Academic Differences

AUI follows the academic guidelines described by the American standards, therefore the classes and class styles are very similar to what we have here.

□ ACADEMIC DIFFERENCES:
o Workload (# of tests/assignments/outside of class work) 
For every hour inside the classroom, you should spend approx two hours outside the classroom on the subject.
Average hours per semester is 15, which is five classes with each class being on average 3 hours each.
o classroom culture
Teachers here are more friendly in the idea that you can do homework in their offices and go to their house for lunch or dinner as part of a student group event. At AUI, teachers are teachers rather than your friends. 
o flow of the semester
The flow of the semester is like here, where we have regular exams every month or so such that most classes have two to three exams and a final each. Unlike here, AUI does not have project based classes because their CS degree is of science unlike ours, which is of art. 
o expectations of students
Students are expected to attend all class sessions. They have a maximum of five misses classes for TR classes and maximum of seven misses classes for MWF classes. After these allowed absences, a WF is received for the class. Most absences and tardies count against your grade.
Professors, for the most part, hold strict deadlines on assignments. Hence, students are expected to turn in all work on time. 
Most professors expect students to participate in class and have a grade for it as well. 
o faculty/student relationships
The professor is a professor rather than a friend but the school hold an open door policy so that teachers can interact with their students. Professors are available for meetings outside of office hours just like MC. 

□ CREDITS: 
Class credits are designed just like MC, where most classes are worth three credits and classes with labs are worth four credits. The work load for every class is designed like MC's, where for every hour inside the classroom, you should spend approx two hours outside the classroom on the subject. Classes also meet regularly on MWF, MW, and TR like MC's class schedule. Because of the similarity in the classes, credits will transfer credit for credit. 

□ GRADES: 
o Are letter grades in host country equivalent to the U.S.?
Letter grades are designed the same way as MC's. 

□ SUPPORT:
o What kinds of support services, academic resources, and tutoring available are available at your host institution?
AUI has an academic support center similar to MC's called the "CLE," the Center for Learning Excellence where students can go to seek tutoring on certain subjects. The CLE is just for the engineering school classes such as math and CS. 

□ FULL-TIME STATUS:
o How many credits do you have to enroll in to be considered full time at both your home and host institution? 
The minimum credits you need to be considered a full time student is 12 hours, just like MC.