American University of Beirut

Freshman Year Guide

​​​The Guide to the Freshman Year includes information about the Freshman Program, such as course load and requirements, course offerings, transfer to major processes, and other important information.​​​​​

Before reading this supplementary guide, please refer to the Freshman Program section of the catalogue available at the following link.

The catalogue is the most important reference for freshman students and contains important information related to: credit requirements, transfer requirements, available courses, math placement, and advising. The following guide provides supplementary information that is useful to freshman students but is not found in the Freshman Program section of the catalogue.​

Credit Load

Freshman students are allowed a maximum load of 17 credits per semester and 9 credits during the summer term, and a minimum load of 12 credits per semester and no minimum in the summer term. Students who wish to register for more than 17 credits (overload) or less than 12 credits (underload) must petition (through OFPS) the Undergraduate Student Academic Affairs Committee (USAAC) for permission to do so. Requests are handled on a case-by-case basis and must have valid justification. For freshman students only, USAAC will allow them to underload with 9 credits in their first or second semester without justification.

Freshman Equivalence

The Freshman Equivalence equates your freshman year to the Lebanese Baccalaureate. 

The Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education requires applicants to the freshman class, given that they have received permission to pursue higher education based on a foreign program, to take the SAT I.

At the time of registration for the freshman class, students should check with their advisors to ensure that the number of credits and types of subjects taken during their freshman year are in compliance with the specifications of the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.

The total score of the combined redesigned SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics, must be at least 950 for the sciences track and at least 870 for the arts track.

Upon completion of the freshman class at AUB, students who have secured this permission are entitled to have their freshman class equated to the Lebanese Baccalaureate by the Equivalence Committee of the Ministry of Education. Students must provide evidence of having received the Lebanese Baccalaureate, or its equivalent, for promotion to the sophomore class or equivalent classes in other faculties/schools.

The process for requesting equivalence can be accessed here 

​Premedical Students

The requirements for premedical students can be found in the Faculty of Medicine's section of the Graduate Catalogue at the following link. To be able to take the required premedical courses, freshman students are advised to take the following courses at the freshman level: BIOL 101, CHEM 101, CHEM 101L, and PHYS 103 (or PHYS 101). Specific majors commonly targeted by premedical students may require freshman students to take additional courses to join those majors, as specified in the Freshman Program section of the catalogue.

Useful Links

Online AUB Catalogue (AY 2025-26)
Freshman Checklists (according to intended major)
Online Petition and Forms System (OPFS)
AUB Office of the Registrar 
FAS Calendar​

Useful Centers and Offices

Counseling Center

Personal counseling is offered to AUB students to help them identify and address their issues and problems. These may include anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, sexual abuse, eating disorders, relationship, and family problems, learning disabilities, or any psychological difficulty students might experience. In fact, there are no restrictions as to what can be discussed in counseling.

West Hall, 2nd floor, Room 207
ext. 3196
Email: [email protected]

Accessible Education Office

AUB strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers due to a disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), you are encouraged to contact the Accessible Education Office in order to help establish reasonable accommodations and facilitate a smooth accommodations process.

West Hall, 3rd floor, Room 304, 306, and 306B
Ext: 3151, 3144, and 3181
Email: [email protected]

​The Writing Center

The Writing Center aims to enrich the culture of writing at AUB by conducting research and by supporting writers and teachers of writing. The center promotes writing as a tool for thinking, a way to demonstrate learning, and a means of expression. It offers free writing consultations to AUB undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.

West Hall, Basement Level, Room B24
Ext: 3157
Email: [email protected]

The Math Tutoring Center

The Math Tutoring Center (MTC) provides free peer-to-peer tutoring in Mathematics courses for AUB undergraduate students. The Center also offers solving sessions and crash courses during the semester.

Tutoring is available Monday to Thursday, 2:00–5:00 PM.

Location: Ada Dodge Hall – Faculty Lounge.

For more information, contact [email protected]​​

Bliss Hall 3rd floor
Ext: 4210
Email: [email protected]

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