admissions

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION INFORMATION

Selection of Candidates.

Each year students from the U.S., Greece and approximately thirty-eight (38) countries enroll at AUA. In addition to their accredited high school records, recommendation letters, and placement test scores, the candidates’ special abilities and interests are also considered carefully during the evaluation process with a strong commitment to minority recruitment, equality of the sexes. Based on this  AUA is proud of its history of providing opportunities for students from various educational and cultural backgrounds and from many geographic regions.

Requirements for Freshman Students.

Application.

Students are encouraged to file an application of approximately sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of the semester of enrolment to ensure adequate time for all necessary records to be received and evaluated. The application must be accompanied by the €100 application fee, which covers a part of the processing expense and is not refundable.

The processing of this completed form by the Office of Admissions will immediately designate the student as a final applicant to AUA. Subsequently, a copy of Secondary School Credentials must also be filed with the Office of Admissions: The Personal Statement and Recommendation Letters are most important, but not compulsory.

The evaluation of an applicant’s credentials begins as soon as all of the application materials have been received.

A Copy of Secondary School Credentials.

International students are eligible to apply for admission to The American University of Athens as undergraduates if they have completed the equivalent of an accredited American secondary school education (approximately twelve years of formal education starting at age six) and have the appropriate diplomas or satisfactory results on  examinations. Applicants should refer to the table below, to find the admission requirements for the country (-ies) in which they have completed their secondary education.

All documents written in a foreign language must be accompanied by a notarized English translation. Please note that both documents are required – the original in the language of the applicant’s school and the English translation. These documents must be signed in ink by the appropriate official of the applicant’s school and must have the institution’s seal.

Country of Secondary Credentials Required for Admission.

  • Algeria Baccalaureate exam scores and certificate.
  • Australia (New S. Wales) Higher School Certificate (Matriculation).
  • Australia (Queensland) Senior Certificate.
  • Australia South Matriculation Certificate.
  • Australia (Tasmania) Higher School Certificate, Ordinary Level Exams.
  • Australia (Victoria) Matriculation Examination/Higher School Certificate.
  • Australia Western Leaving Certificate.
  • (Matriculation)/Certificate of Sec. Education.
  • Belgium Bekwaamhekisdiploma dat Toegang verleent tot het Hoger Onderwijs, or Certificat d’ etudes moyennes Superieurs or Getulgschrift van hoger middel baar onderwijs and transcript.
  • Canada (Quebec) Transcript of 1 year CEGEP or Secondary V Leaving Certificate and Transcript.
  • Canada (Ontario) Secondary School Honor graduation Diploma and Transcript.
  • Canada (other provinces) High School Diploma and Transcript
  • Cyprus Apolyterion and School Transcript.
  • Denmark Studentereksamen scres and Certificate.
  • Egypt General Secondary Education Certificate and School Transcript.
  • Finland Yloppilastutkinto or Student Examenbetyg exam scores and Certificate.
  • France Baccalaureate and exam scores.
  • Germany Abitur including exam scores.
  • GREECE Akadimaikon Apolyterion (Official or certified copy by an attorney or police station)
  • Iceland Studentsprof (from Verzlunarskoli) and exam scores or Studentsprof (from Manntaskoli) and exam score.
  • India Senior Secondary Certificate.
  • Iran Certificate of Completion of Higher Secondary School with Final exam scores.
  • Iraq Baccalaureate and exam score.
  • Israel Bagrut and School Transcript.
  • Italy Maturita and School Transcript.
  • Jordan General Secondary Certificate and School Transcript.
  • Lebanon Baccalaureate Part II and exam scores.
  • Libya General Secondary Education Certificate.
  • Morocco Baccalaureate II and exam scores.
  • The Netherlands Eindexamen/V.W.O. and exam scores.
  • Nigeria 5 academic passes with grades between 1 and 3 on the West African School Certificate.
  • Pakistan Intermediate or Higher Secondary School Certificate.
  • The Philippines National College Entrance Exam and secondary school transcript or transcript from one year full-time post-secondary education and secondary school transcript.
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian General Secondary Education Certificate.
  • South Africa Senior Certificate/Standard 10 Certificate.
  • Spain Curso de Orientacion Universitaria and school transcript.
  • Sweden Avgangsbetyg/Studentexamen and school transcript.
  • Switzerland Federal Maturitatszeugnis/Certificat de Maturite/Attestato di Maturita.
  • Turkey State Lyceum Diploma.
  • United Kingdom Official GCE: 5 academic Ordinary Level Passes.
  • USA Official transcript of the last four years of secondary school.
  • Russia and CIS Attestat o stednem obrazovnil/Transcript and diploma from secondary education and/or specialized secondary school.

If the applicant’s country is not listed and there are questions about the proper accredited credentials, the applicant should contact the Office of Admissions. Students who are applying during their last year of secondary school should clearly state the certificate they expect to receive and when. They should send an official school transcript with the application and send the credentials listed above as soon as they are available.

All documents are kept by AUA and certified copies of original documents (certified only by the applicant’s country’s legal authorities, attorney or police station), are accepted in place of the originals. In such a case, the applicant is required to present the originals at least once to an admissions officer.

An applicant WILL NOT BE ADMITTED if he/she has not submitted one of the above mentioned secondary school diplomas.

The following documentation is recommended but NOT required.

    • Personal Statement
        • The Personal Statement (essay), a short reflective essay in which the candidate is expected to prove that he or she is the suitable candidate for the course/s you’re applying to.

In the statement the applicant must respond to one of the following questions:

            • What experience(s) led you to the selection of your professional objectives?
            • In addition to the information on your application, what other factors would you like to be considered in evaluating your candidacy? Feel free to include some of your important accomplishments, your goals or your ideas about education.
    • Letters of Recommendation
      • All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from either teachers, counsellors, professors or employers for an estimate of character, maturity, aptitude and readiness for college.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

All courses at AUA are taught in English. It is therefore imperative that the student has a fairly good command of written and oral English language.

Freshman students are required to take the AUA English Understanding Placement Test in order to evaluate their level of English. Native speakers or those who attended an English/American school are exempted.

The English Understanding Placement Test consists of three parts:

  1. Listening Comprehension 50 questions 40 minutes
  2. Structure and Written Comprehension 25 questions 25 minutes
  3. Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension 60 questions 55 minutes

Total: 135 questions 110 minutes

SCORE OF TEST PLACEMENT CRITERIA

Below 40/135 The student is permitted to register only for the course EN 1012 English as a Second Language (15 lecture hours per week: intensive instruction offered in all four basic skill areas of English as a second language, speaking, listening, reading and writing. No credits will be awarded for this remedial English course).

Over 40/135 The student must register for the course EN 1013 English Composition (6 lecture hours per week: the course concentrates on the basics of English composition, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary use and grammar.

No credits will be awarded for this remedial English course. The student is permitted to register for other courses, with the consent of the student’s academic advisor.
over 75/135 The student must register for the course EN 1100 English Composition and Rhetoric I (3 credits).
over 100/135 The student can register for the course EN 1102 English
Composition and Rhetoric II (3 credits).

The applicant may want to consider the following equivalencies between tests in English as a Second Language.

  • AUA English Understanding Placement Test 100/135
  • AEB Test in English for Educational Purposes Grade III in listening, reading, writing
  • British Council International English Language Average score of 6 for each
  • Testing Systems (IELTS) Component 5
  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English Grade A
  • Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English Grade C
  • EUROCERT TOEFL
  • International GAUA English as a Second Grade C
  • Language (Cambridge) Based on Extended Curriculum
  • London Chamber of Commerce English for Third Level.
  • Commerce Examination
  • London Chamber of Commerce English for Third Level
  • Business Examination
  • NEAB (JMB) Test in English for Speakers Pass of other Languages
  • Oxford-ARELS Examination (Higher Level) Distinction
  • Oxford International Business English Certificate Pass
  • TOEFL (American Test of English as a Foreign 550 Language)
  • University of London GCE O Level Syllabus B Grade C in English Language
  • University of London Certificate of Attainment Levels 5 and 6 in English (Graded tests)

AUA Further Placement Tests

All freshman students are required to take one of the following AUA Further Placement Tests depending on their interest of study. This is not required if the student is a graduate of an English -speaking school.

Business Administration Students

  1. Listening Comprehension: 50 questions 40 minutes
  2. Structure and Written Expression: 25 questions 25 minutes
  3. Reading Comprehension: 60 questions 55 minutes

Engineering and Sciences Students

  1. Listening Comprehension: 50 questions 40 minutes
  2. Structure and Written Expression: 25 questions 25 minutes
  3. Reading Comprehension: 60 questions 55 minutes
  4. Mathematical Reasoning: 25 questions 30 minutes

Liberal Arts Students

  1. Listening Comprehension: 50 questions 40 minutes
  2. Structure and Written Expression: 25 questions 25 minutes
  3. Reading Comprehension: 60 questions 55 minutes

Students that have scored below 40/135 in the AUA English Understanding Placement Test are required to retake this placement examination after they have successfully completed the remedial course EN 1012 requirement.

Admission of Transfer Students

Incoming transfer students have their credits and coursework evaluated by the AUA administration in cooperation with the respective Chairperson of the department offering the program to which they have been accepted.

The American University of Athens grants transfer credits for courses to candidates with grades higher than “C”, or higher than the minimum passing grades of the relevant grading system.

Example: In some universities in Great Britain the passing grade is 35% and not 50%, thus making the equivalent of “C”, 41%.

Undergraduate transfer students are encouraged to file an application at least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of the semester of enrolment to ensure adequate time for all necessary records to be received and evaluated. Each applicant must arrange for official transcripts of all previous college records to be sent directly to AUA. Current bulletins of all the institutions previously attended may be requested. Additional material may be required for a particular program of study.

The American University of Athens does not grant transfer credit for courses in which the candidate has received grades lower than “C”. Also, it does not grant transfer credit for courses in the student’s field of study and for the student’s native language except for literature courses. Transfer hours are not included in determining the student’s cumulative grade point average. Undergraduate transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 45 semester credit hours at AUA. All required courses for the concentration must also be completed at AUA.

International Students

They are required to submit additional documentation for immigration purposes.

Download here!! the admission or readmission form for Undergraguate degree status

GRADUATE APPLICATION

Application to the School of Graduate Studies requires special forms.

A complete graduation application includes the following items

Application

University degree – certified copy
Official translation in English from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Greek students or a similar official translation for other nationals
Two recommendation forms to be completed by professors and or employers
Resume or curriculum vitae
A TOEFL score of 550, or equivalent, if English is your second language
Personal interview

ADMISSION OF TRANSFER STUDENTS

Credits and coursework of incoming transfer students are evaluated by the Dean and Chairperson of the School of Graduate Studies to determine eligibility. Transfer students with a GPA of “B” or above are allowed to transfer no more than eight credits. They are encouraged to file applications two months prior to the beginning of the semester of enrolment to ensure adequate time for all necessary records to be received and evaluated. Applicants must arrange for official transcripts of all previous college/university records to be sent directly to AUA. International students are required to submit additional documentation for immigration purposes.