The Academic Policies of NYU Abu Dhabi are summarized below. Unless otherwise noted, students should direct all questions or concerns regarding these policies to their Faculty Mentor, who will liaise with the appropriate members of the university administration as needed.
Guidance on Student Absences Due to Illness:
Effective fall 2023, NYUAD students will no longer be required to submit a doctor’s or NYUAD Health Center note for missing class on a short-term basis. This decision was made after carefully considering the impact of requiring a doctor's note on students, particularly those needing short-term absences. Other current attendance policies will remain the same and the administration will continue to support the standards established by faculty as outlined in your syllabi.
We understand that faculty members may have concerns about the impact these guidelines will have on attendance and academic performance. We want to assure you that you should continue to monitor attendance in your class and also encourage you to think about some adaptations you can implement to create lasting pedagogical enhancements that will benefit students who are managing health issues—whether involving physical or mental health—or have other legitimate reasons for missing class.
Please also take into account these guidelines:
1. For medical efficacy and equity reasons, we ask that faculty please take students’ reports of illness at face value and excuse short-term absences without requiring a doctor’s note. We hope to help reduce the burden on students that have short term illnesses that may not require clinical intervention necessary to facilitate their recovery. For this reason, the NYUAD Health Center will not issue doctor’s notes.
2. It is reasonable to expect students to notify you if they will not be participating in classes due to illness, but you should not ask students to divulge their private health-related information. Starting this term, the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Dean of Students will remind students each semester that they must notify their instructors in the event of an illness-related absence from class. Unexplained absences can be considered “unexcused” and handled in accordance with your class attendance policy.
3. Up to one calendar week’s absence (modified as appropriate for 7-week and J-term courses) from class due to illness should be excused. Unless related to chronic conditions, short-term absences typically do not involve formal accommodations via the Moses Center for Student Accessibility. You should direct a student experiencing a short-term illness towards alternative forms of class participation or engagement that you have identified, e.g., reviewing notes or slides posted on NYU Brightspace, getting notes from other students, viewing class recordings (if available), or attending office hours. Please keep in mind, however, that some recovery period may be necessary before the student is able to engage fully with these kinds of course resources.
4. When a student needs to miss more than one week of class, or has had repeated short-term absences, you should raise an “Excessive Absences” flag in NYU Connect. When you raise this flag, you will have the opportunity to provide comments that will support meaningful student outreach. These comments will not be shared with the student, just with those individuals in the student’s network who can support them. The goal of this action is to ensure that there is a coordinated effort to enable the student’s academic progress in all of their courses. We also remind you that if you become aware of a mental health issue, you should follow the Distressed Student Protocol. You can also raise a flag in NYU Connect, but this will be received by the student’s advisor first. If there is a known time sensitivity, please alert the mental health professionals directly.
At NYU Abu Dhabi, a commitment to excellence, fairness, honesty, and respect within and outside the classroom is essential to maintaining the integrity of our community. By accepting membership in this community, students, faculty, and staff take responsibility for demonstrating these values in their own conduct and for recognizing and supporting these values in others. In turn, these values create a campus climate that encourages the free exchange of ideas, promotes scholarly excellence through active and creative thought, and allows community members to achieve and be recognized for achieving their highest potential.
As part of the NYU global network, NYUAD students are also subject to NYU’s all-school policy on Academic Integrity for Students at NYU. Alleged integrity violations are resolved using NYUAD’s Academic Integrity Procedure.
The Academic Policies of NYU Abu Dhabi are summarized below. Unless otherwise noted, students should direct all questions or concerns regarding these policies to their Faculty Mentor, who will liaise with the appropriate members of the university administration as needed.
NYU Abu Dhabi expects students to make satisfactory progress toward their undergraduate degree every term and cumulatively. Good academic standing is typically achieved by successfully completing 16 credit hours during each fall and spring semester, and four credit hours during each of three January terms. A student who falls more than four credit hours behind this target, or who has a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of less than 2.00, ceases to be in good academic standing. Additionally, a student who fails to successfully complete at least 12 credits during a regular semester, or who earns a term GPA of less than 2.00 ceases to be in good standing.
The university has developed a series of steps designed to help students achieve their academic goals and to communicate with students and their faculty mentors when a student is experiencing difficulty maintaining good academic standing. Typically, coordinating the communication and academic response is handled through the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the Dean of Students. Academic support can include such things as tutoring, mentoring, and English Language support. The Office of the Dean of Students can also provide Wellness services and other organizational support.
NYU Abu Dhabi recognizes that there are situations in which appropriate academic support may include a reduced course load. When a reduced course load has been formally approved in advance, student progress toward the degree is measured against the approved reduced course load rather than against the typical 16 credit hour load. Students or faculty mentors who believe that a student would benefit from a reduced course load must apply for formal approval through the Registrars Office prior to the end of the add/drop period for that term. Approval is at the discretion of the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs.
Committee on Academic Standing
The Committee on Academic Standing is chaired by the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs and includes the four Divisional Deans or their designees, a member of the standing faculty, and other members as determined by the NYUAD Provost. The Committee meets at the completion of each regular semester.
Probation
A student who is not in good standing is considered to be on probation. Students who are on academic probation are expected to refocus their energies on academic success. Unless specifically permitted by the Committee on Academic Standing, students on probation are not eligible for semester study away, course overloads, summer internship or research funding, or extra-curricular travel (including for team sports). Campus employment and membership in student interest groups, while not prohibited, should be strictly limited and not allowed to adversely impact academic progress. Students on probation, remain on probation until such time as they return to good academic standing. If a student fails to successfully complete all of his or her course work while on probation or if after two semesters on probation (consecutive or not) a student has not returned to good standing, s/he will be referred to the Committee on Academic Standing for review.
Suspension
Suspension separates a student from NYU Abu Dhabi for a period of at least one semester. It is intended as a time for students to reflect upon the reasons for their academic underperformance and to put in place such measures as will help them to succeed upon their return. Suspended students may opt to pursue university studies at another institution, (at their own expense), during their time away from NYU Abu Dhabi. A maximum of 8 credits from such a study may be transferred to NYU Abu Dhabi following the policies and protocols for transferring credit.
Dismissal
Dismissal represents the permanent separation of a student from NYU Abu Dhabi.
If a student ceases to be in good academic standing, s/he will automatically be placed on academic probation. In severe cases, the Vice Provost may refer such cases to the Committee on Academic Standing to consider enforcing additional measures such as a reduced course load or mandatory meetings with a mentor.
The Committee on Academic Standing will review all cases in which a student has been on probation for two or more semesters and still has not achieved good academic standing. The Committee will ordinarily recommend that such students be suspended from the university for a period of one semester. Additionally, the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs may bring other students before the Committee for suspension consideration if their performance is particularly problematic—even if they have not had two semesters on probation. The actual decision to suspend rests with the NYUAD Provost.
Students who return from suspension will remain on academic probation. Upon return to NYU Abu Dhabi, these students are expected to successfully complete all of their courses. Failure to do so will result in a referral to the Committee for Academic Standing. The Committee on Academic Standing may recommend allowing such students additional time on probation if, upon their return, they are accumulating credits at the normal rate and have a term GPA above 2.0. However, for students who continue to perform poorly upon return, the Committee will ordinarily recommend dismissal from NYU Abu Dhabi. The actual decision to dismiss rests with the Vice Chancellor who has sole authority to dismiss students from the University.
The Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs will inform the student of any suspension or dismissal recommendation of the Committee on Academic Standing and enquire as to whether there are non-academic issues so compelling as to suggest an alternate sanction. Students asserting such a claim must document the non-academic issues. In the case of Health and Wellness reasons, this will ordinarily require that the student sign a release granting the Dean of Students and the Vice Provost access to records that would otherwise be protected under privacy regulations. The Dean of Students and the Vice Provost will review these potentially compelling non-academic issues. In cases where they believe that a significant non-academic reason exists for the academic deficiency AND that there is reason to believe that the significant non-academic reason has been mitigated to an extent that prior academic deficiencies are not likely to be repeated, the Dean and Vice Provost will produce a formal recommendation suggesting a modification or even complete retraction of the recommendation of the Committee on Academic Standing. When no such non-academic reason exists, the Dean and Vice Provost will issue a formal statement in support of the recommendation by the Committee on Academic Standing.
The decision to suspend or dismiss a student lies with the NYUAD Provost (for suspension) or Vice Chancellor (for dismissal) based upon the recommendation of the Academic and Non-Academic review.
Suspension and dismissal decisions may be appealed to the NYUAD Provost acting in conjunction with the Vice Chancellor, by delivering (via e-mail, hand delivery, delivery service, or mail) a written notice of appeal that arrives at the Office of the Provost within two weeks of a suspension or dismissal notification being sent to the student. There are only two grounds for appeal: a violation of the procedures outlined in this policy or evidence of factual error. The Provost will advise the student, the Committee on Academic Standing, and the Dean of Students in writing of his/her final determination. The decision of the Provost and Vice Chancellor of NYUAD will be final and binding.
Academic Standing status will not be recorded on official transcripts or other public documents, or released outside the institution without the student’s knowledge. Academic standing will, however, be part of the student’s internal NYUAD academic record and accessible for mentoring purposes.
NYU Abu Dhabi is fully committed to the protection of the privacy of student records. To assist with the guarding of this privacy, the university complies with the United States Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This specifically means that any education records maintained by the university and directly related to students, such as grades, transcripts, and test scores, will not be released to others, including parents or guardians, without the student’s consent except as provided by United States federal regulations. Education records refer to any record or document containing information directly related to a student (including computerized and electronic files, audio and videotape, photographic images, film, e-mail, etc.) and are not limited to hard copy documents or to a file with a student’s name on it.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was enacted by the United States Congress to protect the privacy of students’ education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide students with an opportunity to have information in their records corrected which is inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of their rights of privacy. FERPA also permits the disclosure by an institution without a student’s prior consent of so-called “directory information” (see definition below), and of other personally identifiable information under certain limited conditions. Students have the right to file complaints with the United States Department of Education’s Family Policy Compliance Office concerning alleged failures by an institution to comply
with FERPA.
FERPA governs the release of personally identifiable information to both external and internal parties, including other University employees, parents, and government agents. The NYUAD and NYU FERPA Guidelines (accessible as indicated below) describe the circumstances and procedures governing the release of information from a student’s education records to such parties.
Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information
Among other exceptions authorized by FERPA, prior consent of the student is not needed for disclosure of directory information or for disclosure to school officials with a legitimate educational interest in access to the student’s educational record. School officials having a legitimate educational interest include any University employee acting within the scope of her or his University employment, and any duly appointed agent or representative of the University acting within the scope of his or her appointment. In addition, the University may, at its sole discretion, forward education records to the officials of another institution (a) in which a student seeks or intends to enroll if that institution requests such records, or (b) if the student is enrolled in, or is receiving services from, that institution while she or he is attending NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU New York. Other exceptions are listed in the NYUAD and NYU Guidelines for Compliance with FERPA.
Additional Information for Students about Records Access: Students may obtain additional information about access to their records from the NYUAD and NYU Guidelines for Compliance with FERPA. The Guidelines may be viewed at https://www.nyu.edu/students/student-information-and-resources/registration-records-and-graduation/forms-policies-procedures/FERPA.html.
NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU New York have designated the following student information as “directory information:” Name, dates of attendance, NYU school or college, class, previous institution(s) attended, major field of study, full- or part- time status, degree(s) conferred (including dates), honors and awards (including dean’s list), past and present participation in officially recognized activities (including positions held and official statistics related to such participation and performance), email address, and NetID. Email address and NetID are directory information for internal purposes only and will not be made available to the general public except in specified directories from which students may opt out. Under United States federal law, address information, telephone listings, and age are also considered directory information for military recruitment purposes. Address refers to “physical mailing address” but not email address.
Within the following time frames, a student may add or drop a course (or section) without record on the student’s permanent transcript:
Any student who adds a course after the first day of instruction is fully responsible for all work previously assigned in that course. During the second week of add/ drop courses may be added only with the permission of the instructor. No course or section may be added after the stated deadline. After the stated deadlines, courses may only be dropped in accordance with the NYUAD policy on Withdrawal.
Note that NYUAD students are subject to these add/drop limitations even when studying at another NYU campus, regardless of the deadlines at that campus.
NYU Abu Dhabi does not award transfer credit for high school coursework or for external assessments, such as AP or IB exams. Advanced level courses, including AP, IB, and A Levels, may allow students to substitute an advanced course for an introductory course at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Advanced standing is at the discretion of the Academic Dean of the appropriate divisional area in consultation with the faculty in the discipline. The completion of a placement test may be required. There is no presumption that advanced standing is available in all disciplines. While advanced standing can be used to exempt a student from specified entry-level courses, it does not reduce the total number of courses required in any program.
Attendance is expected in all classes. Although the administration of NYU Abu Dhabi does not supervise attendance of classes, it supports the standards established by instructors. Students who, in the judgment of the instructor, have not substantially met the requirements of the course or who have been excessively absent may receive a grade deduction, including the possibility of an F, and/or may be considered to have withdrawn unofficially (see the policy on Withdrawal).
See new guidelines on absences from class due to illness in the Absences tab.
Students will be permitted to audit an NYUAD undergraduate course with the permission of the course’s primary instructor and on a space available basis. Audited courses may not be converted to a for-credit basis after the add/drop deadline and will not be reflected on a student’s transcript. Audited courses count towards the total credit load a student can register for in a semester and requests must be submitted before the add/drop deadline.
Students are not able to audit courses that they have previously taken (including previously taken classes with an incomplete grade). All audit requests will be processed the first week of the semester. Students are not able to audit summer and J-Term classes.
Students may participate in the NYUAD Commencement Ceremony if:
NYU Abu Dhabi requires students to complete 140 credit hours to graduate. Students generally take nine four-credit courses per year: usually four during each semester and one during each of three January terms. However, as not all courses within the NYU system are four-credit courses, course load is measured in credit hours. Students must average 16 credit hours per regular semester, and may not generally take more than 18 credit hours in any one term.
NYU Abu Dhabi believes firmly that four years is the appropriate amount of time for students to take optimal advantage of NYUAD’s unique course structure, global programming, and co-curricular experiences. Students interested in accelerating or extending their degree programs must consult with their faculty mentors and the NYUAD Dean of Students to determine eligibility.
Faculty mentors will work closely with students to ensure a balance in academic workload, particularly as students take advantage of NYUAD’s scheduling system and the availability of 7-week courses.
In exceptional circumstances, students who wish to take fewer than 16 credit hours per semester must also obtain the permission of their mentor and the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs in order to ensure a course of study that allows the student to make normal progress toward a degree. No student may take fewer than 12 credits per regular semester.
Students must be in residence in Abu Dhabi for their final semester of enrollment (immediately prior to graduation) except in rare cases where completion from home in absentia may be considered for students within 8 credits of graduation.
A course may count toward more than one requirement. For example, the same course may count toward both a major and toward a multi-disciplinary minor or toward two different majors. However, there are limitations to double counting.
This limited double-counting policy is intended to create flexibility for students and to allow them to highlight the disciplinary and subject matter clusters they have chosen to study.
Students should choose minors with a sense of academic purpose, not as an accidental result of NYUAD’s extensive cross-listing of courses, which reflects our commitment to work across disciplines.
Students may complete a second major if both majors can be accommodated during their four years at NYU Abu Dhabi and so long as each major includes at least 30 credits that are not used for the other major. Alternatively, they may complete a minor, which is offered in disciplinary and multidisciplinary areas. Minors generally require four or five courses. So that students may take full advantage of the breadth of the curriculum and not focus too narrowly on just one or two areas, students are encouraged to explore the option of completing a minor rather than a full second major. Students with double majors are required to complete only one Capstone Project in what is recognized as their primary major. In lieu of a second Capstone, students must complete two additional courses in their non-primary major. A student’s degree, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, is determined by the student’s primary major. Funding is not available after eight semesters of study for students pursuing a dual degree. Students enrolled beyond eight semesters must select only one major in which they have completed the majority of the degree requirements towards.
Scheduled class periods should generally be used for course instruction and not for final, comprehensive summative course assessment. Comprehensive in-class final assessments such as final exams should be scheduled during the official final examination period at the date and time assigned by the Registrar. The sole exception to this is for courses with multiple graded components such as Foundations of Science. In these cases, final exams in the lab or studio portion of the course may be held during the final regular lab or studio period
Comprehensive out-of-class final assessments may be scheduled for submission during the last week of the semester or during finals week at the discretion of the instructor and as indicated in the syllabus. However, instructors should remain cognizant of other student responsibilities during this busy period and may not schedule due dates any later than the official end of the final exam period.
Summative assessments that are not comprehensive and are intended to assess only the final portion of the course, maybe scheduled during the last week of classes. Instructors, though, are encouraged to use the official final exam period for this type of assessment as well, unless the course also includes a comprehensive final assessment during the official exam period.
No assignment of any kind may be due on scheduled exam reading days nor later than 8:00 pm on the final day of the exam period.
Other than Capstone Projects, no single in-class or final exam period assignment may constitute more than 40% of the overall grade for a course. Take-home assignments without time constraints may be weighted more heavily if appropriate for a particular course but should be considered an exception to general institutional practice.
Faculty members and/or assigned course instructors are expected to be physically present during the administration of the final examination in order to answer any questions and ensure high standards of academic integrity. When they are unable to do so, the division dean must be informed and see that appropriate proctors (instructional staff) are provided for each examination. Any unusual circumstances or instances of possible academic integrity violations should be brought to the attention of the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs within 24 hours.
If a student anticipates being unable to attend a final exam, s/he should reach out to the instructor as far in advance as possible. Instructors have broad latitude to determine what qualifies as sufficient advanced notice and may, in exceptional cases, allow for notice even after an exam has begun.
Consistent with NYU policies concerning absence for religious reasons, faculty are required to accommodate students who provide advanced notice of their inability to be present for a scheduled exam due to religious reasons. Although faculty are not obligated to make accommodations for any reason other than religious observance, faculty are encouraged to accommodate students who miss an exam for a legitimate reason—as determined by the faculty member.
When an accommodation is made, there is no requirement that the accommodation be an alternative exam, but could instead include an assessment of a different format and/or a reweighting of other assignments.
Instructor permission is required before a student can leave the room during a final exam. Failure to secure such permission may result in the exam being disallowed.
The Office of the Registrar will endeavor to ensure that students do not have conflicting final examinations and will set the final exam schedule in such a way that limits the number of students having more than two exams in any one day. In the exceptional case where a student does have an exam conflict involved faculty are encouraged to work cooperatively to accommodate the student, with assistance from the Office of Academic Affairs when required.
When students are scheduled for more than two exams on one day, they are welcome to seek accommodation at the discretion of the faculty involved. Faculty members are permitted to reschedule a student’s final under these circumstances, but are not required to do so.
A = 4.0
A- = 3.667
B+ = 3.333
B = 3.0
B- = 2.667
C+ = 2.333
C = 2.0
C- = 1.667
D+ = 1.333
D = 1.0
F = 0.0
W = Withdrawal (see Withdrawal Policy)
P = Pass (see Pass/Fail Policy)
I = Incomplete (see Incompletes Policy)
The grade point average (GPA) is computed by determining the total number of quality points earned (quality points multiplied by credit hours) and dividing by total graded credit hours. Quality points are earned in letter-graded NYU courses taken after a student’s first year of enrollment (see Transcripts Policy). Total graded credit hours include the credit hours associated with all such courses as well as the credit hours associated with any Pass/Fail course that is failed (see the policy on Pass/Fail).
When a course is repeated, both grades remain on the transcript (see Repeating Courses Policy).
To appeal an assigned grade, the student must first consult with the instructor who assigned the grade to discuss the grading requirements for the course and how the grade was determined. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the discussion and wishes to appeal the grade further, a formal written appeal should be submitted to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. If the Vice Provost determines that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a formal review for misfeasance and/or discrimination, the Vice Provost will forward the case to the program head or equivalent. The program head will initiate a review of the grade by the faculty teaching in the program that semester. All of the student's work will be reviewed to clarify how the grade was determined and to ensure the grade has been assigned without discrimination and consistent with reasonable professional standards. The decision of the department in matters related to a course grade is final.
NYU Abu Dhabi has Latin honors at the time of graduation. Latin honors are determined by cumulative official GPA. Summa cum laude is limited to the top five percent of the graduating class in each division, magna cum laude to the next ten percent of the graduating class in each division, and cum laude to the next 15 percent of the graduating class in each division.
An incomplete grade of “I” will be permitted only in extraordinary circumstances that prevent a student from completing required course work by the end of the semester. Students must approach the instructor of the course about whether a grade of “Incomplete” is possible and should be aware that simply leaving a course unfinished may result in a failing grade.
When an instructor believes that an Incomplete may be appropriate, the student and the instructor submit an Incomplete Request Form to the Office of Academic Affairs. The form includes the specific outstanding work, a submission deadline, and a default grade to be assigned if the additional work is not submitted on time. Incomplete coursework is to be completed outside the classroom and the student is not able to audit (or sit in) a future offering of the course. The application is subject to review and must be approved by the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs before a grade of “I” is recorded. Adjustments to the approved deadline are allowed only in exceptional circumstances upon written agreement from the instructor. Incompletes that have not been resolved according to the terms of the Incomplete Request Form will be assigned the default grade at the end of the first regular semester following the semester in which the course was taken. Students requesting a Leave of Absence during a given semester will generally be considered for an Incomplete only if the Leave of Absence is approved within the last three weeks from the end of the term.
Incomplete grades can impact future registration appointment times as appointment times are based on successfully completed credit hours. Courses that have a prerequisite in which a student has a current incomplete grade can be impacted and the academic department may recommend that any course needing the prerequisite be dropped until the incomplete has been successfully finished.
NYU Abu Dhabi expects its students to maintain continuous registration in an academic program with the exception of summer breaks. However, it is sometimes necessary or desirable for a student to take a leave from enrollment for a period of time. Such leaves may be voluntary or involuntary, and will be handled in accordance with the NYU-wide Student Leave Policy and Procedure (http://nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance/policies-and-guidelines/student-leave-policy.html). As it applies to NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU policy references to the Dean of the School and the Provost refer to the NYUAD Dean of Students and NYUAD Provost. Questions about references to specific offices within this policy should be referred to the NYUAD Dean of Students. The paragraphs below briefly summarize the NYU Policy, but individuals considering a leave are encouraged to review the full policy referenced above before making any final decisions.
Voluntary Leave
NYU recognizes that situations may arise when a student may want to voluntarily interrupt his or her academic studies. The University is committed to handling reasonable requests for leaves in a responsible manner. This policy may not be used in lieu of disciplinary action to address any violations of University rules, regulations, policies, or practices. A student who is granted a voluntary leave while on academic and/or disciplinary status will return to that same status.
Involuntary Leave
NYU may place a student on an involuntary leave of absence from that student’s academic program when that student: (1) poses a direct threat to health and safety of self or others; and (2) is not able or not willing to take a voluntary leave of absence. This policy may not be used in lieu of disciplinary actions to address any violations of University rules, regulations, policies, or practices. A student who is placed on an involuntary leave while on academic and/or disciplinary status will return to that same status.
Returning from a Leave of Absence
Students returning from a leave of absence are expected to successfully complete one academic semester (Fall or Spring) of full-time coursework in Abu Dhabi before being eligible to enroll in an NYUAD study away program.
Faculty must organize their courses in a manner that makes individual student progress in the class clear with at least one meaningful means of assessment not later than the middle of the term. In addition to providing each student with ongoing information on their progress in a timely manner, faculty are required to submit an holistic midterm assessment of Strong (S+), Satisfactory (S), or At Risk (R) for each of their students in Albert. Midterm assessments are due not later than the beginning of the fourth week for 7-week courses and at the end of the eighth week for 14-week courses. These assessments are not part of a student’s formal academic record and do not appear on transcripts. Because these assessments are intended to be holistic, faculty members may factor in student attendance, participation, and general level of engagement rather than rely solely on formally graded material. Faculty are also encouraged to bring particularly concerning performances to the attention of the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs at any time.
At NYU Abu Dhabi, a commitment to excellence, fairness, honesty, and respect within and outside the classroom is essential to maintaining the integrity of our community. By accepting membership in this community, students, faculty, and staff take responsibility for demonstrating these values in their own conduct and for recognizing and supporting these values in others. In turn, these values create a campus climate that encourages the free exchange of ideas, promotes scholarly excellence through active and creative thought, and allows community members to achieve and be recognized for achieving their highest potential.
As part of the NYU global network, NYUAD students are also subject to NYU’s all-school policy on Academic Integrity for Students at NYU. Alleged integrity violations are resolved using NYUAD’s Academic Integrity Procedure.
Faculty mentors will work closely with students to ensure a balance in academic workload, particularly as students take advantage of NYUAD’s scheduling system and the availability of 7-week courses. Overloads are not possible in the J-Terms and summer sessions due to the condensed nature of the coursework.
Generally, course loads of 19 or 20 credit hours are approved only for students when their previous academic work is so strong that an overload constitutes little academic risk. In particular, students will not generally be approved for more than 18 credits unless they have cumulative internal grade point averages as specified below:
In all cases academic risk will be weighed against the need for academic credit in granting approval.
Overload requests will not be processed until after the first week of the registration cycle.
No student is permitted to take more than 20 credit hours in a semester
A pass grade is recorded for all Pass/Fail courses in which a letter grade of D or higher is earned. Beginning in the second year of study, NYUAD allows students to take one course per semester (up to a total of three courses overall) Pass/Fail during fall or spring semester. J-term and summer courses may not be taken Pass/Fail. This option is designed to encourage students to continue to explore areas of interest and to optimize their focus on learning unfamiliar methods and materials while minimizing concerns about formal outcomes. The Pass/Fail option is therefore especially appropriate in the second year before students invest in a major. Students studying at other NYU global network sites may be further restricted by site policies related to Pass/Fail grading.
Courses taken Pass/Fail will not be counted for credit toward the completion of any portion of the core curriculum, of a major, or minor. A course taken Pass/Fail cannot be used to satisfy a prerequisite requirement. Courses taken as co-requisites cannot be taken as Pass/Fail and must be letter graded.
Students considering the Pass/Fail option in their area of study or in pre-professional courses should consult with their mentor about the effect of such grades on admission to graduate and professional schools.
Students who change their majors will be able to use courses previously taken under the Pass/Fail option only with the support of their mentors and the appropriate program head, and with the approval of the Vice Provost for Academic Administration. Such exceptions may additionally require completion of an additional elective course in the major.
Classes that receive a Pass are counted for credit toward the degree, but are not calculated in the GPA. Classes that are failed are registered as an F for purposes of GPA calculation.
For applicable courses, a student may opt to change to or from Pass/Fail grading only during the withdrawal period associated with that particular course. J-Term and summer coursework are not eligible to be taken as pass/fail.
NYU Abu Dhabi, as a nonsectarian institution, adheres to the general policy of including in its official calendar only certain legal holidays. However, it is also University policy that members of any religious group may, without penalty, absent themselves from classes when compliance with their religious obligations requires it:
A student may repeat a course in which they received a Pass, Fail or letter grade once. Both grades will be recorded on internal and official transcripts and included in grade point average calculations. However, students will only earn credit hours once for a repeated course. Students may not repeat courses in a designated sequence after taking more advanced courses.
When one or both of the attempts to complete a course occur during a student’s first year, the NYUAD Transcript Policy influences how the repeated courses impact the student’s official transcript and official grade point average. In particular, when both occurrences are during the first year, neither letter grade will appear on the official transcript nor impact the official grade point average. When only the first occurrence is during the first year, the letter grade associated with the second occurrence, and only that letter grade, will appear on the official transcript and be factored into the official grade point average.
Note: Students should be aware that graduate and professional schools may consider repeated courses differently. Students entering NYU Abu Dhabi in fall 2015 or earlier are subject to an earlier version of this policy. Please see Registrar for details.
NYU Abu Dhabi official transcripts do not report grades for courses taken during a student’s first year of study. However, these grades do become a part of the student’s academic record to be used for internal purposes such as mentoring students and fulfillment of prerequisites. Official transcripts indicate successful completion (“SC”) of those courses taken in the first year for which a grade of C- or better is received. Courses from which a student has withdrawn or in which the student received a grade of lower than a C- do not appear on the official transcript nor do they contribute toward satisfying graduation requirements. In addition, students may refer to their unofficial transcript in Albert for first year grades.
Students’ first-year grades will not be included in cumulative grade point average calculations.
This policy contributes to the development of a learning community at NYU Abu Dhabi that distinctively emphasizes independent responsibility for intellectual exploration and growth and that is appropriate for a global student body.
Students should order official transcripts through the National Student Clearinghouse (NYU official transcript provider). Students should search for “New York University” for their school record as NYUAD is part of the NYU system. Students can attach documents, such as their unofficial transcript, to their transcript request.
On an exceptional basis, NYU Abu Dhabi will consider awarding undergraduate credit for courses taken at other universities. Transfer credit, however, is awarded on a limited basis and only for courses taken after matriculation at NYU Abu Dhabi. Students may earn up to 8 credits per semester while on approved leaves of absence and/or up to 8 credits in any summer up to a total limit of not more than 20 credits. While a student may be awarded transfer credit, these credits cannot be used to reduce the total number of required semesters of enrollment. Transfer credit is not possible for graduate degrees.
Students should complete a Transfer Pre-approval Form prior to enrolling in another institution to assure that courses will be counted toward graduation requirements. Students should reach out to the Registrar’s Office at nyuad.registrar@nyu.edu for a link to the form. Final approval is conditional upon the student submitting an official transcript documenting a grade which is the equivalent of a C or better and submitting a final course syllabus that is essentially the same as that submitted for pre-approval.
Transfer Credit Final Approval Form must be filed with the Registrar and are evaluated by an appropriate subcommittee of the Transfer Credit Review Committee based on academic merit, appropriateness to the NYUAD curriculum, and the degree to which the courses are distinct from other coursework that the student has completed or will complete at NYU Abu Dhabi. The Transfer Review Committee consists of the Program heads of each major program, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (VPAA), and the Associate Registrar. Individual review subcommittees are convened by the VPAA and will consist of the VPAA, the Associate Registrar, and such program heads or other subject matter experts as the VPAA deems appropriate for the particular course(s) under consideration.
After consulting with the faculty mentor and within the following deadlines,
a student may discontinue a course and receive a grade of W:
After the final date in each of the above, no student may withdraw from a course without a direct appeal to the Vice Provost for Assessment, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs.
All relevant circumstances will be taken into consideration, but there is no guarantee that a late withdrawal will be allowed.
Consistent with the Transcript Policy, courses from which a student has withdrawn during the first year of student are not recorded on the transcript. Courses from which a student withdraws in subsequent years will appear on the transcript with the accompany grade of W.
