UAE is a progressive country with growing world-class universities for international students. Almost all the universities in the UAE are young organizations that rapidly grew up and got featured by several recognized ranking agencies.
The universities in the UAE provide career-centric education to their students on business, technology, and humanities. With English being the main language of education, it’s a snap for international students to acquire world-class education with modern equipment in the country.
Some of the salient rankings to top universities in UAE are:
- The American University of Sharjah ranks #7 among the Arab Region Rankings according to the QS Global Rankings, 2021.
- The SP Jain School of Global Management has been ranked #12 according to the latest ranking of Forbes Best International 1-year MBAs.
- The Khalifa University achieved the #21 rank in Petroleum Engineering according to QS World University Rankings, 2021
Top Universities in UAE Rankings
US News and World Report, Times Higher Education, and QS Top Universities are some of the top-ranking agencies that rank the universities in the world every year based on several different parameters.
At present, there are a lot of universities in the UAE providing world-class educational facilities to international students. Following are some of the top universities in the UAE and their individual ranks across various fields of education:
| University | QS World University Rankings 2021 and THE World University Rankings, 2021 | Other Rankings |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates University | QS: #284 THE: #301-350 |
- |
| Khalifa University | QS: #211 THE: #351-400 |
#672 by US News and World Report |
| American University of Sharjah | QS: #348 | #7 in Arab Region Rankings by QS Top Universities |
| University of Wollongong in Dubai | QS: #196 | #14 in the QS Top 50 Under 50 Rankings |
| University of Sharjah | QS: #601-650 THE: #601-800 |
- |
| Abu Dhabi University | QS: #701-750 | #36 in Arab Region Rankings by QS Top Universities |
| New York University Abu Dhabi | QS: #601-650 | - |
Top Universities in the UAE by Employability
Although the universities in UAE are young, however, certain rapid improvements in the rankings are observed. Besides, some of the universities are satellite campuses of some top international universities from different countries across the world. In the era of the modern industrial revolution, UAE is focused on the employability of the students like any other business-centric country.
The core industries include petroleum, petrochemicals, and aluminum, hiring a number of employees throughout. Hotel, logistics, airlines, media, fishing, shipbuilding, textiles, and handicrafts are some of the mass recruiting private sectors in the country. Below are some of the universities with the average salaries offered to the alumni:
| University | Average Salary for MBA, B.A., and B.Sc. in USD |
|---|---|
| American University in Dubai | MBA: 81,000, B.A.: 60,000, B.Sc.: 32,000 |
| American University of Sharjah | B.A.: 49,000, B.Sc. 35,000 |
| University of Wollongong Dubai | M.B.A.: 88,000, B.A.: 67,000, B.Sc.: 33,000 |
| Arab Academy | B.Sc.: 97,000 |
| Jordan University of Science and Technology | B.Sc.: 45,000 |
The unemployment rate of the UAE never crossed 5% even in pandemic conditions. With the diversity of occupations in the country, young students are likely to get a job in their relevant field in the UAE right after completing their respective courses from the top-ranked universities of the UAE.
Top Universities in the UAE for Business
UAE being the richest country in the middle east has Dubai as the wealthiest city in the sphere. The country is one of the busiest business centers in the world engrossing technical knowledge and implementable skills in the universities. The top business schools in the UAE are listed below:
| University | Tuition Fees for MBA in AED | Score Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Hult International Business School | 2,87,000 | GMAT required |
| United Arab Emirate University | 89,750 in Al Ain, 1,33,350 in Abu Dhabi |
IELTS: 6.0 TOEFL iBT: 79 |
| Middlesex University Dubai | 1,07,600 | IELTS: 6.5 with 6.0 in each section |
| IMT Business School Dubai | 80,000 | - |
| Amity University | 45,000 + 5% VAT | 50% in X, XII and undergraduate or equivalent |
| Manipal University Dubai Campus | Annual tuition fees 48,300 + 1,680 registration and application | Fresher and working graduates with adequate English language proficiency |
| Zayed University | 1,28,000 | CGPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, TOEFL CBT: 213, iBT: 79, IELTS: 6.0, EmSAT: 1400 |
Top Universities in the UAE for Computer Science and Engineering
Computer science is a course offering endless career opportunities. Being solely a technical field of work, computer science students in the UAE are more likely to get high salary jobs in different fields like the schools, business, administration, public service and many other organizations. Some of the top universities in the UAE offering courses on computer science are listed below:
| University | Tuition Fees for M.E. or M.S. in AED | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence | All full time students are granted 100% scholarships | Bachelors with CGPA 3.2 on 4.0, TOEFL iBT: 90/ IELTS: 6.5/ EMSAT: 1550, GRE, SOP, Entrance exam on Machine Learning, Programming, and Math |
| BITS, Pilani, Dubai | 30,000 approx, based on the residence fee and institute transport availing | Good UG Scores |
| University of Birmingham, Dubai | 59,000 per year | 2:2 honors degree, English language test score required |
Top Universities in the UAE for Medicine
Medications and curing is a demanding career all over the world. UAE having majorly international residents is not an exception requiring professionals in the field of medicine. In addition, medical students are eligible to earn tax-free salaries in the UAE. Here are some of the top universities in the UAE for Medicine:
| University | Tuition Fees per year in AED | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf Medical University | Evaluation fee: 2,100; Tuition fees per year: 1,43,325 |
17 years of age, 1400 in EmSAT/ 550 in TOEFL/ 6.0 IELTS, 75% in 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
| Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences | 1,85,000 | Overall average of 85%in three science subjects, admission entrance exam result |
| Dubai Medical College | 1,20,000 tuition fees + 5% VAT + 2000 student service fees | Higher secondary in science, EmSAT: 1,100/ TOEFL: 500 (173 CBT, 61 iBT)/ IELTS: 5, entrance exam and interview |
Top Universities in the UAE: Admission and Language Requirements
The following criteria should be maintained by the international aspirants to get admission to the top universities in UAE based on the selected programs.
Top Universities in the UAE Entry Requirements
To get admission to the top universities in the UAE, international students need to have good scores in their X and XII examinations. The basic personal documents required for admission to the top universities or colleges in the UAE are as follows:
- Completed application Form
- Receipt of Application Fee (if required)
- Transcripts
- Copies of passport size photograph
- Copy of passport and other supporting documents
- CV
- Letter of Recommendation (if required)
Note: The application forms for the specific courses can be filled online from the official website of the university.
Top Universities in the UAE English Language Requirements
90% of the universities and colleges in the UAE require English language proficiency test scores for admission. The top universities in the UAE have specific requirements on English language proficiency for bachelor's and master's courses. Although the standards of the test score requirements are unique for each university, however, the average minimum test scores are listed below:
Undergraduate Aspirants:
Graduate Course Aspirants:
- IELTS: 6.5
- TOEFL iBT: 80
Top Universities in the UAE: Costs
The fees and other expenses play a vital role in the selection of colleges by young students. The tuition fees at most of the private colleges in the UAE ranges between 22,500-1,23,000 AED (equivalent to 4,49,000-24,56,000 INR).
Some of the most affordable universities in the UAE are:
- The Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
- BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus with bachelors starting at 5,500 AED (equivalent to 1,10,000 INR) per year.
Students Accommodation Costs
The accommodation costs of the students in the UAE widely vary according to the institutions and their locations. The cost of living on the campus of the university housing ranges around 2,250-13,500 AED (equivalent to 45,000-2,70,000 INR) per year.
If the applicant chooses to live in a flat near their university, the cost would be on the higher side. The monthly rent of a flat in the UAE ranges between 3,250-9,000 AED (equivalent to 64,000-1,80,000 INR). The living and transport cost of the students depend on their lifestyle and the distance of their residence from the campus.
Top Universities in the UAE: Scholarships
Enriched with international students, the top colleges and universities in the UAE offer a number of scholarships to meritorious students. Here are some of the finest scholarship programs available for overseas students in the UAE:
| University | Scholarship | Eligibility Criteria | Grant Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates University | United Arab Emirates University Scholarships for International Students | 97% in 12 grade, 7 in IELTS, 680 in Math SAT, or 1500 in Math EmSAT |
100% tuition waiver |
| Khalifa University | President’s Scholarship | EmSAT English 1400 and EmSAT Math 1200, CGPA of 3.3 | 100% tuition fees |
| American University of Sharjah | Chancellor’s Scholars Award | Avg. of 95% or equivalent in last three years of secondary education | 75-100% of tuition, lab and housing fees |
| University of Sharjah | Undergraduate High School Discounts | 90% or more in high school results | 50% discount on tuition fees |
| NYU Abu Dhabi | Financial Support | Student need to file a CSS profile application and have needy family conditions | Full cost of tuition, living, miscellaneous and travel fares to country of origin to eligible students |
The professional attitude of the people in the UAE captivates the young students to study in the top-ranked universities and seek a career in the country. Being the loadstone of business and employment in the middle east region, with a cooperative educational atmosphere, UAE deserves to be the center of attraction of the international students planning to study in the middle east.
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