More than 100 new graduate students begin master’s and PhD studies at AUS this semester

More than 100 highly qualified students pursuing a variety of graduate programs began classes at American University of Sharjah (AUS) on September 1, bringing the total number of graduate students at the university to 420.

Renowned for its academic excellence, AUS consistently attracts top students from within the UAE and abroad. AUS currently offers 14 master’s degrees and one PhD program in fields ranging from business administration to engineering systems management. The new students were welcomed to AUS with a tailored orientation session held August 28 on campus.

One of the reasons AUS has become a favorite for graduate students in the region is the opportunities it offers students to gain research and teaching experience through the graduate assistantship program. In addition to hands-on experience, this program provides students with financial assistance. Work-study opportunities are also available to graduate students at AUS.

Responding to industrial and corporate needs, AUS strives to ensure that its programs reflect current national and regional challenges. This commitment has led to curriculum changes this year in some AUS programs:

The Master of Science in Engineering Systems Management program now has reduced degree requirements, with more focus on research skills. In addition, a new theme related to project management has been introduced to serve a wide range of organizations in construction, healthcare, oil and gas, government, and other industries seeking graduates trained in project management competencies.

New courses have been introduced related to recent advancements such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things, 3D Printing, smart city networks and cognitive robotics, among many others.

Talented individuals keen on pursuing quality graduate work to bolster their professional and academic careers regularly choose AUS. This semester, American student Douglas Frederick, who attended Penn State University in the United States for his undergraduate degree, opted to enroll at AUS for his master’s degree in chemical engineering. Explaining his choice, he said:

“When I decided about a year ago that I wanted to do my master’s, I knew then that I wanted to do it outside the US. I wanted to get a more global experience and expand my horizons outside of the world that I was living in. AUS, being a very multicultural university with a very good technical foundation, really attracted me, along with the fact that the medium of instruction here was English. I am very happy to be at AUS and to continue my education here.”

Commenting on the numerous benefits of an AUS degree, Dr. Mohamed El-Tarhuni, Vice Provost of Graduate Studies, said that graduates of these programs could look forward to new career paths, acquire new skills and qualifications, expand their professional network, and become knowledge contributors in their chosen fields. He added that in order to instill a culture of excellence within the graduate student body and recognize graduate students’ achievements, the university holds the University Awards for Excellence in Graduate Studies every year.

The university has thus far graduated more than 1,700 master’s students, many who have gone on to earn their doctorates from prestigious universities around the globe. Others have chosen to assume leadership positions in the corporate and governmental sector both nationally and internationally.

For more information, please visit www.aus.edu/masters-degrees.