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Western Asia, capital Abu Dhabi

How to Apply to Universities in United Arab Emirates (2027): Step by Step

UAE federal universities charge international students by the credit hour: AED 2,500 a credit for a bachelor's at Khalifa University and AED 2,661 at UAE University from 2026-27. Students are sponsored for residence by their university or by a resident parent, can stay 180 days after their study period ends, and the top university graduates can qualify for a ten-year Golden visa.

Verified 15 Sep 2026 Sources
Public tuition, per year
Not listed
international students
Living cost, per month
Not listed
typical range
Work during study
Not listed
per week
Post study work
Not listed
after graduation
Intakes
Fall, Spring
main application cycles

Degree study at a UAE federal university

  1. Choose a university and check its intake. Khalifa University's PhD programmes take Spring 2027 applicants until 28 September 2026; undergraduate Fall 2027 timelines were not yet published.
  2. Meet the English requirement, for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 for a Khalifa bachelor's.
  3. Apply online. Khalifa charges AED 200 for graduate applications and nothing for undergraduate ones.
  4. Get your school certificate attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and apply for equivalency with the Ministry of Education if you studied abroad.
  5. The university sponsors your entry permit and residence, which must be completed within 60 days of arriving, with valid health insurance.
Sources, checked 15 September 2026
  1. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/residence-visa-for-studying-in-the-uae
  2. https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64
  3. https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/residence-visas/golden-visa
  4. https://www.moe.gov.ae/en/eservices/servicecard/Pages/CertEquivalent-Out.aspx
  5. https://www.ku.ac.ae/tuition-fees
  6. https://www.uaeu.ac.ae/en/dvcsae/student_account_office/program-and-housing-rates-international-students-undergraduate-students.shtml