American University in Dubai (AUD): Programs, Fees and Admission

American University in Dubai (AUD) is a private, US-model university on a single Dubai campus with students from more than 100 countries. In the UAE it is licensed by the federal Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and permitted by Dubai's regulator KHDA; in the United States it is accredited by SACSCOC to award bachelor's and master's degrees. Undergraduate tuition plus the compulsory services fee is $29,420 (AED 108,050) a year, and the MBA costs about $47,350 (AED 173,880) for 12 courses. AUD reviews each applicant individually rather than publishing grade cut-offs by country, and asks for attested records from the last three school years, a UAE Ministry of Education equivalency, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79, and proof of maths level.

Who AUD suits

AUD fits students who want a SACSCOC-accredited American degree while living and studying in Dubai itself. Its accredited programs point to its strengths: business, four engineering majors, architecture, interior design, journalism and digital media. With complete documents, the admissions committee decides in about a week, and there are two main intakes a year, which helps applicants who missed the spring deadlines of public universities.

For research-led engineering at a lower per-credit price, compare Khalifa University. The closest model in a neighbouring emirate is American University of Sharjah, which publishes explicit grade benchmarks. A British three-year degree is available at Middlesex University Dubai, usually after a foundation year for students from 11-year school systems. See universities in the UAE for the full picture, study in Dubai for the city itself and study in the UAE for all profiles.

Undergraduate programs

• Business: Bachelor of Business Administration.
• Engineering: civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, all four ABET-accredited.
• Architecture, Art and Design: Bachelor of Architecture (166 credits, NAAB-accredited), BFA in Interior Design, BFA in Visual Communication.
• Communication: Bachelor of Communication and Information Studies with majors in Digital Production and Storytelling and in Journalism.
• Game design: BS in Game Design and Development.
• Arts and Sciences: biology, international studies, psychology.

AUD's scholarship rules treat one academic year as 32 credits, so a typical bachelor's takes about four years and the 166-credit architecture degree longer. Fall runs September–December and spring January–April; two summer sessions (May–June and July–August) are optional.

Undergraduate admission

Academic documents

• an attested transcript for the last three years of secondary school and the diploma (original shown for verification);
• literal, word-for-word English translations of all documents;
• attestation by the education ministry of the issuing country, its foreign ministry and the UAE embassy — or by that country's embassy in the UAE and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• the high school Certificate of Equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education, applied for online through the ministry's e-services;
• passport copy and a Health History Form signed and stamped by a physician.

Scans are enough for a preliminary decision; final acceptance follows once originals and translations are received.

Program-specific requirements

English and maths

Direct admission needs IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or TOEFL ITP 550 before the semester starts. With IELTS 6.0 (TOEFL iBT 68, ITP 520) you are admitted to a degree but must take ENGL100 first; lower scores lead to the English Bridge program, during which degree courses are not available.

Maths is shown through SAT Math — 590 for engineering and biology, 560 for other programs — or AUD's ACCUPLACER placement test. Applicants living abroad who did not graduate from a UAE school may take it online for $86 (AED 315); the computer test for engineering, game design and AI in Business applicants costs $41 (AED 150). Each test can be taken once before the semester. IB, A-level or AP results in the subject can exempt you.

Application windows

Admitted students pay a non-refundable $1,360 (AED 5,000) reservation deposit that is applied to tuition, and the full semester balance is due at least one month before classes begin.

Master's programs

AUD offers an MBA; MS degrees in Artificial Intelligence, Construction Management and Innovation Management; MA degrees in International Affairs and in Leadership and Innovation in Contemporary Media; a Master of Education; and a Master of Urban Design and Digital Environments.

Applicants need an accredited bachelor's with a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0, IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or EmSAT English 1550, a CV with two references and a statement of objectives. Holders of foreign degrees must obtain a recognition statement from the UAE Ministry of Education themselves.

A graduate services fee of $140 (AED 525) per semester applies, and admitted graduate students pay a $540 (AED 2,000) deposit. Students without a business background may be assigned foundation modules at $710 (AED 2,625) each. See master's in the UAE for a wider comparison.

Annual cost

AUD's finance office published these rates as of September 2026, so they apply to the 2026/27 intake. AUD reviews fees each year and notes that recent increases have been in the 4–5% range.

Tuition, fees, a shared room, visa and insurance total about $35,470 for a first-year student, excluding refundable deposits. Books are extra; architecture students also need a laptop of around $1,090 (AED 4,000) and materials of around $680 (AED 2,500) a year. Housing fees are non-refundable.

When several children from one family study full time at AUD, each sibling after the first receives a 25% tuition waiver in fall and spring, which cannot be combined with a scholarship. Legal payment routes from Russia are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia, and country-wide prices in cost of studying in the UAE.

Scholarships

The main undergraduate award open to international students is the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship. It is open to all nationalities and programs, requires a 90% average or equivalent and considers financial need. The committee grants a partial or full tuition waiver, awarded for fall entry only and maintained until graduation if conditions are met. Most other schemes target UAE or Arab nationals or graduates of AUD partner schools. Final-year students with a CGPA of 3.5+ can separately apply for 25%, 50% or 100% of their last year's tuition. Applications go through AUD's scholarship portal.

Student visa and insurance

Full-time students without a UAE residence visa can be sponsored by AUD for a one-year student residence visa. Request it through the admissions office at least two months before your planned entry. With documents and fees in order, AUD's visa officer processes sponsorship in about 3–4 working days; approval rests with UAE authorities. Changing status from another visa costs $160 (AED 600), and issuing the visa while in the country $190 (AED 700).

Many nationalities, including Russian citizens, can enter the UAE visa-free for short stays, but study requires a student residence visa. AUD's insurance plan is compulsory for sponsored students and starts only once the visa process is completed, so arrive with your own emergency cover. Leaving the UAE without cancelling the visa forfeits the passport deposit and the right to another AUD-sponsored visa. The country-wide rules are summarised in UAE student visa.

AUD's public pages do not set out part-time work rules, so do not count on job income when planning the first-year budget.

AUD, AUS or Middlesex University Dubai

Preparation timeline

1. September–December of the previous year: choose a program, ask AUD admissions for a grade benchmark for your school system, start IELTS and SAT or ACCUPLACER preparation.
2. January–March: take the English test, order translations and send an early fall application for registration priority.
3. March–May: architecture portfolio; online maths and computer tests for engineering; Sheikh Mohammed Scholarship application.
4. June–July: receive and attest the final certificate, apply for equivalency, pay the $1,360 (AED 5,000) deposit, reserve housing.
5. July–August: request the AUD visa at least two months before entry and pay the semester a month before classes.

Common mistakes

• Assuming a standard grade cut-off. AUD publishes none by country, so ask before paying for tests and translations.
• Submitting summary translations. AUD requires literal, word-for-word translations.
• Skipping the maths test. Without SAT or ACCUPLACER you will be placed in developmental maths.
• Arriving without your own insurance. AUD's policy activates only after the visa is finalised.
• Leaving without cancelling the visa. It costs the $820 (AED 3,000) deposit and future AUD sponsorship.
• Booking housing "just in case". Housing fees are non-refundable, and the $680 (AED 2,500) reservation fee is returned only if admission is refused or you cancel at least 29 days before the term.

FAQ

How much does American University in Dubai cost?

Undergraduate tuition is $14,440 (AED 53,025) per semester plus a $270 (AED 1,000) services fee, or $29,420 (AED 108,050) a year. The MBA costs about $47,350 (AED 173,880) for 12 courses, and most other master's degrees about $39,460 (AED 144,900) for 10 courses.

What are AUD's admission requirements for international students?

AUD reviews each applicant individually. You need attested grades for the last three school years, word-for-word translations, a UAE Ministry of Education equivalency certificate, IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79, and SAT Math or the AUD placement test.

What English score does AUD need?

IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or TOEFL ITP 550 for direct entry. IELTS 6.0 leads to admission with a compulsory ENGL100 course, and lower scores to the English Bridge program before any degree courses.

Does AUD offer scholarships to international students?

Yes. The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship is open to all nationalities with a 90% average and demonstrated financial need. It provides a partial or full tuition waiver and is awarded for fall entry only.

Is AUD accredited?

AUD is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, permitted by KHDA, and accredited in the US by SACSCOC for bachelor's and master's degrees. Individual programs hold ABET, NAAB, AACSB, CIDA and ACEJMC accreditation.

How much does an AUD student visa cost?

The visa fee is $540 (AED 2,000), the refundable passport deposit $820 (AED 3,000) and insurance $870 (AED 3,200) a year, so $2,230 (AED 8,200) on first issue. A change of status inside the UAE adds $160 (AED 600).

How does StudyU help with AUD applications?

Obtaining grade guidance, choosing a program, translations and attestation, test preparation, portfolio review, the scholarship application and the visa file are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission is decided by AUD's admissions committee, scholarships by its scholarship committee, and the visa by UAE immigration authorities.

Sources

• AUD: undergraduate admissions — documents, English, maths
• AUD: placement tests
• AUD: application deadlines
• AUD: tuition and fees and office of finance
• AUD: accommodation fees and refunds
• AUD: graduate admissions
• AUD: scholarships and tuition waivers
• AUD: residence visa fees, visa information, health insurance
• AUD: accreditations
• Russian Foreign Ministry consular department: UAE entry rules, up to 90 days in 180 without a visa

Dollar figures are converted at the UAE dirham peg ($1 = AED 3.6725) and were checked on 29–30 September 2026, rounded to $1 below $100 and to $10 above.

If you want to know which grades and English level your AUD program realistically needs, send an application.

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