Admission

The admission requirements vary greatly depending on the programs. It includes specific requirements for admission into the University’s regular and non-regular undergraduate, postgraduate, and special programs. Because the non-regular programs should adhere to the same standards of quality as the regular programs of the University, non-regular program applicants shall be considered against the same criteria as regular program applicants. Moreover, non-regular program applicants shall be admitted through the same admissions process.

Undergraduate

1. Admission to undergraduate programs

Admission to the regular, extension and e-learning undergraduate programs could be either as a freshman, advanced standing, mature or transfer student.  Admission will be made based on the following general and specific requirements.

        i. General requirements

         i.  Residents of Ethiopia shall have the passing marks in the Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Examination (EHEEE) administered by the Ministry of Education.

        ii.  Non-residents of Ethiopia and foreign nationals shall provide equivalence evaluation of their credentials from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Education and Training Authority (ETA).

           iii.   Applicants should be able to take the Undergraduate Admission Test (UAT) of the AAU and get a passing mark. Alternatively, standardized tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, ACT, SAT, or LSAT and with the corresponding passing marks are acceptable.

        iv. Depending on the choice of discipline, additional assessments are set for applicants pursuing the medical schools (Medicine, Dental Medicine), Pharmacy, Performing and visual art disciplines.

         v. Applicants with EUEE and UAT marks falling in the top 25% category will be selected for the additional assessments administered by the schools of Medicine, Dental Medicine and Pharmacy

            vi.    Applicants in the International Branch Campuses of AAU shall process their application for admission as indicated in subsection 8.1.

           vii.   Admission to joint programs is based on the signed MoU between AAU and partnering institutions

       ii.     Specific Requirements

           i. Admission requirements on International Branch Campuses is subject to modification per the jurisdiction of the country, pending approval by the Senate.

             ii.  Each program may have specific requirements such as minimum grades in certain subjects or additional entrance tests. Details will be posted on the respective program homepage on the AAU website.

            iii.   The following minimum requirements are stated for the specific conditions listed below:

a) For applicants without EHEEE test:

           i. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) diploma (10+3 or 10+4) and level 4 Certificate of Competency (CoC) pass mark with one year of work experience, and

           ii. Successfully pass the AAU Undergraduate Aptitude Test (UAT)

b) For applicants with advanced standing status:

            i.     Applicants must have completed a tertiary qualification equivalent to a diploma for which the AAU credit transfer is applicable,

            ii.      Applicants must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale or its established equivalent,

            iii.     At least 2 years of work experience in areas related to the academic program they seek admission to,

            iv.     Completed their study program within 10 years from the rime of application, and

            v.     Successfully pass the AAU Undergraduate Aptitude Test (UAT)

c) For applicants with mature age:

          i.     Applicants without 12 years of education but with proven relevant study, work and/or life experience and capacity for university education may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. 

          ii.      Applicants over 30 years of age who can produce evidence of their experience which may include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) that documents broadly relevant work experience not less than 5 years, professional references, evidence of informal or non-informal study that is completed (partially completed),

          iii.     Such applications shall be submitted to the Head of the relevant academic unit to scrutinize the academic background and work experience, together with appropriate entrance assessment on a case-by-case basis.

iii.      Undergraduate Admission Procedure

The undergraduate regular, extension and e-learning programs are encompassed in the procedure that includes verification of admission requirements; retrieval of applications, verification of documents; evaluation of applicants; recommendations for admission; approval of applicants; issuance of admission letters; communication to applicants and faculties; endorsement of admissions list; preservation of admissions records; and revocation of admissions. The guidelines complement and shall be applied together with other relevant frameworks to the extent that they make the process more efficient, faster and accountable. 

1)Application via the AAU Portal System

During call for application, the application steps via the portal system will be detailed via all media and applicants will submit their required EUEE results along with their personal information leading them ready for the UAT test scheduling.

2) B. UAT Administration

Schedule for UAT test will be announced to applicants via the application portal in coordination with the testing center and the Registrar office. For accessibility, admission test centers out of AAU could be used.

3) Verification and Evaluation of Applications

The Admissions office of the Registrar shall continually verify all the applications received, follow-up and advice all applicants with incomplete documentation to complete their submission; including equation of foreign qualifications. Such verification may include contacting the other institutions attended by the applicant.

The Admissions office will continually evaluate applications against the set criteria, the authenticity of certificates, and prepare a weekly roll of two categories of applicants – Admissible and NOT admissible.

4)     Recommendations and Endorsement for Admission

The Academic units shall prepare and verify a roll of recommendations for admission; for endorsement by the Academic Commission. This list shall be sent to the Registrar along with the endorsement minute.

5)     Approval of Admissions 

As part of the institutional enrolment management process the Admission and Enrollment Committee (AEC), in consultation with the Academic Units, determines annual enrollment targets of the University based on the number of places available.  Based on these targets, places available for new students are generally filled as follows:

a)     All applicants who successfully passed the AAU UAT are ranked according to their test scores.  Selection for admission is then generally based on the applicant’s ranks and admission quota for Disadvantaged groups.

b)     Seventy five percent (75%) of the places are filled solely on the basis of students’ UAT test scores.

c)     The remaining twenty five percent (25%) are reserved for disadvantaged groups of applicants which may include female students, students with disabilities, and students from under-privileged regions, as determined by the University Senate policies.  The spots are then filled on the basis of the test scores and other specific criteria such as fields of study, applicant’s specific needs and conditions.  This affirmative action (admission quota) is designed to increase the representation of disadvantaged groups in AAU’s student population.

d)     The following is the breakdown of places (of 25% of admission quota) reserved for disadvantaged groups:

       I.  15% for female applicants,

       II.  5% for applicants with disabilities, and

       III. 5% for applicants from underprivileged regions.

e)     Applicants seeking admission under the Disadvantaged Groups Quota must complete special application forms (to be included in the application form that all students complete) and provide all required evidence of their eligibility.  They will, however, be selected against the quota reserved for then according to merit.

f)      If any place reserved for disadvantaged groups remains vacant, it will be filled purely on merit-basis. 

All names of students endorsed by the AC shall be presented to Senate for approval. Records of such approval and endorsement shall be maintained and updated by the Registrar.

The senate will also review and make decision on cases of special admissions and wavers of any of the admission requirements as available.

6) Issuance of Admission Letters

The University Registrar shall sign all letters of admission. Such letters shall be published in the student portal, and communication sent to the applicants and respective Colleges and Departments. The letters of admission shall be accompanied by all joining instructions, including fee structure.