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University Rules and Regulations
FINANCIAL AID
Graduate Assistantship
FINANCIAL AID
AUB offers financial aid to qualified students in the form of need-based financial aid grants
and loans, merit scholarships, student work-study, and graduate assistantships. In 2005�06
the University awarded over $8 million in need-based grants and merit awards, and this
amount is expected to increase for academic year 2006�07. Last academic year an additional
amount of approximately $5 million was awarded in funds for student work scholarships and
graduate assistantships.
Financial need is a necessary condition for a financial aid grant. Need is assessed for each
student, yearly, on the basis of factors such as family income, number of siblings enrolled in
school/university, assets such as home(s), car(s), and other property, and major changes in
financial status. Assessments are made by the Interfaculty Committee for Financial Aid using
an application for financial aid completed by a student and his/her family before the required
deadline. For new students living in Lebanon, an interview is usually required to help the
committee assess need. Further need assessment may be carried out through house visits
when deemed necessary. Need is a necessary but not sufficient condition for financial aid.
Need-Based Financial Aid
Grants are outright grants of assistance for undergraduate students based on demonstrated
need. The purpose of the program is to help academically qualified full-time students who
could not otherwise pursue an AUB education. Amounts vary from a small part of the tuition
to full tuition support. Selection is based first on need and then academic performance.
Students applying for the first time for financial aid may obtain applications from the Office
of Financial Aid, West Hall, American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh 1107
2020, Beirut, Lebanon, or can download the application from the AUB homepage: www.aub.
edu.lb under the link �Admissions� then �Financial Aid.� New students applying for academic
year 2007�08 must complete and submit the application with all required supporting
documents by February 2, 2007. Previous financial aid applicants re-applying for academic
year 2007�08 must complete the application on-line and submit a printed copy of the on-line
application along with supporting documents by March 31, 2007. The required documents
should be delivered in person to the Office of Financial Aid in the West Hall basement. Awards
are usually announced by the end of May for students admitted to the fall semester and by
mid-January for students admitted to the spring semester.
As part of the need-based financial aid program, AUB started a loan program in September
2003 for medical students enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine. In 2004, undergraduate
students in the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, enrolled as a junior or above, also
benefited from this program. The latest extension of the loan program was in 2005 for
nursing students enrolled in their third and fourth year. The purpose of the loan program is
to allow further financial support to students who find it difficult to complete their studies
in these faculties. The students still apply for financial aid as usual; however, if eligible, the
students receive financial assistance as a package in the form of a grant from AUB and a loan
from HSBC or Byblos Bank. Participating students can take the loan during each year of study.
The loan is subsidized by AUB during a student�s years of study until graduation. Accordingly,
AUB pays the loan�s interest, relieving the student from this financial burden until graduation.
After graduation the student starts repaying the loan at a low interest rate over a six year
period. The amount of loans disbursed was $0.7 million in 2003 and reached around $1.6
million in 2005. The University is continuously studying the possibility of extending the loan
program to other faculties/schools.
Merit Scholarships
Each year the university awards full-tuition merit scholarships (excluding room, board, and other fees) to ten highly qualified new students in the freshman and sophomore classes. The awards are made on the basis of academic qualifications alone. Awardees are selected from among successful applicants for admission. No application for financial aid is required. Awards are renewable for each undergraduate year provided that the student maintains a cumulative average of not less than 85.
Student Work-Study
As part of its financial aid program, the University provides all full-time students the opportunity
to participate in its student work-study program. The program allows students to contribute
toward their educational expenses while also developing job skills. Students work in various
campus offices and the Medical Center. Applications are available at the Office of Student
Affairs and must be submitted early in the semester. Placement is made on the basis of ability,
need, and job availability. Students may work a specified number of hours per week; the
hourly rate is based on the type of work performed.
Graduate Assistantship
Assistantships covering partial or full tuition and partial living expenses are available to
students at the graduate level in return for a specified number of hours per week of work for
an academic department. Recipients are selected on the basis of their academic record and
departmental needs. Applications for graduate assistantships for new students are enclosed
in the admissions application package. Continuing students may obtain applications from the
office of the dean of the faculty in which they are enrolled.
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