Al-Ahliyya Amman University
جامعة عمان الأهلية
Jordan's first private university, founded in 1990, with credit-hour fees and entry averages published for every programme.
- Student–faculty
- 14.8:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- JOD 2,310
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1990
- QS World Ranking
- #643
- 2027 edition
About AAU
Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) was founded in 1990 as Jordan's first private university, starting with faculties of Law and Arts and Sciences. It has since grown to cover engineering, pharmacy, information technology, nursing, allied medical sciences, architecture and design, dentistry, business, hospitality and tourism, agricultural technology, educational sciences and technical education, with graduate programmes run by a Faculty of Graduate Studies. Its 2026/2027 brochure lists 15 faculties and more than 60 programmes.
The language of instruction is English, although some courses are taught in Arabic. AAU publishes a clear price list: every bachelor's programme has a credit-hour fee (in Jordanian dinars for Jordanians, US dollars for other nationalities) and a minimum Tawjihi average, lower for non-Jordanians than for Jordanians. Engineering and pharmacy need 80% from Jordanian applicants, dentistry 90%.
Teaching is organised in two 16-week semesters and an optional summer term, with a blended model in which about a third of each course is delivered online. AAU suits students from Jordan and the wider region who want an English-taught professional degree at a private university with transparent entry rules.
Why students choose AAU
Entry averages are published for every programme, and non-Jordanian applicants face lower thresholds (e.g. 65% instead of 80% for engineering).
Dentistry, pharmacy, engineering and allied health programmes such as physiotherapy, optometry and audiology sit on one campus.
New programmes include Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Electric Vehicle Engineering, and Data Science and AI.
AAU has an internal and external scholarship policy, and discounts are handled by its Finance Department.
Admissions
2026/2027 second semester (March 2027) and 2027/2028 first semester (autumn 2027)
Selectivity
AAU does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission is by minimum secondary school average per programme: 60% for most programmes (Jordanians) and 50% for non-Jordanians, rising to 80%/65% for engineering and pharmacy and 90%/80% for Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Typical entry requirements
| Tawjihi or equivalent (Engineering) | 80% for Jordanians, 65% for non-Jordanians |
|---|---|
| Tawjihi or equivalent (Pharmacy) | 80% for Jordanians, 65% for non-Jordanians |
| Tawjihi or equivalent (Doctor of Dental Surgery) | 90% for Jordanians, 80% for non-Jordanians |
| Tawjihi or equivalent (Information Technology) | 75% for Jordanians, 60% for non-Jordanians |
| Tawjihi or equivalent (Business, Arts, Education) | 60% for Jordanians, 50% for non-Jordanians |
| Foreign secondary certificates | Accepted as equivalents; nationals of Kuwait, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Malaysia, UAE, Oman and Libya also need an approval letter from their cultural attaché |
| English language | Teaching is in English with some courses in Arabic. Undergraduates take an English placement test in their first semester and must pass remedial courses if they fail. For master's programmes AAU lists TOEFL iBT 59 to 90 or IELTS 5.0 to 6.5 depending on the field. |
Deadlines
- First semester 2026/2027: late registration without financial loss Non-binding Next deadline · In 20 days22 October 2026
Classes began 18 October 2026; add, drop and late registration without financial loss ran 18 to 22 October.
- Second semester 2026/2027 starts Non-binding In ~5 months7 March 2027
Classes begin 14 March 2027. Apply before the semester starts.
AAU does not publish fixed application deadlines; applications open online and registration follows the academic calendar. The 2026/2027 calendar sets the first semester from 11 October 2026 and the second from 7 March 2027, with a summer semester after that. Dates for the 2027/2028 first semester are not yet published.
How to apply
Apply online through AAU's admission portal (EduGate) and submit a certified original secondary school certificate, passport copy, two photos, birth certificate and, for Jordanians, ID and (for men) the military service book. Syrian students add a security card or proof of Gulf residency, and several nationalities need a cultural attaché approval letter. New students pay for at least 12 credit hours in their first semester.
What admissions looks for
- A secondary school average at or above the programme minimum, which is lower for non-Jordanians.
- A certified school certificate recognised in Jordan, with cultural attaché approval for some nationalities.
- Readiness to study in English: placement tests in the first semester decide whether remedial courses are needed.
- For transfer students, a good-conduct certificate and certified transcripts (up to 66 credit hours can be transferred).
Tips for applying to AAU
- 1 Check your nationality's threshold: non-Jordanians need lower averages, for example 65% instead of 80% for engineering.
- 2 Budget by credit hour: non-Jordanians pay in US dollars (US$120 to US$600 per credit hour) plus US$575 registration per semester.
- 3 Plan for the Arabic, English and computer placement tests in your first semester; failing adds non-credit remedial courses.
- 4 Ask the Finance Department about discounts and instalments before you register: new students pay for at least 12 credit hours in their first semester whether or not they register for them.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in JOD
AAU has internal and external scholarship policies and offers discounts through its Finance Department, including sibling discounts. Non-Jordanian students pay in US dollars: US$120 to US$600 per credit hour depending on the programme (e.g. business US$175, engineering US$200, pharmacy US$230, dentistry US$600), plus US$575 registration per semester; these are not converted into dinars here.
- US$120 to US$600 (about US$5,775 a year for business at 33 credits)
- Non-Jordanian tuition (per credit hour, 2026/2027)
- 375 JOD (Jordanians) or US$575 (non-Jordanians); dentistry 500 JOD or US$750
- Registration fee per semester
- 75 JOD or US$120
- One-time admission fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Two 16-week semesters plus an optional summer semester; 2026/2027 classes begin 18 October 2026 and 14 March 2027
Doctor of Dental Surgery
200-credit, five-year programme with the highest entry average (90% for Jordanians, 80% for non-Jordanians); 390 JOD or US$600 per credit hour.
Pharmacy
162 credits; 80% minimum average for Jordanians and 65% for non-Jordanians.
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering
One of seven 160-credit engineering programmes, alongside Electric Vehicle, Biomedical and Communications and Computer Engineering.
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
132-credit IT programme at 110 JOD or US$175 per credit hour.
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
Allied medical programmes of 134 credits, with 70% / 55% entry averages.
Law
AAU's founding faculty from 1990; 141 credits with a 65% minimum for Jordanians.
Research
- The Hourani e-Learning Center runs AAU's online assessment system and blended learning, in which a third of each course is delivered online.
- AAU's Sustainability and International Ranking Center coordinates its participation in THE Impact and other rankings.
- Graduate programmes include master's degrees in cybersecurity, data science and AI, biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical sciences.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Nursing
- Faculty of Information Technology
- Faculty of Architecture and Design
- Business School
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Faculty of Graduate Studies
Student life
AAU's single campus in the Amman area is entered through its landmark arched gate. The Deanship of Student Affairs, founded with the university, organises student clubs, sports, career counselling, transport and accommodation, and publishes the student newspaper. Classes follow a blended model, so some course time is online through VClass or Microsoft Teams. All students, including non-Jordanians, must pass a comprehensive exam to graduate.
- Deanship of Student Affairs runs clubs, sports and career counselling.
- Blended learning: about a third of each course is delivered online.
- Transport services organised by the university.
- A compulsory comprehensive exam before graduation.
Location
AAU's campus is in the Amman area; the university's own campus map is centred at about 32.05 N, 35.78 E. Transport is among the services organised by the Deanship of Student Affairs.
Nearest airport: Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
Notable alumni
- OA Ola Al-FaresJordanian journalist and television presenter at Al Jazeera; law graduate
- IM Iman MutlaqFounder and CEO of Sigma Investments and the INGOT Group; bachelor's in business administration
- AA Ahmad Abu Al-SoudFirst Jordanian gymnast to medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships; graduate student in sports science
Frequently asked questions
What average do I need for Al-Ahliyya Amman University?
For 2026/2027 most programmes need 60% for Jordanians and 50% for non-Jordanians; engineering and pharmacy need 80% (65% non-Jordanian) and dentistry 90% (80%).
How much are AAU's fees?
Fees are per credit hour: 70 to 390 JOD for Jordanians and US$120 to US$600 for non-Jordanians, plus a registration fee each semester (375 JOD or US$575).
Is AAU taught in English?
Yes. English is the language of instruction, though some courses are taught in Arabic.
When does the semester start at AAU?
In 2026/2027 classes begin on 18 October 2026 for the first semester and on 14 March 2027 for the second.
Does AAU offer scholarships?
Yes. AAU has internal and external scholarship policies, and the Finance Department handles discounts such as sibling discounts.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to AAU in the QS World University Rankings 2027.