Academic freedom is the freedom for faculty to discuss all relevant matters in the classroom, to pursue other professional academic activities related to student learning and research, and to explore all avenues of inquiry, learning and instruction in an institution of higher learning. However, academic freedom is accompanied by academic responsibility, which implies faithful performance of assigned academic duties and obligations including a presentation of course content that meets the requirements and learning objectives of each course. Academic responsibility also requires that faculty members make clear that they are not speaking for the institution, unless expressly authorized to do so by AUD, particularly in areas of politics, topics related to religious beliefs, and commercial endorsements. Faculty members should at all times act with integrity, express themselves within the confines of law and competent authority, show respect for the rights of others to hold differing opinions, be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, be culturally sensitive, and make every effort to indicate that statements they make express their own views and not those of AUD.

The American University in Dubai recognizes and will uphold for all its faculty, full-time and adjunct, the freedom to pursue knowledge wherever it may lead, the freedom to test received wisdom, and the freedom to research, review and put forward new, controversial, or unpopular ideas or opinions within the standards of scholarly inquiry and professional ethics, without interference and without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs or any of their rights or privileges as AUD faculty.

Graduate students should contact their Program Director for academic advising and approval of courses prior to registration. Students are encouraged to maintain close contact with their Program Director during their time at AUD. Program Directors provide them with information and perspective related to academic policy and concerns, specific course related problems/issues and other academic matters. However, students are required to become intimately familiar with the various program requirements and necessary requisite coursework and sequencing and are expected to assume responsibility for program planning and course selection. Ultimately the responsibility for fulfilling degree requirements rests squarely with the student.

AUD defines the academic year as a period of time in which a full-time student is expected to complete two semesters (Fall, Spring) of instructional time. AUD’s academic calendar operates on the semester system with each semester consisting of 15 weeks of scheduled classes plus a 16th week for study/make-up classes and final examinations. The Summer sessions are optional and fall outside the academic year. To view the Academic Calendar, please click here.

One unit of academic credit is generally awarded for each scheduled class hour (clock hour) per week; e.g., three hours of academic credit is equal to approximately three hours in the classroom per week. Therefore, for every three hours of academic credit awarded, the student receives a total of approximately 45 hours of instruction per term. Summer sessions entail a higher number of weekly hours.

A student may audit a course at his/her discretion and with the permission of the Dean, Chair or Program Director of the academic unit offering the course. An audited (i.e., not-for-credit) course may not be taken for credit at a later date. The normal fee schedule governs audited courses.

At the graduate level, classroom activities and the learning process in general can be greatly enriched through the active participation of students. It is therefore expected that students will contribute continually to the learning outcomes of the program by attending all class sessions and bringing their diverse professional backgrounds to bear on the lectures, discussions, presentations, and other classroom activities.

While attendance will be taken at the start of each class session, it is not attendance per se, but the amount and quality of class participation that may, at the discretion of the instructor, be included in the evaluation plan and final grade determination for the course.

The weight assigned to class participation may vary depending on the subject matter and nature of each course, but will not exceed 15% of the final grade. Instructors will state their policy on class participation in their course syllabi, including the weight assigned to class participation in the final grade determination.

Graduate students (including those taking Foundation courses) who do not register for two consecutive terms will be considered “inactive” and will be notified of their status by their program’s Academic Committee in writing. Inactive students will be required to make their plans known to their Program Director, also in writing, regarding resumption of their studies. As a rule, students who are inactive for two consecutive terms beyond the first two, i.e., for a total of four consecutive terms of non-registration, will be terminated. Exceptions to this rule must be approved by the respective Program Director on a case-by-case basis.

Should inactive students who have been dropped from a graduate program eventually decide to resume their studies, they will be required to apply for readmission to the program. Approval of readmission will not be automatic but will be decided on a case-by- case basis.

A student desiring to re-enroll at AUD after a period of one year from the official date of withdrawal or inactivity is considered a new student. Should the student decide to resume their studies, they will be required to apply for readmission to the program and will be required to complete the degree in accordance with the Graduate Catalog in effect upon their re-enrollment.

A student desiring to re-enroll after less than a one year period since the official date of withdrawal should contact the Registrar’s Office to initiate the reenrollment process.

All graduate course work and other requirements must be completed no later than five calendar years from the date of initial admission to the graduate program. Study terms, inactive terms during which the student was not registered in any courses, and, if relevant, the three-terms time limit for completion of a thesis (plus the one-term extension, if applicable) will all be counted in determining adherence to this time limit. However, terms during which the student was registered in Foundation (non-600 level) courses will not be counted in this determination.