Students

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The AOU was established under the decree 3257 dated June 22, 2000 issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The decree states that AOU is a licensed university and not an institute. All the degrees that the university offers are recognized and certified by the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The Open University – United Kingdom validates undergraduate and postgraduate degrees offered by the Faculties of Business Studies, Computer Studies, and Language Studies and awards a degree in all of them as well.​

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​Your tuition can be divided into 4 installments.

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The language placement tests results do not affect admission decisions but help place the student at the appropriate language level.

Depending on the test results, students who do not meet the language required level will be given remedial courses or students who achieve high results will be exempted from taking the language courses.​

It typically takes seven regular semesters or six regular semesters and two summers​​

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Applications for acceptance are based on the student obtaining the Lebanese Baccalaureate or its equivalent. There are neither set percentages nor required averages for acceptance. The number of acceptances is based on the university’s capacity with respect to its human resources and available facilities. All students are required to sit for an English placement test. In addition:

· Students who do not hold the Lebanese Baccalaureate are required to sit for an Arabic placement test.

· Students applying to join the Information Technology and Computing programme are required to sit for a placement math test. Holders of the Lebanese Technical Baccalaureate (BT3) are exempted from taking the math placement test.

· Students applying to the Elementary Education programme are required to sit for an Arabic placement test.

Applicants from graduate students or students enrolled at another university, and would like to join AOU, will be considered on an individual basis. A certain number of credits could be transferred to the programme of study that they are applying to taking into consideration the specifics of that programme.​

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An open university is a university that operates under the Open Learning System that provides higher education for all students regardless of their age and nationality.

The Open Learning System is characterized by flexibility to accommodate a wide base of learners in higher education thereby offering educational opportunities to qualified applicants in accordance to their needs and abilities. It offers flexibility in tutorial hours, and tuitions. Tutorial hours are offered from 8:00am till 9:00pm evening.

The Open Learning System involves face-to-face tutorial sessions, using educational packages, and requires attendance.

Does the AOU apply the online or distance learning educational system?

The AOU does not apply the online or distance learning educational system. The university adopts various direct and indirect teaching and learning methods as outlined below. During the Covid19 pandemic, AOU resorted to hybrid learning, following the MEHE recommendations.

a. Direct teaching and learning methods:

· Face-to-face tutorial sessions where attendance is mandatory at least once a week. The tutorials are available from 8:00am to 9:00pm and could be organized into 1 or 2 days per week to accommodate working students.

· Office hours, on a one-on-one basis, where students individually meet with their course tutors. These hours aim to help students cope with the topics that they face difficulties with and provide help to students in any other academic issue. Office hours are available till late evening hours, enabling working students to meet with their tutors according to their work schedule.

b. Indirect teaching and learning methods that enhance the learning process:

· Reading materials: Ebooks and interactive books.

· Smart classrooms which enables students to attend classes remotely while interacting and engaging with the classroom.​

· Lectures and PowerPoint presentations: Those are uploaded on Moodle as well as other supporting teaching materials.​

​​Continuous evaluation and assessment is carried out throughout the entire study course period. The final course grade consists of 50% of the Continuous Assessment and 50% of the Final Examination. The 50% of the Continuous Assessment comprises 20% of the Tutor Marked Assignments and 30% of the Midterm Assessment.​

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The Arab Open University is approved by The Open University as an appropriate organization to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University Validated Awards. The accreditation and validation of the programmes, indicates that the level of education at the Arab Open University is the same quality of education as in British universities. Therefore, the students can continue their studies, without the need of any equivalence, at any British university or any international university that recognizes the British degrees.​

​​​​The language of instruction is English for all programmes except for the Elementary education whereby the language of instruction is Arabic.  However, if students are planning to teach English, Physics, Sciences, then the English language will be the language of instruction in their senior year​.​

​MBA applicants are required to sit for a Graduate Entrance Exam (GEE). The results, along with the applicant's submitted documents, will be evaluated by the MBA admission committee and will serve as the basis for admission​​​

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AOU offers the following majors at the post graduate level:

A. The MBA programme which entails the following tracks:

· Business Administration

· Human Resource Management

· Finance

B. The MSc programme which consists of the following track:

· Cybersecurity and Forensics​

C. MA in TEFL

D. Higher Diploma in Education

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The Masters degrees are officially recognized by the Lebanese Ministry of Education.

The Arab Open University is approved by The Open University as an appropriate organization to offer higher education programmes leading to Open University Validated Awards. The MBA, MSc & MA in TEFL programmes are currently validated by The Open University-UK

Upon graduation, the student receives 2 degrees: a British degree from the Open University and a Lebanese degree.​

​​AOU allows you to pursue the MBA programme even if your BA is in any other major. However, you will have to take two 8-credit Remedial Courses as pre-requisites.​

All MBA and MSc applicants are required to sit for an English placement test. The test results do not affect the admission decision but help place the candidate at the appropriate language level.

MBA and MSc Applicants with an evidence of a minimum score of 7.0 for IELTS, or 600 on the paper based TOEFL, 250 for the TOEFL CBT or 100 for the internet based TOEFL  will be exempted from the English placement test (for the test scores to be valid they should have been obtained within the past 2 years) 

​​For the MA in TEFL, students need to achieve Band 6 or higher in the Academic Version of the 'International English Language Testing System' (IELTS) test, OR Achieve a score of 550 or more in the ‘Test of English as a Foreign Language’ (TOEFL) (Paper-Based Test) or the equivalent score in the Computer-Based Test.​​​

​​​​If you have a BS degree in majors such as Mathematics, Physics or Computing with Business, you should complete additional 12 credit-courses from the BSc information technology and computing (ITC) programme before starting the MSc programme. This would be essential to confirm that applicant has the necessary underpinning knowledge and understanding to undertake the MSc.​

​​​The MBA and MSc programmers take typically two years of study. However, if you wish to take less credits during a particular semester, you may do so, taking into consideration that it will increase the time needed to complete the programme.​

​​To complete the MBA/MSc programme, you need 48 credits.​

​​​​Your tuition fees can be divided into 4 payments during each semester.​

​​​All classes are given after 5:00 PM, so it should not conflict with your working hours. To note that each class is given once a week for 3 hours.​

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You need to fill out the online application form and bring it to the Student Affairs Office along with the required documents.

Applications for the MBA is on the following link:
Apply Now

Applications for the MSc is on the following link: 

Apply Now

Applications for the MA in TEFL is on the following link: 

Apply Now​