Established in 2001, Ahlia University (AU) is the first private university to be licensed by the Government of Bahrain. It is an autonomous institution independently chartered, funded and managed by the private sector. All the professional programmes offered by AU are accredited by Bahrain's Higher Education Council as well as highly reputed and distinguished leading universities in the UK and the USA. Ahlia University was among the first Bahraini private universities to be recognized by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Higher Education. The founders have articulated their vision of a distinctive institution of higher education to ensure that science and education take their rightful place in the building and advancement of our society. Ahlia University currently consists of six colleges, one deanship and one centre; College of Arts, Science and Education, College of Business and Finance, College of Engineering, College of Graduate Studies and Research, College of Information Technology, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Deanship of Student Affairs and Media Production Centre. Ahlia University, in collaboration with Brunel University (U.K.), offers a Ph.D.