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What is it about? Universities in Dubai are a good choice for continuing education after school. Undergraduate programmes in the UAE are in demand, and most universities guarantee internships in local companies.
What to pay attention to? Conditions for admission to universities in Dubai depend on the chosen programme (bachelor’s or master’s degree), specialisation, and status of the educational institution. Additionally, a student visa must be obtained.
Why do people strive to obtain higher education? Primarily, to acquire a systematic body of knowledge and skills that can be applied in work. That is, if you study not only because it is prestigious but also think about your future career, then the issue of employment should be a priority.
In other words, it is worth finding out whether diplomas from universities in Dubai are valued by serious employers. As practice shows, higher education in the UAE is at a very high level. And graduates of these universities can find jobs in different countries around the world.
Since the early 2000s, many prestigious foreign universities have opened branches in Dubai. For example, Middlesex University from England, Murdoch University from Australia, Normandie Business School from France, as well as other universities from the USA, Canada, Germany, and Russia can be found there.
All these educational institutions in Dubai prepare bachelors and masters in a relatively narrow list of qualifications, while in the main campus, students can study according to more than a hundred different programmes.
Why does this happen? It is because these qualifications are most in demand on the global labour market. Since obtaining a diploma requires paying a significant amount of money, people choose the most prestigious and highly paid professions.
There are four most demanded categories. The first includes IT-related qualifications (Business Information Systems, Computer Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Game and Mobile Development, Information Technology Management, Network Management and Cloud Computing).
The second category includes engineering professions (for example, Electronic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Avionics Engineering).
The third combines qualifications in the field of economics and finance. Finally, the fourth category is chosen by creative and artistic individuals who wish to study design and other forms of visual arts.
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Dubai universities offer education for foreigners in these professions at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Graduates of these universities can find employment in the UAE, where there are representations of many multinational corporations, or look for work in other countries, as their diplomas are recognised almost everywhere.
Admission conditions depend on the specific educational institution and the chosen qualification. For example, for studying under the Foundation programme at the University of Birmingham in Dubai, which is part of the Russell Group, there should be no “C” grades in the applicant’s certificate. Also, one must pass the IELTS exam with a score of at least 5.5 in each section.
The prestigious Heriot-Watt University has stricter requirements. A future bachelor needs to be an honours graduate. And on the IELTS exam, they need to score 6 points. An important factor is also the education system under which the applicant studied. It is quite possible that they will need to take preparatory courses.
Applicants to universities in Dubai (including Russians) need to collect the following set of documents:
Sometimes a certificate from the educational institution confirming the completion of courses in six subjects from the categories of mathematical, natural, and social sciences in English may be required. If the applicant to a university in Dubai did not study under this programme, there is an opportunity to fill the gap by enrolling in the Foundation programme.
Documents for admission to the master’s programme:
In the vast majority of universities in Dubai, there is no need to take internal entrance exams.
Nevertheless, for training in some professions related to technology and economics, it may be necessary to provide documented results of tests in mathematics and physics. And when applying for creative departments, you may be asked to provide a portfolio.
Before submitting documents to a specific university in Dubai, it is necessary to gather detailed information about the conditions of study and find out what language lectures will be given in.
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There have been cases (for example, at Khalifa University) where a student, having enrolled in an English-language programme, had to also study Arabic because this subject was included in the list of mandatory courses. Additionally, on some faculties, only citizens of the Emirates have the right to study.
Russian applicants should prepare the following documents:
You can start studying at universities in Dubai in January, May or September. Resolving all formalities during admission usually takes 3–4 months. Consequently, the documents need to be submitted well in advance. It is best to do so half a year before the start of the first semester.
The educational institution is interested in obtaining visas for potential students. Usually, there are no particular problems with this; the visa is issued within 2–6 weeks.
Some admissions committees of universities in Dubai stop processing documents 30 days before the start of training, even if there are available places.
The application for a visa can be submitted while being in Russia. There is also an option to go to the UAE on a tourist trip and then obtain a student visa locally.
For residing on the territory of the Emirates during studies at a university, foreign citizens require a corresponding visa. Processing the permit occurs upon providing a document confirming enrolment in a university. The review period can take up to 6 weeks.
The validity period of the visa is one year. Particularly successful students who pass all exams with excellence may expect to obtain a visa valid for 5 years. The list of documents that need to be provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes:
All documents written in Russian must be duplicated with copies in English (or Arabic) and certified by a notary. Obtaining a visa for studying falls under the category of paid services and costs $27.
One of the leading higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates. It is located in two main campuses: one in Abu Dhabi and the other in Dubai, making it accessible to students from different regions of the country.
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The university offers a wide variety of bachelor's and master's degree programmes in various fields, including business, information technology, engineering, humanities and social sciences, as well as education.
Special attention is paid to developing curricula that meet international standards, allowing graduates to be competitive in the global labour market.
Zayed University actively collaborates with leading universities worldwide, providing its students with unique opportunities for exchange and internships abroad. This enriches the cultural experience of students and contributes to the formation of a global worldview.
This commercial university offers students programmes allowing them to master professions of architect, diplomat, interior designer, IT specialist, teacher, etc. This educational institution participates in international exchanges. Therefore, the composition of students is international. The university has a good library.
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Students get the opportunity to intern at the most prestigious companies in the Emirates. Knowledge of English at a high level is essential. The cost of education starts from 19 thousand euros per year.
This higher educational institution was founded in 2011. After completing studies, degrees of bachelor, master, and doctor are available. Classes are conducted in English. About 2000 people from 50 different countries participate annually in the international exchange programme.
The cosy dormitory provides all the conditions for comfortable living. The infrastructure of the university is quite developed — modern classrooms, equipped laboratories, a conference hall, a library, and sports grounds. Obtaining a diploma will cost around 9 thousand euros.
Foreign citizens can receive education exclusively on a fee-paying basis. However, the most successful students can count on receiving financial assistance, the amount of which sometimes reaches 30% of the tuition fee.
In many universities in Dubai, the inclusion of student internships in large multinational corporations is part of the study programme. The most talented graduates may be offered a prestigious position after graduation.
It should be remembered that the visa expires almost immediately after passing the final exams. Therefore, it is recommended to start searching for a job in advance. Upon employment, the specialist receives a work visa, which is valid for the entire contract period.
Such an opportunity exists, but the duration of the working day should not exceed 6 hours.
To enrol in foreign universities, one needs to know the legislation of the countries where they are located. It is recommended to discuss all work-related matters concerning obtaining residence permits and enrolling in the university with a lawyer specialising in this field.
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