offer education loans that AUS students can access independently. Understanding this landscape is important for financial planning.

AUS does not have a formal work-study financial aid component like US universities. However, on-campus employment opportunities exist for students who qualify, and UAE regulations allow international students to work part-time under a student visa.

For a high-achieving student targeting an ABET-accredited engineering degree, AUS's net cost (with Merit or Chancellor's Scholarship) can be lower than comparable-quality programmes in the UK, US, or Australia — while providing direct access to the Gulf's engineering employment market.

AUS's scholarship awards are based on the information and documents submitted at the time of application. If your circumstances change, or if you believe your application was not fully reviewed, AUS has a process for appeal and re-evaluation.

AUS scholarship competition is annual and highly competitive. Appeals are most successful when based on a genuine change in financial circumstances, a missing document in the original application, or a demonstrable achievement that wasn't captured in the initial submission.

AUS does not require essays for standard undergraduate admission — the process is grades-based and direct. This guide covers the application process, scholarship personal statements, and how to build the strongest possible AUS candidacy.

AUS uses a direct online application at apply.aus.edu — not Common App, UCAS, or any third-party platform. Standard undergraduate admission requires no personal statement or essay. Applications are evaluated on grades, subject prerequisites, and English proficiency scores. Essays and personal statements are required only for scholarship applications.

The President's and Chancellor's Scholarship applications require a personal statement. While AUS does not publish a fixed word count or verbatim prompt, the scholarship evaluation framework focuses on four dimensions: academic achievement, leadership experience, community service, and motivation for choosing AUS and your intended programme.

Because AUS does not require a personal statement for standard admission, the application itself — your grades, subject choices, and English scores — is the primary statement of your candidacy. Every document you submit is read as evidence of your readiness for AUS-level academic work.

Think of your AUS application as a dossier: each document speaks to a dimension of your readiness. Grades show academic preparation. Subject choices show programme alignment. English scores show language readiness. Good conduct letter shows character. Missing or weak documentation in any dimension creates a gap in your candidacy.

For AUS, the 'essay' is your entire application package. Treat document preparation with the same rigour that US university applicants give to personal statements. A clean, complete, well-attested application file signals the same conscientiousness that a good essay signals at essay-based universities.

Each scholarship at AUS has distinct evaluation criteria. Tailor your application emphasis to match what each scholarship rewards.

For scholarship personal statements at AUS, the most effective approach connects three elements: who you are academically, what you have contributed, and why AUS specifically is the right place for your next chapter.