For the second consecutive year, the American University of Sharjah, AUS, has topped the Times Higher Education, THE, list of universities with the highest percentage of international students globally.

The list is widely regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of international student numbers, with the list’s data used by THE for its annual World University Rankings.

With international students comprising 84 percent of its student community, the AUS has surpassed the other 199 universities included on THE list, which represent countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Australia.

The university currently welcomes students from more than 95 countries, making its campus well known for its diversity and inclusiveness. Kevin Mitchell, Acting Provost and Chief Academic Officer at the AUS, believes that the international nature of the student body at the AUS is one of the university’s greatest strengths.

"I have seen the significant impact that studying in a multicultural environment has on our students. While many institutions have diverse student bodies, the range of opportunities for substantive engagement with individuals from other backgrounds in classes and through extracurricular activities is a distinguishing characteristic of an AUS education. Our graduates are well-prepared to negotiate the difference in the workplace and navigate the complexities that they will encounter in an increasingly interdependent world," he added.