Quality education is a prime consideration at LAU. The Admissions Office considers all applicants on the basis of their qualifications, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, disabilities, age or national origin.

Information, procedures and criteria for admission for the academic year 2023–2024 are effective as of the date of publication, but remain subject to change.

Admission Requirements

The following documents are required to process an application by the Admissions Office:

• Applications can be completed online.
• One recent passport-size color photo.
• A photocopy of the identity card or passport of the nationality to be used in the registration process at LAU.
• A clear photocopy of your Family Civil Status record (For Lebanese and Arab nationals).
• Official transcript from the schools you attended for the last three years, signed and sent in a sealed envelope directly to the Admissions Office, or mailed directly from the schools to the Admissions office.
• Official SAT I or the ACT scores.
• Certified copies of all official certificates or diplomas when available.
• For students entering as freshman: Official freshman enrollment permission or the official exemption from Arabic, issued by the Ministry of Education in Lebanon, if applicable.
• Transfer applicants must submit official transcript of grades and the academic catalogs of colleges or universities attended. Undeclared transcripts will not be accepted after enrollment.
• For U.S. citizens or U.S. green card holders, the W-9S form to be completed and submitted. The W-9S form may be downloaded from www.irs.gov

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:

• The International Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)¹
• English Entrance Exam (EEE) administered by LAU ( may be repeated at a one month interval). View the exam schedule here.
• SAT I Writing
• ACT Writing
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

For minimum required test scores, visit Admissions.

¹ Applicants must register for the International TOEFL using LAU’s code 2595; Institutional TOEFL is not recognized at LAU.

Admission to the Freshman Year

Applicants who might qualify for admission to the freshman year are students who completed grade 12 and are:

• Holders of a high school diploma.
• Applicants coming from the British system with a minimum of six subjects at the Ordinary levels, and one subject at the Advanced level or two Advanced Supplementary subjects, excluding languages.
• Applicants having successfully completed one year of the Collège d’Enseignement Général et Professionnel (CEGEP) in Québec, Canada.
• Holders of the International Baccalaureate Certificate from abroad.
•  All applicants, prior to their registration, must secure a permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to enroll in a foreign program. Students should contact the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for the permission, and for the requirements to equate the freshman year with the Official Lebanese Baccalaureate.

Holders of a General Certificate of Education (GCE) with only Ordinary level subjects do not qualify for admission.

Admission to the Sophomore Year

Applicants who might qualify for admission to the sophomore year are:

• Holders of one of the four types of the Lebanese Baccalaureate: General Science, Life Science, Economics and Sociology, or Literature and Humanities.
• Holders of the Technical Baccalaureate. Applicants under this category may choose only programs in the same area of specialization as their technical degree, or as assigned by the Ministry of Education.
• Holders of official secondary school certificates equivalent to the Lebanese Baccalaureate, such as the French Baccalaureate, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the German Abitur, and the Tawjihieh.
• Applicants who have successfully completed two years of the Collège d’Enseignement Général et Professionnel (CEGEP) in Québec, Canada.
• Applicants coming from the British system with a minimum of six subjects at the Ordinary levels, and two subjects at the Advanced level or four Advanced Supplementary subjects, excluding languages.
• Holders of the non-Lebanese official Diplomas must secure an official equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate from the Lebanese Ministry of Education.

Note: Applicants who have obtained permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to pursue their education in a foreign program are exempted from Arabic requirements.

Admission of Transfer Students

Transfer students need to take the following into consideration to be eligible for admission:

• Applicants who have completed less than 12 credits must sit for the SAT I.
• Certified transcripts of grades and the catalogs from all colleges or universities attended must be submitted. Undeclared transcripts will not be accepted after enrollment.
• Prior to registration, the Registrar’s Office and the school involved review and assess the adequacy of the courses for transfer purposes. Only courses with a minimum grade of C or above are considered.
• Transfer students from an institution of higher education recognized by LAU and where English is the language of instruction are not required to take the EEE or TOEFL. Applicants not having any transferable English course from their former institution may take Remedial English (ENG009) or sit for an English Placement Test and LAU. 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 must fulfill the English requirement for admission. Their admission remains probationary with no transfer of credits until they have completed 12 new credits (6 credits in major courses) in the first semester of enrollment with a minimum GPA of 2.50/4.00. Only then may they petition to the school for transfer of credits, if applicable.
• Transfer students with freshman equivalency are admitted to the sophomore year and granted a minimum of 24 credits. For sophomore-level courses and above taken at other universities and dated beyond the freshman equivalency term/date, LAU transfer rules apply.

Admission for a Second Degree

Applicants for a second degree must apply for admission and must complete all the requirements of the school intended.

Validity of Acceptance for Admission

An offer of admission to an applicant is valid only for one semester. If applicants accepted for a specific semester do not register and wish to defer their admission, they must complete and submit a Reactivation Application available at the Office of Admissions.

Special Programs

“Special” students are those who are eligible for admission and choose to take courses without working toward a degree. Students in this category may petition for a degree status. Decisions are made by the University Admissions Council.

Teaching Diploma

Applicants to the Teaching Diploma must have completed the requirements for a 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.