Beirut Arab University
جامعة بيروت العربية
A private, non-profit Lebanese university with four campuses, admission exams for every programme and teaching mostly in English.
- Students
- 10,000
- 8,500 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 10.4:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $3,846
- From · 2026-27 (new students)
- Founded
- 1960
About BAU
Beirut Arab University (BAU) was founded in 1960 through the Bir W Ihsan waqf in Beirut's Tariq El-Jadideh district, with academic support from Egypt, and it keeps a close academic relationship with Alexandria University. It is a private, non-profit institution with four campuses: the main Beirut campus, Debbieh (33 km from Beirut, opened 2006), Tripoli and the newest in the Bekaa. BAU reports more than 8,500 undergraduates, over 1,500 graduate students and over 1,500 international students, and more than 120,000 alumni.
Its ten faculties cover Human Sciences, Law and Political Science, Business Administration, Architecture, Design and Built Environment, Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. BAU holds institutional accreditation from Germany's FIBAA, and several programmes carry international accreditation: ABET for five engineering programmes and computer science, RIBA validation for architecture, CCAPP for pharmacy and ACCA for BBA Accounting.
All programmes are taught in English except Law, Mass Communication and Psychology, which are taught in Arabic. Every applicant sits a BAU admission exam for their programme, and medical programmes also interview. BAU suits students who want an internationally accredited professional degree in Lebanon and are ready for a structured, exam-based entry process.
Why students choose BAU
Five engineering programmes (communication and electronics, electrical power, civil, mechanical and industrial) and computer science are ABET-accredited.
The architecture programme holds RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 validation, and pharmacy is accredited by the Canadian CCAPP.
BAU says new applicants can receive up to 35% financial aid on tuition, and it reports more than 5,500 scholarships and aid packages awarded.
Two admission exam sessions for Fall 2027 (February and August 2027) give applicants a second chance for most majors.
Admissions
Spring 2026-2027 and Fall 2027-2028 intakes
Selectivity
BAU does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission depends on passing the BAU admission exam for your programme and is subject to each programme's capacity; Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy also interview.
Typical entry requirements
| Lebanese Secondary School Certificate | General Sciences, Life Sciences or Sociology-Economics branch for all majors (Sociology-Economics holders take extra courses for science-based faculties); Literature and Humanities for selected programmes; plus the BAU admission exam |
|---|---|
| French Baccalaureate, IB Diploma, Arab national certificates, IGCSE/GCE | Must obtain equivalence to the Lebanese certificate from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; GCE route requires 3 A levels or 6 AS levels plus 6 O levels. Students on a 12-year non-Lebanese system enter the Freshman year before the sophomore class |
| Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy | Admission exam in biology, chemistry and physics plus interview; must pass the BAU English exam with at most one intensive English course |
| English language | IELTS 5.5 · TOEFL iBT 68 Minimums: TOEFL iBT 68 (paper 520), IELTS 5.5, SAT I reading and writing 480, or 60% on the BAU English Language Admission Exam. Applicants who fail the BAU English exam take intensive English courses. TOEFL code B516, SAT code 7373. |
Deadlines
- Spring 2026-2027 admission exam Non-binding Next deadline · In ~4 monthsApplications open 19 October 2026; exam 27 January 2027
No separate application deadline is published; the date shown is the exam.
- Fall 2027-2028: first admission exam (all majors) Non-binding In ~5 months24 February 2027
Applications open 16 November 2026; exam on 27 February 2027. The only session for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
- Fall 2027-2028: second admission exam (except Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy) Non-binding In ~10 months5 August 2027
Applications open 4 May 2027; exam on 10 August 2027.
Dates are BAU's published schedule for Spring 2026-2027 and Fall 2027-2028. Applicants to Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy for Fall 2027 must apply by 24 February 2027, since there is no second session for those programmes.
How to apply
Apply online through BAU's admissions portal (or on paper at the admissions office) with your secondary certificate or proof of Grade 12 registration, Grades 10 and 11 transcripts, ID or passport, a photo and a US$50 non-refundable fee. Sit the admission exam for your programme on the published date. Accepted students confirm their place with a non-refundable deposit; acceptance is valid for one academic year.
What admissions looks for
- A pass on the programme-specific admission exam, which tests thinking skills and subject knowledge (e.g. maths, physics and chemistry for Engineering).
- The right secondary certificate branch for your chosen major, or an official equivalence for foreign qualifications.
- English proficiency at the published minimum, or readiness to take intensive English.
- For Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and some other programmes, a successful interview.
Tips for applying to BAU
- 1 Use BAU's published topic lists for the Engineering and Medical admission exams, drawn from the Lebanese Grade 10 to 12 curriculum.
- 2 Apply for Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy by 24 February 2027: they are excluded from the August exam.
- 3 Send TOEFL or SAT scores directly from ETS using BAU's codes to avoid sitting the English exam.
- 4 If you hold a foreign certificate, start the Lebanese equivalence process with the Ministry early.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 (new students) · figures in USD
BAU offers need-based financial aid, a siblings discount, a Lebanese Baccalaureate scholarship, ranking scholarships and athletic scholarships, and advertises up to 35% aid on tuition for new applicants. It reports more than 5,500 scholarships and aid packages awarded and also lists student loan opportunities.
- 5,500+
- Scholarships and aid packages awarded
- Up to 35% of tuition
- Financial aid for new applicants
- US$50
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (Fall and Spring, with a summer term); 12 to 18 credits a semester in science faculties
Architecture
RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 validation; 170 credits at US$228 per credit (plus LBP portion).
Civil and Mechanical Engineering
ABET-accredited on the Debbieh and Tripoli campuses; 150-credit programmes.
Pharmacy
Accredited by the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP).
Medicine and Surgery
204-credit programme with an admission exam and interview; the faculty holds full accreditation status under WFME standards via TEPDAD.
Dentistry
Recognised by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE); endodontology postgraduate programmes accredited by the European Society of Endodontology.
BBA Accounting
Accredited by ACCA, with the Business faculty's bachelor's and MBA accredited by FIBAA.
Research
- The Debbieh campus includes an astronomical observatory alongside engineering, science and architecture facilities.
- The Bekaa campus hosts a Research Center for Environment and Development.
- BAU runs five medical care centres and clinics, including dental, physical therapy and nutrition clinics used in training.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Human Sciences
- Faculty of Law and Political Science
- Faculty of Business Administration
- Faculty of Architecture - Design and Built Environment
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Health Sciences
Student life
The Beirut campus sits in the city's Tariq El-Jadideh district, with a main building, the 12-storey Hariri Building, gardens, the Al Multaqa cultural and art centre, a gym and sports hall. Debbieh, 33 km from Beirut, is a large campus with dorms, a gym, an open theatre and an observatory. Student life runs through artistic, social and cultural, and sports clubs, varsity and intramural sports, and wellness and community engagement programmes; BAU has three gyms across its campuses.
- Artistic, social and cultural, and sports clubs, plus varsity and intramural sports.
- Three gyms and sports facilities in Beirut, Debbieh and Tripoli.
- Al Multaqa cultural and art centre on the Beirut campus.
- Debbieh campus dorms with separate buildings for men and women.
Housing. University dorms exist only on the Debbieh campus (127 rooms for men and 67 for women, single or double, self-catered); students in Beirut and Tripoli rent private shared or single apartments, usually paid yearly in two instalments.
Location
The main campus is in Tariq El-Jadideh near the southern entrance of Beirut; BAU notes that a taxi from Rafic Hariri International Airport to downtown takes about 20 minutes. Debbieh lies 33 km from the city, Tripoli's campus is on the Corniche in El-Mina, and the Bekaa campus is in the Taanayel area.
Nearest airport: Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Notable alumni
- RH Rafic HaririBusinessman and former Prime Minister of Lebanon; graduated in business administration
- AB Abdullah bin Nasser Al ThaniFormer Prime Minister of Qatar; bachelor's degree in legislation (1995)
- LB Liana BadrPalestinian novelist and film director; BA in philosophy and psychology
- LS Lina SinjabBBC journalist and former Syria correspondent; studied law
- AN Amjad NasserJordanian poet and editor; studied at BAU before leaving for journalism
- LA Layal AbboudLebanese singer; studied translation
Frequently asked questions
Does Beirut Arab University have an entrance exam?
Yes. Every applicant sits a BAU admission exam for their programme, in multiple-choice format; medical programmes also interview.
When is the BAU admission exam for Fall 2027?
The first exam is on 27 February 2027 (apply by 24 February) and is open to all majors; the second is on 10 August 2027 (apply by 5 August) for all majors except Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
How much does BAU cost per year?
For 2026-2027 new students, average fees are about US$1,923 to US$7,700 per semester (US dollar portion) depending on the faculty, plus a Lebanese pound portion and US$200 per semester in service fees.
What English score does BAU require?
TOEFL iBT 68, IELTS 5.5, SAT reading and writing 480, or 60% on the BAU English Language Admission Exam.
Is BAU taught in English?
Yes, except Law, Mass Communication and Psychology, which are taught in Arabic; Education programmes are offered in both Arabic and English.
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.
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