TOEFL Requirement for AUD: American University in Dubai English Proficiency Guide (2026)

Quick Overview

Before you plan your application, here is the English-proficiency picture at American University in Dubai in one place.

Key Takeaways

• Full Admission for programs taught in English: TOEFL iBT 79 / TOEFL ITP 550 / IELTS 6.5

• Conditional Offer with ENGL100: Developmental English: TOEFL iBT 68 / IELTS 6.0 TOEFL ITP 500

• AUD is an ETS authorised TOEFL ITP test centre: you can therefore sit the paper-based test on our campus

• Exemptions if you have IB, A-Level, AP results or transferred-in English credit: contact AUD directly to confirm

• The TOEFL iBT test has been re-designed from 21 January 2026: the test is now shorter (approximately 90 minutes) and adaptive. Your score is reported using the same 0-120 band scale as previously, as well as a 1-6 band score comparable to IELTS until 2028.

• Application Fee: AED 420. Priority deadline for Autumn start: usually March or April.

• The information here was last updated on 17 August 2026: please return to this page to check again. TOEFL cut-offs, fees and exchange rates are subject to change between intakes, so please contact AUD directly to confirm.

Introduction

Are you wondering if your TOEFL score is good enough for the American University in Dubai? Not anymore. Thousands of Indian students apply to AUD every year and wonder how much of a TOEFL score is needed for their preferred course, and what happens if it is not met. AUD is an ETS-authorised TOEFL ITP testing centre, which means they take the English language proficiency of their students seriously. Now, there is a TOEFL requirement for AUD, but it is not a fixed number. There are two bands, and exemptions. Here is everything you need to know about the TOEFL, IELTS, EmSAT English requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate studies at AUD, what the 2026 TOEFL changes mean for you, how IGCSE, IB and other education boards are treated, and more. Let us get started.

English Proficiency Tests AUD Accepts

American University in Dubai requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency by achieving a satisfactory result on one of the four following tests: TOEFL iBT (internet-based test), TOEFL ITP (institutional paper test), Academic IELTS, or EmSAT English. AUD is an ETS-Authorized TOEFL ITP testing center which allows students to take the paper test at the university, rather than at another designated testing center. Apart from the TOEFL and IELTS, international English proficiency tests, the EmSAT English test is also available in the United Arab Emirates. Thus, there is no best test; instead, it is rational to choose the one you are more comfortable with and for which testing centers are available.

What TOEFL Score Do I Need for AUD Undergraduate Admission?

AUD’s general requirements are categorized into two English-score bands. There are also distinctions to be made between full admission (direct degree entry) and minimum bands, which are as follows:

• Full admission (direct degree entry): TOEFL iBT – 79, TOEFL ITP – 550, Academic IELTS – 6.5, EmSAT English – 1550. Students meeting this level of proficiency will gain direct admission to their chosen degree program with no additional English courses.

• Minimum band: TOEFL iBT – 68, TOEFL ITP – 520, Academic IELTS – 6, EmSAT English – 1400. This level also qualifies you for admission, with the exception that you must take the ENGL100: Developmental English course along with the degree courses.

• An English Bridge program (Center of English Proficiency) is available for students not meeting the minimum proficiency standards for enrollment in degree-credit courses.

These bands generally apply to all of AUD’s Colleges with the exception of the Business and Engineering Colleges, which have additional requirements detailed below.

What TOEFL Score Do I Need for AUD Graduate Programmes?

For the master’s programmes at AUD, including the MBA, MSc in Artificial Intelligence, and Construction Management, the cut-off level of English proficiency is Academic IELTS 6.5, TOEFL ITP 550, TOEFL iBT 79, or EmSAT English 1550. 

Applicants who have completed their degree in an English-medium education system in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, or the USA are exempt from additional tests like TOEFL. This rule is not fully extended to the Indian education system; therefore, contacting the graduate admissions office of AUD is advised to confirm whether a candidate who has studied their degree in an English-medium institution in India is required to take the TOEFL test or not.

The New TOEFL iBT Format You Should Know About

If you are currently studying for the exam, one change is of particular interest to you. Starting 21 January 2026, TOEFL iBT Reading and Listening tests will be multistage adaptive meaning that the questions change depending on your answers. Additionally, test takers will have a significantly reduced total testing time, only about 90 minutes, while your scores will be reported using a CEFR-linked 1.0-6.0 band scale, in addition to your current 0-120 score, at least until 2028. Your target of roughly 79 points on the TOEFL iBT (which corresponds to the minimum score for unrestricted AUD admission) is not changing, at least for the time being, but you might need to update your practice materials if you want to familiarize yourself with the new test format.

Our guides on the new adaptive TOEFL Reading format and why you should still take the TOEFL in 2026 cover this change in more depth.

Can I Skip the TOEFL at AUD? IB, A-Level and AP Exemptions

AUD admission requires an English (and Math) proficiency test unless you already hold credit for higher-level coursework. Students transferring credits from a recognised foreign institution, or completing the IB diploma, A-Levels, or the Advanced Placement programme, can apply for exemption from the English test or the university's Math placement test. For AP, a grade of 4 or higher on the relevant subject examination qualifies you for proficiency credit, which you claim by submitting an official AP score report to the AUD Admissions Office. AUD does not publish a fixed IB exemption policy, since this is assessed case by case, so IB students should contact the Admissions Office directly to confirm eligibility for a test exemption.

IGCSE and Other High School Systems: What AUD Requires

For IGCSE, GCSE, CBSE and other non-Emirati high school programs, AUD does not have a standard grade equivalence table the way it does for the UAE Ministry of Education graduates. Documentation needed is: attested high-school transcripts for the past 3 years, attested copy of your high-school diploma or certificate, plus a certificate of equivalency from the Ministry of Education here in the UAE. Documents issued outside of the UAE need attestation from your local education ministry, your local ministry of foreign affairs and the UAE embassy in your country (or an equivalent chain for the country of graduation). Given the variation between different school systems and programs, please contact the Admissions Office to know which grades are needed for your desired program rather than referring to any publicly available information.

What Else Does AUD Require Besides English Test Scores?

English is only one part of AUD's admission picture. Alongside the English-proficiency requirements above, applicants must also demonstrate Math proficiency, most commonly through the SAT Math score (AUD's SAT institution code is 2688): 590 for Engineering and Biology, and 560 for BBA, B.Arch, and the BFA/BA/BCIS programmes.

Engineering and Business applicants also require a satisfactory secondary-school level of course work in Mathematics, Physics, and one Science subject. Additionally, Engineering applicants must pass AUD's Computer Proficiency Exam. Since these requirements are subject to change at AUD's sole discretion, you should contact AUD's Admissions Office to confirm all details related to your proposed program of study.

Students that fail to satisfy the Math requirement will be placed in the appropriate remedial Math class rather than denied admission.

AUD Application Deadlines for the 2026 Intake

AUD uses a rolling early/late deadline policy, as opposed to a hard cut-off date.

• For the fall semester: early applications are typically due by March/April (to guarantee priority enrollment consideration for early classes), with late applications accepted until approximately July/August.

• For the spring semester: early applications are typically due by October/November, with late applications accepted until around December/January.

• For summer I and summer II: there is no early admissions period; both early and late applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Please note that these dates can vary from year to year, and it is best to check the official Academic Calendar on AUD's website before applying.

AUD Application Fee and Other Costs

AUD charges a non-refundable application processing fee of AED 420 (INR 10,907) upon presentation of a valid application. In addition, upon acceptance, a non-refundable reservation deposit of AED 5,000 (INR 1,29,850) needs to be paid, which will be deducted from the first term’s tuition fees.

Undergraduate tuition fees are set at AED 53,025 per semester (AED 106,050 per academic year) on a tuition-fee only basis. With the inclusion of the Services and Technology Fee, the total amount is increased to AED 54,025 per semester and AED 108,050 per academic year. The five-year B.Arch program operates on a higher-credit load scheme and its total fees have to be determined separately.

How to Apply: Documents and the AUD Student Portal

Applications are submitted online through AUD's applicant portal at applyonline.aud.edu, where you upload your academic documents and test scores and track your application status. Once admitted and enrolled, you get access to a separate student portal that connects your class schedule, AUD MyMail (student email), and online fee payment through My Finances. Along with your English test score, keep the following ready before you start your application:

• Completed online application form

• Official, attested high school transcript covering the last three academic years

• High school diploma (original, for verification)

• Certificate of Equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education (except for UAE Ministry curriculum graduates)

• Passport copy with validity page, UAE residency visa copy, and Emirates ID (if applicable)

• Completed Health History Form, signed and stamped by a physician

• TOEFL, IELTS, or EmSAT English score report, plus SAT Math score if applicable

What This Means for Indian Students

For Indian applicants, the preference between the IELTS Academic and the TOEFL iBT exams is generally based on personal considerations, since both tests are widely held as accessible throughout the country at IDP, IELTS and TOEFL-authorised centres.

If your CBSE, ISC, or state-board exams were not conducted in English, you should budget time for the test, as well as a possible retake, if your score falls in the conditional band (68-78 TOEFL iBT). Our TOEFL Retake Policy 2026 and TOEFL Refund Policy 2026 will guide you on how the rescoring of the test, retake, and refund would take place.

Certificate attestation is a process that students applying from India tend to overlook, where your class 12 mark sheets need to be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs and the UAE Embassy before the AUD admissions office can issue you an equivalence certificate, which might take a while. Thus, it is necessary to start the certificate attestation process as soon as possible, preferably right after your board exams are over, to beat the early application deadline.

Our documents checklist for UAE university admission and UAE student visa guide will help you understand attestation and visa procedures step by step in detail, so that you are not surprised when your AUD offer letter finally arrives.

TOEFL and IELTS test results are generally valid for two years, while EmSAT scores are valid for 18 months, within the United Arab Emirates for most universities. However, there is no official statement about score validity on AUD’s own admissions page. Therefore, please contact the AUD Admissions Office to confirm whether your English test results are still valid before applying with older scores.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming that one TOEFL registration is sufficient : Many students study only for the 79 score and do not realize that even with a 68-78 mark, the candidate will be able to get in, but with an additional English course.

• Submitting an old TOEFL ITP score : Most test scores have validity and it is essential to check if the score submitted is currently valid as per AUD requirements.

• Not applying for the equivalency certificate for transcripts from abroad : An un-evaluated or non-evaluated transcript from overseas could hold up the application process even if the TOEFL score is valid.

• Not applying for the Math/SAT requirement : Having a good TOEFL score is often not enough, especially for the programs of engineering or business.

• Getting your provisional EmSAT or SAT English band results or unofficial transcripts as a benchmark: A lot of the unofficial results that float around, especially regarding the EmSAT English bands for different undergraduate programs, are often not reflective of what the AUD expects. It is essential to contact the admissions office to clarify the cut-off for your desired program.

• Applying late : Though applications are accepted throughout the year, it is always better to apply earlier as space is limited, and documents attestation takes time, especially for Indian students.

How Study From UAE Helps

Figuring out which English test band applies to your specific AUD programme, and whether an IB, A-Level, or AP exemption applies to your case, is not always straightforward from the published pages alone. Study From UAE helps Indian and South Asian students shortlist the right UAE universities, compare admission requirements side by side, and understand what a TOEFL, IELTS, or EmSAT score actually means for a specific programme before you sit the test.

You can use the Compare Universities tool to weigh AUD against other Dubai universities side by side, take the Find Your University Quiz to shortlist programmes that fit your profile, and use the Budget Calculator to plan tuition, living costs, and scholarship-adjusted expenses for your chosen city, without piecing information together from multiple sources.

Conclusion

The TOEFL requirement for AUD is more flexible than a single cut-off score suggests. A TOEFL iBT score of 79 will get you placed directly into degree courses, while 68-78 will allow entry with an additional English course, and finally below 68 (or IB, A-level, AP, or transferred credits) means no TOEFL exam at all. Coupled with a cleared Math placement, attested transcripts, and a copy of your UAE equivalency certificate, your application packet for AUD is complete as it needs to be. Remember to clear all the latest requirements, deadlines, course prerequisites, and fees on AUD’s official admissions page, as they do tend to change between intakes. Discover your options for studying in UAE with Study From UAE and invest in your future.