American University of Sharjah
The American University of Sharjah (AUS; Arabic: الجامعة الأميركية في الشارقة) is a private university in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It was founded in 1997 by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Located in University City in Sharjah, AUS has more than 5,000 students from more than 94 countries and a full-time faculty of more than 360 from 48 countries.
Not to be confused with University of Sharjah.
AUS offers 26 majors and 48 minors at the undergraduate level, as well as 16 master's degrees, and a PhD in Engineering Systems Management. The university is organized into three colleges and one school.
The university is licensed by the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (UAE) in the United Arab Emirates, which recognizes all undergraduate and graduate programs. The American University of Sharjah is accredited in the United States by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
History[edit]
The American University of Sharjah was founded in 1997 by the Emir of Sharjah, Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi.
AUS was granted a license by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 1998 and held its first student council elections the same year. The subsequent year saw the university being granted a license by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation.
The development continued with the university launching its first graduate degree—a Master of Business Administration (MBA)—in 2000 and holding its first commencement the following year. The US Middle States Commission on Higher Education recognized this and, after a comprehensive assessment, granted accreditation to the university in 2004.
In 2006, Emir Al-Qasimi inaugurated the new AUS Library.[4]
The university saw its student body cross the 5,000 mark in 2009. In 2010, the AUS Bachelor of Architecture degree program became the first outside of North America to be granted accreditation by the US National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In 2012, Forbes Middle East ranked the AUS MBA program as the best offered by a private university in the Gulf region.[5][6]
University rankings
=332 (2025)
601–800 (2024)
=1381 (2023)
Student life[edit]
Student Publications[edit]
Practical writing experience is available to AUS students through three student publications: The Leopard, Realms, and Arabian Leopard. [18]
The Leopard Newspaper: “A Reason to Roar”: The Leopard is an official university newspaper and the voice of AUS students. The leopard is the official AUS mascot and was chosen because the UAE preserves and protects the Arabian leopard, which is currently on the brink of extinction.
Realm: This magazine was founded as a literary outlet for AUS students.
Arabian Leopard: The Arabian Leopard newspaper gives students the chance to develop and present their Arabic writing skills and creative writing.
Model United Nations[edit]
The American University of Sharjah Model United Nations, or AUSMUN, is an annual high school and university conference organized by the International Studies department at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. [19]
International exchange programs[edit]
The Office of International Exchange Programs was established to provide AUS students and faculty with exchange opportunities, including sending and hosting visiting scholars, aiding faculty members in arranging international study tours, developing exchange agreements with universities around the world, and achieving membership in the top global exchange consortia.[20]
The Office of International Exchange Programs works with AUS students who wish to study at universities in other countries either for a semester or a year. The office also facilitates the admission of international students coming to AUS to study.[21]
In addition to facilitating student exchanges and study abroad, the AUS Office of International Exchange Programs also administers processes enabling faculty-led study tours, visiting scholars, visiting guests, and delegations, tuition exchange programs, and the dissemination of information regarding international scholarships and internships.[22][23]
American universities in the Middle East: