American University of Science & Technology

American University of Science and Technology is a private non-sectarian, co-educational university located in Lebanon. The University’s main campus is located in the Achrafieh district of Beirut, however, AUST has expanded its geographical coverage by establishing regional campuses in Zahlé, Sidon and Bhamdoun. AUST provides students with an American-style education using English as the language of instruction and uses a credit-hour based academic system similar to that of the U.S. higher education system. AUST prides itself on fostering a multicultural environment that teaches critical thinking, technology and practical skills to prepare students for today’s global economy. 

AUST was founded in 1989 by Dr. Hiam Sakr as the American Universal College and initially began operating on Alfred Naccache Street in Beirut as an external degree program through a partnership with the Empire State College of the State University of New York. The University grew at a steady pace, increasing its academic rigor and infrastructure, despite the tremendous challenges faced by Lebanon during the last years of the Lebanese Civil War and the following reconstruction period, and ultimately received its official recognition as a licensed institution of higher education from the Lebanese Ministry of Education in 1995.

Today, American University of Science & Technology has developed a significant part of that community. The university also helps link the Lebanese education system to international standards through partnerships with established institutions in North America, Europe, and Asia; participation in active academic exchange programs; and creating mutual requirements for transfer credit. The university has a strong focus on community service and regional development, so that all students at all of its provincial campuses receive an equivalent quality of education compared to those who attend the university’s campus located in the nation’s capital. The university’s initial mission remains to provide modern and accessible methods of higher education that will allow graduates to meaningfully contribute to the economic development of the Middle East.