How to Study in United Arab Emirates for International Students
The United Arab Emirates is highly popular due to its sky-rocketing towers, sizzling street foods, and historic temples. Annually, it garners millions of tourists and students who want to experience an exceptional time of their lives. Education in the country is designed to make institutions an avenue for students to strengthen their capabilities and become excellent professionals in the future. In fact, all public institutions are offered for free to all citizens. So, if you are looking for a place for your international studies, UAE is the answer!
When it comes to the choices that are available, United Arab Emirates currently has 22 universities, from which 7 universities are a part of the public sector and 15 universities are private institutions.
Suppose you’re not just looking for any school but a well-performing school. In that case, the top universities in United Arab Emirates you should definitely check out are University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates University, and Zayed University.
Being able to study in United Arab Emirates as an international student starts with planning ahead of time, as the process of researching your institution, filling out forms, and completing your paperwork can take a vast amount of time. In this article, you will find out the application process to study in United Arab Emirates, along with information on tuition, language requirements, and visa applications. So, let’s dig in!
1. Cost of Studying in United Arab Emirates
When choosing a university, you also need to consider the tuition fees and your budget. Before applying to a university in United Arab Emirates, it’s best to have a general knowledge of the tuition fees there. The annual tuition fees for international undergraduate students range from 18,000 AED to 211,300 AED, while for master’s degree studies, the yearly tuition fees are between 7,846 AED and 304,600 AED.
Cost of Studying in Public Universities in United Arab Emirates
To give you an idea of how much it costs to study in United Arab Emirates, here are the tuition fees in these public and private universities:
| Institution | Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee | Master’s International Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Management Technology Dubai | 31,300 AED - 36,300 AED | 37,400 AED |
| American University of Ras Al Khaimah | 53,200 AED - 62,000 AED | 33,600 AED - 54,000 AED |
| Higher Colleges of Technology | 60,000 AED - 73,500 AED | |
| Zayed University | 70,000 AED - 90,000 AED | 45,500 AED - 76,900 AED |
| Khalifa University | 100,000 AED | 90,000 AED |
| United Arab Emirates University | 57,000 AED - 90,000 AED | 24,000 AED - 65,100 AED |
Cost of Studying in Private Universities in United Arab Emirates
| Institution | Bachelor’s International Tuition Fee | Master’s International Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amity University Dubai | 35,000 AED - 64,600 AED | 38,500 AED - 49,500 AED |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai | 35,500 AED - 48,000 AED | 33,000 AED - 48,000 AED |
| Canadian University of Dubai | 64,100 AED - 88,500 AED | 50,600 AED |
| Skyline University College | 48,400 AED - 50,600 AED | 60,000 AED |
| Al Ain University | 18,000 AED - 97,200 AED | 18,000 AED - 64,800 AED |
| Middlesex University Dubai | 60,000 AED | 35,000 AED - 53,800 AED |
| American University in Dubai | 97,100 AED | 50,400 AED - 53,000 AED |
| Abu Dhabi University | 27,600 AED - 45,400 AED | 39,600 AED - 66,100 AED |
| University of Wollongong in Dubai | 57,600 AED - 62,600 AED | 7,846 AED - 9,415 AED |
| British University in Dubai | 56,300 AED - 62,500 AED | 85,000 AED |
| Ajman University | 26,400 AED - 56,700 AED | 36,000 AED - 75,000 AED |
| American University of Sharjah | 101,000 AED | 119,400 AED - 164,700 AED |
| New York University Abu Dhabi | 211,300 AED | 244,300 AED - 304,600 AED |
| University of Sharjah | 57,700 AED - 85,300 AED | 50,200 AED - 66,000 AED |
| University of Dubai | 60,900 AED - 74,800 AED | 72,800 AED - 102,100 AED |
If you’re looking for the most affordable universities in United Arab Emirates, check out the Cheap Universities in United Arab Emirates!
Besides tuition fees, you also need to consider other expenses like books, accommodation, and living expenses.
2. Requirements to Study in United Arab Emirates for International Students
Once you have an idea of how much tuition fees are to study in United Arab Emirates, it’s time to consider preparing the paperwork to apply to those universities. Academic institutions have varying admission requirements, but the ones you should always prepare in advance are your academic records, such as a transcript of records or diploma from a previous academic level, and travel documents, such as your passport and visa.
Some institutions that offer master’s programs might also ask for a statement of purpose, a curriculum vitae or résumé, and letters of recommendation. There are also degree programs where you need to take an admissions test before you can apply. Besides these, universities might also require you to submit proof of language proficiency.
In United Arab Emirates, English and Arabic are the languages of instruction. If you’re looking to study in any of the academic institutions here, you might need to prove language proficiency by taking standardized tests, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo for English. Depending on the institution and the language of instruction for your program, you might also have to prove your language proficiency by submitting EmSAT Arabic for Arabic.
To give you an idea, here are some universities in United Arab Emirates and their required minimum scores for each program level.
Institute of Management Technology Dubai
Bachelor’s degree
- IELTS: 5
- TOEFL: 61
- Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page
Master’s degree
- IELTS: 6
- TOEFL: 79
- Master's English Language Requirements Page
Amity University Dubai
Bachelor’s degree
- IELTS: 5.0
- TOEFL: 61
- EmSAT Arabic: 600
- Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page
- Bachelor's Arabic Language Requirements Page
Master’s degree
- IELTS: 6.0
- TOEFL: 79
- EmSAT Arabic: 1400
- Master's English Language Requirements Page
- Master's Arabic Language Requirements Page
Canadian University of Dubai
Bachelor’s degree
- IELTS: 5
- TOEFL: 61
- Bachelor's English Language Requirements Page
Master’s degree
- IELTS: 6
- TOEFL: 79
- Master's English Language Requirements Page
Typically, you can find information about language requirements on the admissions requirements page of the university. You can also check out if the university has a dedicated language requirements page for international students.
Application Procedure to Study in United Arab Emirates
The specific admission process may vary depending on the university. The good news is that most institutions in United Arab Emirates have online applications available on their websites, like University of Sharjah and United Arab Emirates University. To help you with this, we also compiled the official websites and admission pages of some of the top institutions in United Arab Emirates.
University of Sharjah
- Official Website
- Domestic and International Bachelor's Admissions Page
- Domestic and International Master's Admissions Page
United Arab Emirates University
- Official Website
- Domestic and International Bachelor's Admissions Page
- Domestic and International Master's Admissions Page
Zayed University
- Official Website
- Domestic Bachelor's Admissions Page
- International Bachelor's Admissions Page
- Domestic and International Master's Admissions Page
Make sure to gather all the information you need for the admission process. As you apply to these institutions, expect that they may ask for additional requirements depending on your nationality, degree, or program. So, it’s best to keep your lines active.
After completing your academic and language requirements, it’s time to apply!
The admission process in United Arab Emirates differs from one university to another, so it’s best to contact your chosen school beforehand. Please note that the admission process for international students may take some time, so be sure to know the application dates and apply early.
The application process may take weeks or months, depending on your timing, nationality, degree, and other factors. To make the most of your application, make sure to completely follow the admission steps and submit the necessary requirements to ensure that you’ll be accepted to your chosen university in United Arab Emirates.
The key to being admitted to your chosen school will depend on your punctuality and the quality of your application. So make sure to complete the requirements beforehand and follow the steps in applying. After this, you’ll wait for a week or a month for the results.
4. Visa Application for International Students in United Arab Emirates
Now that you’re accepted into your chosen institution, it’s time to apply for a student visa in United Arab Emirates. A student visa is an essential document for studying abroad. It’s an important government document that you need to present before going to United Arab Emirates as an international student.
In this section, let’s briefly discuss the requirements needed and how you can apply for a student visa in United Arab Emirates. If you’re going to stay here for your studies, you will need to obtain a Student Residence Visa.
To start your student visa application in United Arab Emirates, you will need to present the following:
- Passport
- Passport-sized pictures
- Letter of Acceptance from the institution
- Proof of financial capacity to study abroad
- Proof of accommodation
- Medical certificate from a UAE-accredited health center
Kindly take note that these requirements may vary depending on your nationality. So, please expect that may ask for additional requirements. Moreover, you will be required to pay a student visa application fee. The visa application fee in United Arab Emirates is 3,000 AED.
After preparing your requirements and application fees, it’s time to apply for a student visa! The first steps in getting your student visa are:
- Complete the online visa application form, which can be accessed on accredited government websites.
- Pay the visa application fee upon submission.
- Schedule a visa interview at your home country's UAE embassy or consulate.
- Attend the visa interview and truthfully answer the questions asked by the consular officer.
- Wait for the visa decision through your email.
For more information regarding the specific steps in applying for a student visa, visit or contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your home country. They are the ones responsible for processing your student visa application.
That’s it! After getting your student visa, you can now officially study in United Arab Emirates. Make sure to book a flight early, before your classes start, so that you’ll have ample time to explore and familiarize yourself in your new place!