Study in the United Arab Emirates (in Arabic, English) - ISEP Direct
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Study in Sharjah, considered the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World”! Stroll the palm tree-lined walkways of the Al Majaz waterfront as you explore a thriving arts scene, incredible shopping, museums, cafes, and beautiful Islamic architecture. Nearby, enjoy Dubai (just an hour away), desert landscapes, and the coastal lagoons and mangroves of the Gulf of Oman.
• Limitless course options! Deepen your understanding of business, liberal arts, communication, design, or the investigative sciences by exploring them through the unique intersection of the Arab Gulf, the Middle East, and the world at large.
• Beyond the classroom, AUS students enjoy a vibrant campus life with access to a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs, athletic teams, and associations. The study abroad office not only helps you get involved with these opportunities, but they also work hard to provide a welcoming and comfortable home base for all international students.
• AUS is a fully ABET (Engineering), NAAB (Architecture) and AACSB (Business) accredited institution serving a diverse student body from the region and from around the world.
LIFE ABROAD
The stunning city of Sharjah offers a rich environment that led UNESCO to declare it the Cultural Capital of the Arab world in 1998. The endless arts areas, souqs, and museums will keep you exploring for hours on end. Sharjah is also uniquely located on world trade routes and is the only Emirate with direct access to the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
LIVE
Find your home away from home while living in one of the on-campus student resident halls. Every resident hall is fully equipped with a computer lab, laundry room, games (like a pool and foosball table), and Wi-Fi connectivity.
DINE
Dining options are around every corner at AUS. These include on-campus grocery and convenience stores, several food outlets, coffee shops with access to a variety of Arabic and Western drinks, and in-room kitchenettes for preparing your own gourmet meal. Many students also order from nearby off-campus restaurants that deliver directly to the resident halls. ISEP Direct students can expect to spend approximately 520 USD per month on food.
EXPERIENCE
The International Exchange Office (IXO) offers an exciting schedule of outings and activities throughout the semester, including a city tour to get to know Sharjah and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
EXPLORE
The Global Day Festival at AUS is one of the largest events on campus—don't miss it! Students from all over the world set up booths representing their home culture through food, drink, music, language, traditional clothing, and more. When you are ready to see more of the U.A.E., consider a trip to the desert, sea kayak in the Gulf of Oman, or spend a few hours or even a few days in Dubai, which is just an hour away. When you are ready to relax, Sharjah Beach is the perfect place to catch the ocean breeze.
THRIVE
The Academic Support Center on campus offers services to support you throughout your experience at AUS. Utilize resources such as disability accommodations, peer mentors, and student success workshops to help make your time abroad a productive and fruitful experience.
What We Love About AUS
With vast academic options, almost any major can study at AUS—and it’s easy to make friends! From chess to gastronomy to women’s empowerment, the variety of clubs at AUS provides an exciting opportunity to get involved in campus life.
See ISEP Direct budget and estimated expenses
Course Description
As a student at the American University of Sharjah, course options are almost boundless! While the table below represents some of our more popular course options, AUS provides an opportunity to explore the convergence of culture and religion through virtually any subject. Study arts, history, communication, film or global business. Investigate biology, environmental sciences or engineering through a different lens. Or study architecture and design by uncovering first-hand how some of the most ancient structures and palaces in the world were created.
Credits Earned
Students who complete the program in good standing can expect to earn similar numbers of credits as a U.S. semester institution –12-15 credits is standard. Grades and transcripts are issued in the U.S. letter grade system of A-F.
AUS classes are primarily 13-14 weeks within a 17-18 week semester. Classes are usually 3 credit hours and meet for approximately 3 hours per week (M/W/F or T/Th).
Sample Classes Available:
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Business |
Biology |
Political Science |
International Relations and Global Studies |
Engineering |
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Business Law |
Ecology |
Comparative Politics |
Globalization |
Applied Aerodynamics |
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International Study Tour |
Genetics and Molecular Biology |
American Foreign Policy |
War and Peace-The Middle East |
Biomedical Systems Modeling |
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Financial Accounting (Graduate) |
Principles of Neuroscience |
Public International Law |
Global Political Economy |
Fluid Mechanics |
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Introduction to Business |
Microbiology |
Politics and Civil Society in the Middle East |
International Security |
Thermodynamics |
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Philosophical Foundations of Business Research (Graduate) |
Medical Parasitology |
International Organizations |
Imperialism |
Design of Experiments |
For detailed instructions on how to search for all available courses, please click on the "other academic conditions" dropdown link below.
American University of Sharjah
AUS is located in the Emirate of Sharjah, in the beautiful setting of University City, about a ten-minute drive from the border with Dubai. The beautiful campus buildings reflect Islamic...
Academics
Other Academic Conditions
How to Find Available Classes
The quickest way to search for courses available in any given semester is to view the specific schedule for the upcoming semester as well as previous semesters.
The Fall schedule of courses is typically uploaded to the Banner system by mid-March, and the Spring courses by mid-October each year. If courses are not yet uploaded, check the previous Fall for as a basis for the current Fall course-offerings and the same goes for the Spring. Similar offerings in the fall and spring respectively are not always guaranteed and may differ slightly.
Students can also look at the course catalog for information on all courses offered at AUS, although please note that not all courses are offered each semester.
Arabic Language Courses
- Arabic as a Second Language courses are not offered regularly at the American University of Sharjah. Arabic language classes are often available at the elementary level but cannot be guaranteed, as they are subject to a 12-student enrollment minimum.
- Students planning to take courses in Arabic translation, literature, and poetry in Arabic must meet the English language requirements listed above, and submit an additional ISEP Language Evaluation or other official test demonstrating that they have at least a B2 level in Arabic.
Graduate-level Entry Requirements
• 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 a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
• Students in accelerated master's programs (with combined undergraduate and graduate study), having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 are allowed to take master courses if they have already completed the first 3 years of their studies in their home universities, and as long as they meet the requirements for taking the course. This should be explicitly mentioned in the ISEP Course List.
Semester dates typically run as follows:
Fall
Arrival and orientation: Third week of August
Courses start: Last week of August
Exams: Week before Christmas
Spring
Arrival and orientation: Second week in January
Courses start: Last week in January
Exams: Last week in May
If you use financial aid, please speak with a qualified financial aid advisor to understand your academic obligations and the requirements for using financial aid.
NOTE: Psychology courses at AUS are limited. Enrollment in psychology courses cannot be guaranteed.
NOTE: Performing Arts and Voice Classes required an audition upon arrival. Therefore, enrollment cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Proof of English Language Exceptions:
1. Students who undertook all their schooling (K-12) in an English-speaking country.
2. Graduate students who completed a Bachelor’s Degree entirely in English.
3. Graduate students who have completed a Bachelor’s Degree in a university in an English Speaking Country.
Semester & Prices
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