Admission

The procedures and criteria for admission given in this section are effective as of the date of publication but are subject to change.  The information here is intended for use by students applying for admission for the 2014–2015 academic year.

General Admission Requirements

Applicants to any degree program at the university must submit the following documents to the Admissions  Offices:

  1. An application form* available at the Admissions Offices or online.
  2. Two recent passport-size colored photos.
  3. A photocopy of the Identity Card or Passport (this should be the same as all the nationalities declared in the application form and used during registration).
  4. The High-School grades of the last three years.  The grades should be sent in a signed and sealed envelope, directly to the Admissions Office.  The grades of the last year, or semester should also be sent as soon as they become available.
  5. The official scores of the SAT I (Math, Critical Reading and Writing).
  6. A certified copy of the official Secondary School Certificate and its official Lebanese Equivalence, as soon as they become available.
  7. The Official Freshman enrollment permission and/or the Official exemption from Arabic (issued by the Ministry of Education in Lebanon), if applicable.
  8. Transfer applicants must submit an official transcript of grades, and a catalog from all the colleges, or universities, they have attended.  Undeclared transcripts will not be accepted after enrollment.
  9. Students who are U.S Citizens or U.S. green card Holders must submit along with the application the W-9S form that could be downloaded from the IRS website.
  10. A non-refundable application fee of $50 (L.L. 75,000) payable either in cash, or by credit card for online application.

* All submitted documents become the property of LAU and will not be returned.

English Proficiency Requirements

English is the official language of instruction at LAU and applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in the language by taking one of the following tests:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)**
  • English Entrance Exam (EEE) administered by LAU, which may be repeated at a one month interval.
  • SAT I Writing.

For minimum required test scores, please check the Admissions website.

** Applicants taking the TOEFL should sit for the international test.  Institutional TOEFL is not accepted at LAU.  When registering for the SAT I, SAT II, or TOEFL, please use LAU’s code: 2595.

Admission to the Freshman Class

Holders of a GCE (General Certificate of Education) certificate with only O-levels subjects do not qualify for admission.

Applicants who might qualify for admission to the Freshman class are:

  • Holders of the High School Diploma.
  • Applicants coming from the British system, and having completed a minimum of five subjects at the Ordinary Level, and one subject at the Advanced Level, or two Advanced Supplementary Level subjects, excluding languages.
  • Applicants who have successfully completed one year of the CEGEP (Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel) in Québec, Canada.
  • Holders of the International Baccalaureate certificate from outside Lebanon.
  • Lebanese applicants must obtain, prior to their registration, a permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education, stating that the student is allowed to enroll in a foreign program. To obtain this permission, the applicant must show evidence of having studied outside Lebanon, for at least two years, at the intermediate and secondary level, or three years at the elementary level. The applicant should sit for the SAT I prior to admission but may choose to take the SAT II exams, during the Freshman year i.e. the first year of enrollment at LAU.
  • The Equivalence Committee specifies a minimum score of 2600 for Freshman Arts, and 2750 for Freshman Science, for the six subjects of SAT I and SAT II combined.

The subjects in the SAT II exams, required for applicants to the Freshman Science, are:

  • Mathematics 2C
  • Two sciences from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics

The subjects of SAT II exams, required for applicants to the Freshman Arts, are:

  • Mathematics I or IC
  • Any two subjects can be chosen from the SAT II subject tests.


Admission to the Sophomore Class

Applicants who might qualify for admission to the Sophomore class are:

  • Holders of one of the four types of the Lebanese Baccalaureate:
    • General Science
    • Life Science
    • Economics and Sociology
    • Literature and Humanities
  • Holders of the Technical Baccalaureate
  • Applicants under this category may only choose programs in the same area of specialization as those of their technical degree, or as assigned by the Ministry of Education.
  • Holders of the official Secondary School Certificates, equivalent to the Lebanese Baccalaureate such as the French Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the German Abitur and the Tawjihieh.
  • Lebanese applicants under this category must obtain an official equivalence from the Lebanese Ministry of Education.
  • Applicants who have successfully completed two years of the CEGEP (Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel) in Québec, Canada.
  • Applicants coming from the British system, who have completed a minimum of three subjects at the Ordinary Level, in addition to two subjects at the Advanced Level, or four Advanced Supplementary subjects, excluding languages.

Please note that above applicants with a permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to pursue their education in a foreign program are automatically exempted from the Arabic requirements.

Admission of Transfer Students

  • Students who have successfully completed 12 credits will not have to sit for any Placement Exams. Students who have successfully completed less than 12 credits have to sit for the SAT I.
  • Transfer applicants must submit official transcripts of records, as well as academic catalogues from all the previous colleges, or universities, they have attended, along with the application for admission.
  • The School concerned and the Registrar’s Office evaluate the credits and determine the acceptability of courses to transfer. This evaluation is usually made before registration time. Only courses with a minimum grade of C or better will be considered for transfer purposes.
  • Transfer students coming from an institution of higher education recognized by LAU where English is the language of instruction, are not required to take the EEE or TOEFL. However, if they had not taken any transferable English course in their former institution, these students are given the option of either taking ENG009 Remedial English, or sitting for an English placement test. Transfer students coming from an institution of higher education recognized by LAU where English is not the language of instruction, are required to take the EEE or the TOEFL.
  • Transfer students coming from an institution of higher education not recognized by LAU may be conditionally accepted after satisfying the English requirements for admission at LAU.  If accepted, their admission will be on probation with no transfer of credits.  They must complete 12 new credits in the first semester of enrollment at LAU, 6 of which must be major courses, and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00.  Then, they may petition to the School concerned for transfer of credits if applicable.
  • Students who transfer to LAU from other universities and have Freshman Equivalency will be admitted to Sophomore class and be granted min. 24 credits, in accordance with our practice of granting credits to students based on their Lebanese Baccalaureate Program.  For Sophomore level (or above) courses taken at other universities dated beyond the Freshman equivalency term/date, LAU transfer rules apply.


Admission for a Second Degree

Applicants for the second degree must apply for admission and must complete all the requirements of the School in which they intend to enroll.

Validity of Acceptance for Admission

Acceptance at LAU is valid for one semester. Admitted students who do not register will need to fill out and submit a “Reactivation Application” at the Admissions Office.

Special Programs

Special Students are those who are eligible for admission, and choose to take courses, without working towards a degree.  Students under this category may petition for a degree status. Their eligibility will be decided by the University Admissions Council.

Teaching Diploma

Applicants to the Teaching Diploma must have completed the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Applicants graduating from an institution of higher education recognized by LAU where English is not the language of instruction, are required to pass the EEE, or the TOEFL.

Bridge Program

LAU launched the university “Bridge Program” in fall 2013 to enable students who are very close to meeting the regular admissions’ requirements to join the university by giving them a second chance. Students in the “Bridge” Program must register in a specific set of courses during their first year and attain certain admission conditions. Students who successfully complete their first year will move on to their program of study as regular students.