The American University of Iraq – Baghdad (AUIB) is a non-profit University opened its doors in January 2021. As a “non-profit” university, all fees and tuition payments are used to pay some of the costs of operating the university, but they are not enough to pay everything. For this reason, the university and its sponsors seek funding from outside sources to support scholarships and other costs to keep tuition and fees as low as possible for AUIB students.
AUIB began as a dream of influential individuals in Iraq and United States business, industry and government who want to see a world-class institution of higher learning established in Baghdad, reminiscent of the days when the city was an educational and cultural mecca and the flourishing capital of the Muslim world. AUIB follows in the tradition of three historical institutions in Baghdad: the House of Wisdom, al-Nizamiyah Madrasah, often described as “the largest university in the medieval world,” and al-Mustansiriyah Madrasah.
The AUIB campus fulfills the vision of its founders as a true American-style university campus that is efficient, environmentally responsible, beautiful, and conducive to study through its quiet, tree-lined lanes, state-of-the-art classrooms, comfortable environs, and aesthetically pleasing views. Whether a student is sitting in a classroom with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the lake, or sitting in the food court with friends, relaxing on a terrace with a cup of tea while enjoying the cool breezes coming off the water, or riding to class on one of the shuttle buses or water taxis, every AUIB student will quickly come to think of the campus as their campus, their home away from home. Indeed, the wonderful years spent learning and growing here will be with every graduate for life.
On almost any American college campus, every effort is made to make the campus beautiful, relaxing, and conducive to study and intellectual development. Calm, quiet library spaces where individual students can concentrate on their studies, public spaces that are pleasing to the eye where students can meet their friends and relax and socialize together, long walks around campus that allow for quiet time to reflect and meditate - in other words, the college campus should be an oasis of calm where students can forget about their cares, enjoying their studies and participating in the excitement of campus life.
The American University of Iraq - Baghdad is a diverse and inclusive community of scholars dedicated to the mission of bringing a quality, American-style university education to the young people of Iraq and the larger region. AUIB does not discriminate in its hiring or admissions on the basis of race, creed, gender, or religious affiliation, but welcomes everyone to work and study here. All expatriate faculty and staff are provided accommodations on campus in private apartments.
Iraq is home to a wide range of landscapes: vast arid deserts to the west, towering mountain belts in the north, mesmerizing marshes in the south, and rich fertile lands in the center, with variations throughout the country. Two great historical rivers exist in Iraq, the Tigris and the Euphrates. For that Iraq was known as the Land between two Rivers (Mesopotamia).
Baghdad is Iraq’s largest city and its capital. With an estimated population of approximately 8,850,000, it is the second largest city in the Arab world, after Cairo. Located along the Tigris River, the city was founded in the 8th century and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Over the next five centuries, Baghdad evolved into the most significant cultural center of Arab and Islamic civilization and was truly one of the greatest cities in the world, gaining a reputation in the world as it was known then as the "Center of Learning." In fact, a well-known Arab saying states that “Books are written in Cairo, published in Beirut, and read in Baghdad,” denoting its regional reputation in modern times as an intellectual center.
Excellent English language proficiency is the key to success, both professionally and academically. As a critical part of AUIB, the English Language Academy (ELA) will be the leading institute for English-language education in Baghdad and will be staffed by a team of qualified, dedicated and experienced native speaking teachers from all around the world, such as the United States, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries where English is the primary tongue.
