American University of Beirut
university
American University of Beirut

American University of Beirut

SoAD teaches design as a cultural practice that engages social, economic and political issues, and as a critical tool of inquiry that integrates process with pr

Daral - Handasah Shair and Parteners Architecture Building, Daral - Handasah Shair and Parteners Architecture Building, Bayrut, Lebanon

About American University of Beirut

The American University of Beirut's (AUB) School of Architecture and Design (SoAD), part of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA), educates approximately 400 undergraduate and graduate students with a faculty of 60 full-time and part-time members. SoAD approaches design as a cultural practice deeply engaged with social, economic, and political issues, serving as a critical tool that integrates process, product, methodology, and representation. The school offers a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA), and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, alongside graduate programs including a Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP), Master of Urban Design (MUD), and an Interfaculty Master of Science in Environmental Sciences with an Ecosystem Management major. Programs aim to produce skilled professionals and critical thinkers committed to advancing their fields, with an emphasis on a culturally grounded, theoretically informed, and technically advanced research-oriented design process. The school benefits from its location in Beirut as both a source and subject of study.
Program NameDetails
Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
Bachelor

The program offers a first professional degree that qualifies students to practice architecture, aiming to graduate well-rounded intellectuals and critical thinkers. Design is approached as a research-oriented process that is culturally grounded, theoretically informed, and technically advanced.

5 Years
English
N/A
Deadline: Fall term only
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA)
Bachelor

The BLA program is the only program of its kind in the MENA region and received accreditation in 2021 making it the first accredited program by the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board (LAAB) from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) outside the USA. The School has a number of research and teaching labs and centers, including the Interdisciplinary Design Practice Program (IDPP)​, Beirut Urban Lab (BUL)​, and the Sawaf Center for Arab Comics Studies.

N/A
English
N/A
Deadline: N/A
Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP)
Master

This program offers a first graduate degree to students interested in acquiring the critical skills necessary to analyze urban contexts and to formulate urban interventions in the form of projects and/or policies. The program emphasizes research skills as primary tools for teaching and learning.

N/A
English
N/A
Deadline: N/A
Master of Urban Design (MUD)
Master

This program offers a first graduate degree to students interested in acquiring the critical skills necessary to analyze urban contexts and to formulate urban interventions in the form of projects and/or policies. The program provides a broad professional education in Urban Design with emphasis on the mastery of the tools necessary for effective practice and development of the skills needed for policy analysis and institutional intervention.

N/A
English
N/A
Deadline: N/A

Performance & Metrics

Institutional Stats
0
Students
0
Faculty
0
Alumni
4
Programs
Accreditations & Affiliations
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Admissions
71% (overall for American University of Beirut)
Acceptance Rate
Deadlines
Transfer (< 54 credits) (Fall 2026-27)
Application deadline: April 30, 2026
Regular Sophomore/Freshman Admissions (Fall 2026-27)
Application deadline: December 20, 2025; Decision notification: by end of March 2026
Early Merit Sophomore/Freshman Admissions (Fall 2026-27)
Application deadline: October 31, 2025; Decision notification: by end of December 2025
Requirements
0: Graduation from high school or a university-recognized secondary school certificate
1: Entrance examination including SAT and English language proficiency test (e.g., TOEFL)
2: For early admission, class rank in the top 25% in grades 10 and 11, and specific minimum SAT scores (e.g., 1360 for first-year Engineering and Architecture taken after January 2016)
3: Regular admission is competitive, based equally on high school (Grades 10 & 11) transcripts (50%) and entrance exam scores (50%)
4: Applicants with an overall average of 13/20 or equivalent in Grade 10 and 11 may be waived from the SAT requirement for admission, but a minimum SAT score (950 for sciences track, 870 for arts track) is required during Freshman Year.

American University of Beirut Academic FAQ

American University of Beirut is SoAD teaches design as a cultural practice that engages social, economic and political issues, and as a critical tool of inquiry that integrates process with pr

The acceptance rate for American University of Beirut is 71% (overall for American University of Beirut), reflecting the selectivity of its academic programs.

Applicants are typically required to submit: Graduation from high school or a university-recognized secondary school certificate, Entrance examination including SAT and English language proficiency test (e.g., TOEFL), For early admission, class ....

American University of Beirut provides a comprehensive curriculum including: Bachelor of Architecture (BArch), Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA), Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP), Master of Urban Design (MUD).

The institution maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of Approximately 6.67:1 (based on 400 students and 60 faculty members in SoAD), ensuring personalized mentorship and studio culture.

American University of Beirut is situated in Bayrut, Lebanon, offering a vibrant context for architectural study.

Yes, American University of Beirut holds accreditations from: [object Object].