Program Snapshot
The American University of Sharjah in the Middle East serves a diverse student body from the region and around the world. Sharjah's culture, firmly rooted in Islamic traditions, embraces courtesy and hospitality, making it a welcoming place to live and study. Courses are taught in English and students have an opportunity to study architecture, business, engineering, humanities, Arabic and more. In addition, AUS's School of Business and Management recently received the highly coveted AACSB accreditation, making it an ideal location for business students interested in working with the Middle East.
- ISEP-Exchange Regular University Courses. Take regular university courses taught in English in a variety of fields.
- ISEP-Direct Middle East and Arabic Language Studies. Focus on Middle Eastern studies while taking Arabic, including speaking and listening labs.
Fast Facts
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (pop. 800,000)
Student Enrollment: 5,300
Language of instruction: English
www.aus.edu
Course Catalog
International Student Services (for assistance with incoming visas)
Location
Sharjah was awarded the 1998 UNESCO Cultural Capital Award for the Arab World. The Ruler of Sharjah has two Ph.Ds, and places a very strong emphasis on education and cultural preservation through a wide range of
museums. Sharjah is one of the more conservative emirates, with a dress code requiring that both men and women cover their shoulders and legs to below the knee, and avoid wearing revealing/low cut/transparent clothing. There are no alcohol or pork products available in Sharjah.
Sharjah has a wide range of cultural offerings, including traditional souks (the Blue Souk, Fish Souk, Vegetable Souk, Bird and Animal Souk, Plant Souk, etc.), Heritage Village areas, a working port loaded with traditional Dhow fishing vessels, etc.
The emirate of Sharjah is located between the emirate of Ajman to the North, and the emirate of Dubai to the South. Sharjah is located about two hours' drive North of Abu Dhabi. Emirates Road (E-311) connects Sharjah to Dubai (approximately 10 minutes drive) and to Ajman (approximately 10 minutes drive). The Emirate of Sharjah has shorelines situated on both the Arabian Gulf and on the Indian Ocean side of the Arabian Peninsula.
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) provides regular bus service to and from the Rashidiya Station of the
Dubai Metro System. Taxis are readily available throughout Sharjah and the other emirates. See also
transportation options available on campus.
Program Type
Academic year and semester
ISEP-Exchange for International students.
ISEP-Exchange for US students.
ISEP-Direct site for students from all member institutions.
Program Dates
The academic calendar at AUS is affected by the timing of Ramadan and Eid, which changes from year to year. Please note that the weekend days in the UAE are Fridays and Saturdays. The normal academic week runs from Sunday through Thursday. Classes are typically held on a Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday and a Monday/Wednesday schedule.
ISEP-Exchange: Regular University Courses
Academic year: mid-September to early June
Semester 1: mid-September to mid-January
Semester 2: late January to early June.
ISEP-Direct Semester Program in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic Language
Academic year: mid-September to early June
Semester 1: mid-September to mid-January
Semester 2: late January to early June.
Programs
ISEP-Exchange- Regular University Courses:
Arts & Sciences (English Language and Literature; international studies with concentrations in international relations, international economics, Arab studies or Western studies; Mass Communication with concentrations in advertising, print journalism or public relations; Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Sciences with concentrations in biology and ecosystems, or environmental chemistry and analysis; Mathematics)
Engineering (Chemical, Civil, Computer, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical)
Business & Management (Economics; Public Administration; Business Administration with accounting, economics, finance, management, management information systems, marketing)
Architecture & Design (Architecture, Interior Design, Design Management, Multimedia Design, Visual Communication)
Courses for Graduate (Masters) Level
There are 3 options for students to take graduate courses:
1. Senior undergraduate students with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 can register for up to two graduate-level courses while they are enrolled at the undergraduate level.
2. Visiting graduate-level students can enroll in graduate-level courses on exchange, but they must be enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited home institution, be in good standing at the home institution, and have achieved a minimum internet-based TOEFL score of 80.
3. Graduate degree-seeking students must meet all AUS graduate admissions requirements, and must have achieved an undergraduate degree from a university approved by the UAE Ministry of Education.
Graduate-level programs include: English/Arabic Translation and Interpreting; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; Engineering Systems Management; Mechatronics Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Computer Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Business Administration; and Urban Planning.
See the
Graduate Programs prospectus
Housing and Meals
ISEP-Exchange students are housed in double rooms with shared kitchenette and bathrooms. Students receive a meal stipend to purchase groceries and cook in their residencies or buy meals at cafes on campus. See
housing information, or
on-campus services
ISEP-Direct students are housed on campus; tuition, room and meals are included in the program cost.
Orientation
A customized orientation program will be delivered by the Office of International Exchange Programs (IXO) to cover specific information relevant to exchange students. The IXO orientation will span three days. The first will be geared towards familiarizing students with AUS and will cover practical and essential topics such as: IXO teambuilding, health services, campus security and safety, cultural considerations (e.g. dress code, male-female interaction), academic terms and issues, IT Department support, public relations (concerning passports and visas), student clubs and organizations, library and campus tour, academic codes of conduct, banking, etc. The second day will focus on the practicalities of setting up a bank account, getting student IDs, signing up for sports activities, and touring the library. Finally, the third day will focus on familiarizing students with Sharjah (and how to get around).
Student Activities
AUS has approximately 70
student organizations and clubs for students to participate in, 33 of which are cultural clubs (e.g. Emirati Club, Iranian Club, etc). A wide range of
cultural events are available for students. AUS maintains a
Sports Complex, and a varied Athletic program with 21 sports teams. The
Office of International Exchange Programs plans a schedule of exchange student activities each semester.
Profile
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and Chair of the Board of Trustees and President of AUS. Consciously based upon American institutions of higher education, AUS is thoroughly grounded in Arab culture and is part of a larger process of the revitalization of intellectual life in the Middle East.
AUS is a leading comprehensive coeducational university in the Gulf, serving students from the region and around the world. Admission is based on qualifications only, without regard to race, color, gender, religion, disabilities, age, or national origin. AUS is accredited by: the U.S. Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the U.S. Department of Education in the State of Delaware, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the United Arab Emirates; all Engineering programs are accredited by ABET; and the School of Business & Management is successfully progressing toward accreditation with the AACSB.
AUS is located in the Emirate of Sharjah, in the beautiful setting of University City, about ten minutes' drive from the border with Dubai. It is situated between the Sharjah International Airport and Dubai International Airport, and is approximately two hours away from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The beautiful campus buildings reflect Islamic architectural traditions.
Total student enrollment in Fall 2010 was approximately 5,300 students, with a total of 351 full-time faculty. Twenty percent of the student population is Emirati, and the remainder of the 'top 10' nationalities at AUS includes students from Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. There are a total of 82 nationalities represented among the student population of AUS.
ISEP-Exchange programs allow students to participate in reciprocal exchanges with students at ISEP member institutions worldwide, while paying their home university tuition. Students attending US universities that are ISEP-Exchange members are eligible to apply for these programs at other international ISEP-Exchange member universities. Chances of placement vary by location.
ISEP-Direct programs allow students to enroll directly in a host institution abroad, instead of exchanging places with another student. Chances of placement are typically excellent for qualified applicants and some sites offer special academic programs and excursions. Students attending US universities that are either ISEP-Exchange members or ISEP-Direct members can participate in ISEP-Direct programs abroad.
Visit the ISEP Directory Page for more info
Visit the ISEP Home Page
