Study in the UAE a Semester!
Institution
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.
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. 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.
Students are able to apply for the ISEP Exchange or ISEP Direct program. The major different between these two programs is how fees are structure. On the ISEP Exchange program students pay Appalachian tuition and fees plus the ISEP Full Exchange Fee. On the ISEP Direct program students will be billed the ISEP Direct program fee. Non-resident students should check to see if the ISEP Direct cost will be less than Appalachian out of state tuition rates.
ISEP Chance of Placement - Very Limited to Limited (students should have another ISEP exchange program with a Good or better chance of placement as a backup or be prepared to go Direct)
Academic Calendar
- Fall Semester: Mid August to Late December
- Spring Semester: Mid January to Mid May
Housing
Students on the Sharjah program will stay at university arranged housing.
Students participating on the ISEP Exchange program option will pay the ISEP Full Exchange Program Fee to Appalachian and will not pay housing or meal costs to the UAE university.
Financial
Program Costs
Paid to Appalachian State
1The OIED Program Development Fee will be placed on students’ accounts upon acceptance by the Education Abroad Office. The fee payment confirms your spot and is non-refundable.
Estimated Additional Costs
| |
Semester |
| ISEP Application Fee |
$100 |
| ISEP Placement Fee |
$375 |
| ISEP International Health Insurance |
Varies by Program |
| Airfare |
$1200 - $1800 |
| Additional Meals |
$100 - $200 |
| 1Personal Expenses |
$1500 - $2000 |
| AUS Activities Fee |
|
| AUS Health Clinic Fee |
$110 |
| Housing Deposit |
$275 |
| Books and Materials |
$250 - $400 |
| Local Transportation |
$150 - $300 |
| Visa (for US Citizens) |
$215 |
| Passport |
$150 |
| 2US Based Health Insurance |
Varies |
| 3Personal Travel and Spending |
$1000 - $2000 |
1Personal expenses includes but is not limited to: toiletries, cell phone, emergency funds, laundry, clothing, utilities, basic travel and entertainment, etc.
2Students are encouraged to maintain a US based health insurance plan while abroad (to exempt out of AppState insurance students must follow the App exemption process - proving that they have insurance coverage for the entirety of the semester.
3Personal Travel and Spending amounts will vary by student and will be affected by how often a student goes out, travels, and the items they purchase.
Please note that non-billable costs are estimates only and will be affected by personal spending habits, currency fluctuations, etc. Prices listed in USD unless otherwise noted.
Students are encouraged to start planning for their study abroad program costs well in advance. Please use the Student Financial Planning Worksheet to help estimate your anticipated expenses and your anticipated financial resources. When planning for estimated additional costs students are encouraged to research currency conversion rates. To see a total of the estimated costs for this program please visit the program budget sheets: Fall, Spring, Academic Year.
Financial Aid
The majority of financial aid and scholarships can apply to semester and year-long study abroad programs. For more information please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid web page.
Scholarships
OIED Scholarships
Each semester OIED offers a variety of different scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2000.
Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program application is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Fund for Education Abroad
Applicants from groups underrepresented in study abroad and those destined for non-traditional locations are given preference, in an effort to make the demographics of U.S. undergraduates studying abroad reflect the rich diversity of the U.S. population.
For information about additional scholarships please visit our External Scholarships web page.
Academics
Sharjah offers courses taught in English across a range of disciplines. For more information about course offerings please visit the ISEP Sharjah webpage.
All students are expected to maintain at least the equivalent of a full time course load according to Appalachian State and the host university while abroad (whichever is greater). Students participating on the ISEP program will be required to enroll in 12-18 credits per semester. For more information about study abroad enrollment policies, credit approval, and credit and grade conversions please visit the Academics section of our website.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and some programs may fill up before the listed deadline. Each year applications for Fall, Spring, and Summer will open up on August 1st. Once open the deadline will be listed below and an Apply Now button will be available at the top and bottom of this page. Most applications will have a 2 part application process so students are encouraged to complete their OIED application well before the listed deadline.
Students applying to an ISEP program should complete the
ISEP application while also completing the Appalachian application.
For more information about deadlines and how to apply please visit our
Guide Me web page.
