Study in the United Arab Emirates

Higher education in the UAE is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), whose Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) licenses institutions and accredits their programmes. Branch campuses in Dubai’s free zones operate under a licence from the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); some also hold MoHESR accreditation, which matters if you plan to work in the public sector in the Gulf. • Bachelor’s: usually 4 years, longer for medicine. • Master’s: one to two years (coursework or thesis). • PhD: usually 4 to 5 years by research. English is the main language of instruction, with Arabic-taught programmes in Sharia, law and humanities at some universities and French-taught programmes at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. There are two main intakes: fall (August/September) and spring (January).

1) Public university scholarships: there is no single central government scholarship for non-nationals, but public universities fund graduate study for all nationalities: MBZUAI (free tuition, housing and a monthly stipend of AED 10,000 for PhD students; the Fall 2027 deadline is 15 December 2026), Khalifa University and UAE University (master’s and PhD scholarships). 2) Direct application to a university: apply on the university’s website with your secondary certificate, transcripts and proof of English — usually IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 61 for a bachelor’s (for example at Ajman University), with higher scores for master’s programmes (IELTS 6.5 at Khalifa University). A foreign secondary certificate must be attested by your country’s foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, then given an equivalency certificate by the ministry in the UAE. 3) After admission: the university sponsors you and files your student visa. University scholarships and discounts: need-based financial aid at NYU Abu Dhabi for all nationalities, merit scholarships of 50–75% at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, the President’s Scholarship at the American University of Sharjah, and discounts at Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain and Zayed universities — all listed below.

Tuition for international students is usually charged per credit hour and varies by university and programme: • Khalifa University: AED 2,500 per credit hour for a bachelor’s (about AED 81,250 a year), AED 5,000 for a master’s and AED 6,666 for a PhD. • Zayed University: AED 2,500 per credit hour for non-national undergraduates. • UAE University: master’s programmes cost AED 1,600–5,000 per credit hour depending on the programme (2025–2026 rates). • Private universities and branch campuses usually cost more, but many offer merit scholarships and discounts. Living costs: roughly AED 4,000–7,000 a month (about US$1,100–1,900). In Dubai, the University of Birmingham estimates about AED 6,860 a month, including AED 4,600 for a single room, AED 1,000 for groceries and AED 500 for transport, while Murdoch University Dubai puts expenses at about AED 3,490 a month excluding rent, which ranges from AED 2,000 to 10,000. University housing is often cheaper: AED 10,000 per semester for a double room at Khalifa University.

The UAE student visa is a study residence sponsored by the accredited university or college that admitted you, or by your parent if they live in the UAE: 1) Get admitted and register with the university; its visa office then files the application with your passport, photo and required documents. 2) The entry permit is issued before travel in about 14 working days (7–10 with express service) in the example of the University of Birmingham Dubai. 3) After arrival: a medical test, then biometrics for the Emirates ID, then the residence visa and ID are issued. The visa is issued for one year and renewed yearly with a certificate of continued study. Costs vary by university; at the University of Birmingham Dubai, for example, about AED 7,068 when applying from abroad (including a refundable AED 3,000 deposit and about AED 1,031 for health insurance). Residents can sponsor sons for study up to age 25 (and beyond with proof of university enrolment) and daughters until they marry. Golden Visa for top students: 5 years for high-school students with 95% or more, and 10 years for top university graduates (a GPA of 3.5 or 3.8 at UAE universities depending on their classification, or 3.5 from a world top-100 university, within two years of graduating).

Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation rules allow students aged 15 and over to train or work under a dedicated student permit: • Training: under a written contract that sets out the training field and period, with a no-objection letter from your university. • Work: during academic holidays, for up to three consecutive months each time, under a contract stating the job, wage and daily working hours. You need proof of student status, a valid residence visa and a copy of your Emirates ID. Students are not entitled to end-of-service gratuity unless the contract says so. Working without a permit is a violation that can affect your residence. Family: family members of foreign students at UAE universities can live with them if the student can provide suitable housing. After graduation, top graduates can apply for the 10-year Golden Visa to look for work or work.