Before reading this supplementary guide, please refer to the Freshman Program section of the catalogue available at the following
link.
The catalogue is the most important reference for freshman students and contains important information related to: credit requirements, transfer requirements, available courses, math placement, and advising. The following guide provides supplementary information that is useful to freshman students but is not found in the Freshman Program section of the catalogue.
Credit Load
Freshman students are allowed a maximum load of
17 credits per semester and 9 credits during the summer term, and a minimum load of 12 credits per semester and no minimum in the summer term. Students who wish to register for more than 17 credits (overload) or less than 12 credits (underload) must petition (through OFPS) the
Undergraduate Student Academic Affairs Committee (USAAC) for permission to do so. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis and must have valid justification. For freshman students only, USAAC will allow them to underload with 9 credits in their first or second semester without justification.
Freshman Equivalence
The Freshman Equivalence equates your freshman year to the Lebanese Baccalaureate.
The Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education requires applicants to the freshman class, given that they have received permission to pursue higher education based on a foreign program, to take the SAT I.
At the time of registration for the freshman class, students should check with their advisors to ensure that the number of credits and types of subjects taken during their freshman year are in compliance with the specifications of the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.
The total score of the combined redesigned SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics, must be at least 950 for the sciences track and at least 870 for the arts track.
Upon completion of the freshman class at AUB, students who have secured this permission are entitled to have their freshman class equated to the Lebanese Baccalaureate by the Equivalence Committee of the Ministry of Education. Students must provide evidence of having received the Lebanese Baccalaureate, or its equivalent, for promotion to the sophomore class or equivalent classes in other faculties/schools.
The process for requesting equivalence can be accessed here
FYEx@AUB
The Freshman Year Experience (FYEx@AUB) is designed to ensure success in the Freshman Program at AUB. It supports your transition to the university, guides major selection, enhances community building, and matches you to endless opportunities on and off campus. The modules are self-paced, interactive, and offer a head start in both personal and career journeys!
FYEx@AUB has two main components:
1.
Main Modules
The two main modules are the Freshman-Year Success Workshop Series and the Freshman-Year Seminar.
-
Freshman-Year Success Workshop Series
The workshop series aims to help you transition into university life, adapt to a constantly dynamic world, and effectively navigate your social, educational and career journeys. The workshop series (2-3 hours online) will cover the following topics:
Leadership in a Changing World--Teamwork and Conflict Resolution--Time Management and Work-Life Balance--Major and Career exploration
This module is in collaboration with the AUB Writing Center. It aims to orient students towards practices of writing and working with texts that are essential in liberal arts education. It is structured around intensive writing, reading, and small group discussions, to support the acquisition of research, analytic, and communication skills needed for a university education.
2.
Freshman Interest Group Modules:
Modules offered by Freshman Interest Groups are optional short intense (two-week) online courses offered during Winter and Summer Semesters. The FIGS modules facilitate the applications of academic subjects in the 'real world'. Students can only sign up for one FIG during each semester.
Coding with applications to Visual Arts—Entrepreneurship -- Math in the Real world-- Robotics
Premedical Students
The requirements for premedical students can be found in the Faculty of Medicine's section of the Graduate Catalogue at the following
link. To be able to take the required premedical courses, freshman students are advised to take the following courses at the freshman level: BIOL 101, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, and PHYS 103 (or PHYS 101). Specific majors commonly targeted by premedical students may require freshman students to take additional courses to join those majors, as specified in the Freshman Program section of the catalogue.
Important Dates to Remember
(Please refer to the University Calendar for possible changes in dates)
On-Campus New Student Orientation
| August 18 – August 20
|
| Advising for Fall 2025-26 | August 19 – August 20
|
| Fall 2025-26 online course registration for new and continuing students | August 21 – August 22
|
| Drop and Add for the Fall semester 2025-26 | August 26 – August 29
|
Advising for Spring 2025-26
| November 3 – November 7
|
Inter-Faculty/School online transfer applications for Spring 2025-26
| November 3 – December 1
|
| Last day for withdrawal from courses for the Fall semester | November 14
|
Spring 2025-26 on-line course registration
| November 11 – December 5
|
Inter-Faculty/School online transfer faculty decisions for Spring 2025-26
| December 15 – January 5
|
| Drop and Add period for the Spring Semester 2025-26 | January 13 – January 16 |
| Interfaculty transfer Fall 2026-27 first intake applications | April 2 – April 30 |
| Advising for continuing students for the Summer 2025-26 and Fall 2026-27 | April 7 – April 10 |
| Last day for withdrawal for Spring Semester | April 9 |
| Summer 2025-26 online registration for continuing students according to the Registration Guide | April 13 – August 16
|
| Fall 2026-27 online course registration for continuing students | April 22 – August 7 |
| Interfaculty transfer Fall 2026-27 first intake faculties decisions | May 18 – June 8 |
| Spring 2025-26 grade submission deadline for all Faculties/Schools except MD Program. Students who completed the Freshman requirements can request Freshman Equivalence | May 20 |
| Change of schedule for Summer 2025-26 (drop & add) | June 2 – June 5 |
| Interfaculty transfer Fall 2026-27 second intake applications | July 5 – July 31 |
| Interfaculty transfer Fall 2026-27 second intake faculties decisions | August 11 – August 24 |
Useful Links
Online AUB Catalogue (AY 2025-26)Freshman Checklists (according to intended major)Online Petition and Forms System (OPFS)AUB Office of the Registrar
Useful Centers and Offices
Counseling Center
Personal counseling is offered to AUB students to help them identify and address their issues and problems. These may include anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, sexual abuse, eating disorders, relationship, and family problems, learning disabilities, or any psychological difficulty students might experience. In fact, there are no restrictions as to what can be discussed in counseling.
West Hall, 2nd floor, Room 207
ext. 3196
Email: [email protected]
Accessible Education Office
AUB strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to a disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), you are encouraged to contact the Accessible Education Office in order to help establish reasonable accommodations and facilitate a smooth accommodations process.
West Hall, 3rd floor, Room 304, 306, and 306B
Ext: 3151, 3144, and 3181
Email:
[email protected]
The Writing Center
The Writing Center aims to enrich the culture of writing at AUB by conducting research and by supporting writers and teachers of writing. The center promotes writing as a tool for thinking, a way to demonstrate learning, and a means of expression. It offers free writing consultations to AUB undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.
West Hall, Basement Level, Room B24
Ext: 3157
Email:
[email protected]
The Math Tutoring Center
With the help of graduate students, the Math Tutoring center prepares students for their courses through guided tutoring.
Bliss Hall 3rd floor
Ext: 4210
Email: [email protected]