American University of Sharjah Fees for International Students 2027: What You'll Actually Pay

Quick Overview

Key Takeaways

• Undergraduate tuition is AED 55,438 per semester for 12 to 16 credits, regardless of major.

• A first year with shared room, insurance, visa and one-time fees amounts to approximately AED 130,866.

• Master's tuition ranges from AED 131,130 (30 credits at AED 4,371) to AED 180,840 for the 33-credit MBA.

• Merit scholarships provide between 10 and 20% tuition discounts and new students may accumulate up to a 55% discount.

• Spring 2027 applications are due 24 December 2026.

• Self-funded Indian families must pay 2% TCS on overseas remittances exceeding ₹10 lakh per annum; loan-funded remittances are exempt.

Introduction

The tuition line on AUS's fee page is a single number, which makes the real cost easy to underestimate. American University of Sharjah fees for international students also include additional expenses like housing, insurance, visa, lab fees and a non-refundable deposit, each subject to a range of VAT (value added tax). This guide compiles all of these costs based on the 2026-27 university schedules, showing what a first year plus full degree course totals to in dirhams and rupees, as well as the scholarships available to help reduce the fees. It also provides the 2027 dates, since the next deadline is closer than most families know.

American University of Sharjah fees for international students in 2026-27

The American University of Sharjah charges AED 55,438 per semester (AED 110,876 a year) for 12 to 16 credits (representing course load) for undergraduate students; the fees on the page do not specify a separate international rate. Every major costs the same, so there's no cheaper degree to hunt for. Two extras can move the number: lab and technology fees of AED 1,552 or AED 1,700 per course, and the English Bridge Program, also called the Achievement Academy Bridge Program, at AED 36,012 a semester.

Master's students pay by credit instead. Here are the main American University of Sharjah fees in AED, with rupees at ₹26.1 per dirham, the mid-market rate on 1 October 2026.

AUS accommodation fees and other costs on top of tuition

A shared room in AUS's residential halls costs AED 7,000 a semester, a semi-private room AED 11,000 and a private room AED 15,000, before a first-year discount of 25%. The discount tapers to 20%, 15% and then 10% in later years. Utilities add AED 290 plus 5% VAT a semester, and an AED 1,000 maintenance deposit comes back when you leave.

Then come the smaller lines. Health insurance Plan I, for students without their own cover, is AED 600 plus VAT a semester, and the student activities fee is AED 422 plus VAT. The application fee is AED 400 plus VAT, and undergraduates also pay a non-refundable AED 5,000 seat deposit. Business and engineering students must buy a designated laptop in their first semester, at a price the fee page doesn't state.

What a full AUS degree costs in Dirhams and Rupees

The American University of Sharjah cost for international students runs to AED 443,504 in tuition over an eight-semester degree, about ₹1.16 crore, and larger majors stretch that further. AUS ties scholarship length to degree size: eight semesters for programmes up to 126 credit hours and nine for 127 to 141. At nine semesters, tuition alone reaches AED 498,942.

Housing adds up too. A shared room across eight semesters costs AED 46,200 once the falling discount is applied, which puts tuition and housing near AED 490,000, or ₹1.28 crore.

Tuition fees also increase, as seen by the 3% rise in undergraduate fees between 2025-26 (AED 53,823 per semester) and 2026-27. An 8-semester degree would then cost around AED 464,000 if fees increased by 3% each year. Treat the eight-semester number as a best case, not a plan. To see how those totals compare with your expected starting salary, try the study in UAE ROI calculator.

AUS scholarships and grants that cut the bill

AUS scholarships for new international students range from a 10 to 20% merit award up to the President's Scholarship, which covers 100% tuition and lab fees for qualifying students who finished secondary school outside the UAE. The President's award also comes with a stipend, housing and three return flights, but it requires IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 94, a near-perfect record and a portfolio. Few applicants are likely to score that high.

Merit awards are the realistic route. They go automatically to students averaging 95% or more in Grades 10 and 11, and Grade 12 marks don't count. A student who lands the 20% tier saves about AED 22,175 a year, or ₹5.8 lakh. New first-time students can combine a merit award, a financial grant (need-based aid) and a family grant for siblings, up to 55% of tuition and fees, which on tuition alone is roughly AED 60,982.

Nothing is guaranteed. Offers are subject to availability of funds, and changing of majors may result in cancellation of a merit award. The deadline for financial grant applications for Spring 2027 is 10 December 2026. For graduate students, consider assistantships which offer a waiver of up to 9 credits per semester plus a stipend of up to AED 20,000, or a combination of both. Compare this with other scholarships in the UAE before making your commitment.

Sending the money from India: TCS, exchange rates and loans

Self-funded Indian families will have to pay 2% tax-collected at-source (TCS) on overseas education remittances over Rs 10 lakh in a financial year, down from 5% that was applicable till March 2026. However, remittances made out of a qualifying education loan will be exempt from TCS. The threshold of Rs 10 lakh will apply to all Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) transactions, not just fees, and TCS will be charged on the amount over and above the threshold. So if one sends the entire amount of one academic year in one go, Rs 34.2 lakh, TCS will be levied on the Rs 24.2 lakh that exceeds the threshold, which would come to Rs 48,000.

That tax is paid upfront, but you can claim it back against your income tax so it's a tax liability rather than an addition to your costs. Thresholds renew each 1 April, so a January 2027 start and an August 2027 start fall in different tax years. Families who take out a loan to fund their child's studies are exempt from tax altogether, and Study From UAE's education loan guide for UAE studies compares lenders.

Exchange rates will also cost you, because banks and forex dealers buy and sell for a spread over the mid-market rate of ₹26.1, and levy a transfer fee, so get the remittance rate and all charges in writing before you part with any money. A 1% spread on year one alone would cost you ₹34,000.

Note: Tax rules change often, so confirm the current rate and your threshold with your bank or a chartered accountant before each payment.

Student visa costs and 2027 application dates

An AUS-sponsored student visa costs AED 1,314.5 for two years, including the entry permit, residency, Emirates ID (the UAE's national ID card) and cancellation. Students can't hold full-time or part-time jobs on it. Internships in your field are allowed only with a No Objection Certificate (AUS's permission letter), so don't count on wages to offset fees. Renewal costs AED 756.76 for two years, and you must be inside the UAE to do it.

Timing matters. The entry permit takes one to eight weeks, AUS wants your request at least two months before arrival, and undergraduates must pay the seat deposit first. Don't book flights until the permit arrives. Entering on a visit visa adds AED 656 in change-of-status fees. Our UAE student visa guide walks through the documents.

Applications for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027 open on 19 October 2026. Spring applications close on 24 December 2026, with classes starting 11 January 2027. For Fall 2027, early file completion is 5 July 2027 and classes begin 23 August 2027.

Note: AUS calls these dates tentative, so confirm them on the admissions page before you book anything.

Conclusion

Tuition at the American University of Sharjah for international students reaches approximately AED 130,866 in year one and AED 490,000 in total per degree with shared rooming. If a merit scholarship still leaves you with a shortfall you can't fund, consider the value of Sharjah compared to Dubai before spending the AED 5,000 deposit. Study From UAE counselors can create this side-by-side comparison of tuition amounts for you, including which AUS scholarship tier or accommodation option would suit your budget, as a completely free consultation.