ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES (AAU)

The Association of American Universities is the premier body representing the top-tier of full research universities in North America. It’s member schools are amongst the most prestigious in Canada and the United States and have achieved international recognition for academic excellence and are highly selective.

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ABOUT

The Association was founded in 1900 as a body to represent the premier doctorate awarding schools in the United States and to establish a standardised approach to assessment and awarding of Doctors of Philosophy. At the time of the AAU’s foundation, American universities had tended to offer degrees only at Undergraduate level with the rare Masters degree awarded. Many of the leading universities in the country had begun to develop higher degree programs, adopting the German (and wider European) model of combining intensive research, academic study and participation as faculty in the instruction of junior students as part of a candidate’s progress towards the attainment of doctorate-level degrees.

In order to achieve recognition of these degrees as having been awarded by an accredited awarding body, these universities came together to establish the AAU. Today, the association acts as an accrediting body, of sorts, for research universities in the United States and Canada. It evaluates and approves programs at all degree levels, including undergraduate.

It is the most prestigious academic body representing tertiary education institutions in the United States, with AAU membership and accreditation highly sought after. Membership admittance is by invitation only and is subject to strict criteria. Furthermore, candidates for membership must be approved by affirmative qualified majority vote (75% of members must vote to admit a candidate). Many of the members are recognised internationally and are highly selective. Furthermore, many also participate in the scientific research consortium of the Universities Research Association.

Membership of the association varies occasionally so you should check with the AAU’s official website or get in touch with your preferred university for the latest information.

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MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES

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NO SCHOOLS LISTED

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NO SCHOOLS LISTED

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