Dubai

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Why Study in Dubai?

Studying in Dubai and obtaining a top university degree can make your career and life rewarding in the true sense. However, if you are planning to do your higher studies in Dubai, make sure that you are aware of your available choices for the top universities of Dubai. Today, there are too many options for students and we are here to help them not only choose right but also come out successful at the end of the day. UAE or more specifically Dubai has recently turned into a major educational hub because of the excellent Dubai study programs. So, if the Middle East attracts you, here is all that you need to know about studying in the UAE.

The education system in Dubai

Primary and secondary education in Dubai:

Let’s start with primary and secondary education in UAE. The current educational system is a four-tier process that covers 14 years of education.

  • Kindergarten : For students aged between 4 to 5 years old
  • Primary : Length of the program is 6 years and for students aged between 6 to 12 years old
  • Preparatory: Length of the program is 3 years and for students aged between 12 to 15 years old
  • Secondary : Length of the program is 3 years and for students aged between 15 to 18 years old. Certificate/diploma awarded: Secondary School Leaving Certificate
  • Technical Secondary School : The length of the program is 6 years and for students aged between 12 – 18. Certificate/diploma awarded: Technical Secondary Diploma.
Higher Education in UAE

The UAE education system is well established and diversified. The UAE has eight major universities and a large number of universities and colleges of higher technology. Citizens of UAE can attend government institutions free of cost, and a wide range of private institutions, many with international accreditation, supplement the public sector. As of now, the country has the highest rate of application participation in the world. 95% of females and 80% of males who are enrolled in the final year of secondary school apply for admission to a higher education institution or to study abroad.

Eligibility for Student Visa in Dubai

You can apply for a student visa (Entry Permit and Student Residence Visa) only after you accept the admission offer letter for your program from your desired university and have paid any fee due.

Visa

You need a student visa to study abroad in Dubai if you are not a United Arab Emirates (UAE) national or don’t belong to any of the other 5 GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE are part of the Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC.)

For enrollment in primary, secondary or high schools, a residence visa is required that is sponsored by one of the parents. On the other hand, if you are applying for higher education (i.e. tertiary level studies) in Dubai or UAE, then the student visas are sponsored/ provided by all colleges and universities and also some training institutes there.

In short, if you’re planning to study in Dubai, simply contact the university to apply for the student visa. Every university has its own unique process, required documents and visa processing fee.

Eligibility for Student Visa in Dubai

You can apply for a student visa (Entry Permit and Student Residence Visa) only after you accept the admission offer letter for your program from your desired university and have paid any fee due.

Dubai Student Visa Cost

Even though the visa processing fee is set by the UAE Government Services Office (GSO), every university/ institute’s service charge varies. Hence the student visa for studying in Dubai has varying costs.

Some Dubai colleges include a health/ medical insurance coverage cost as well; in other cases you have to arrange for that separately. So we are providing an estimate range of Visa fee taken as an average of what different universities in Dubai are charging as of year 2016:

  • Visa processing fee : 2300 – 2700 AED (Rs. 42,000 – 50,000 approx.)
  • Refundable Visa deposit : 2500 – 3000 AED (Rs. 45,000 – 55,000 approx.) (returned to you by university after completing studies)
  • Medical insurance : 1300 – 1400 AED (Rs. 24,000 – 25,000 approx.)

Some institutions require all admission procedures and fees to be paid before a visa can be issued. Visa issuance procedure usually takes 10 to 30 days.

While planning and preparing to study abroad in UAE, it is essential to be aware of the education costs of higher studies in the country. The average cost from tuition fees for an Undergraduate Programme in Dubai is around 37500 to 70000 AED that is UAE Dirham per year. The same is around 55000 to 75000 AED per year for a Postgraduate Programme in Dubai. The living expenses, on the other hand, ranges between 2600 to 3900 AED every year.

Private institutions in UAE
There are many good private institutions that offer vast tertiary-level opportunities. Some of the eminent institutions in UAE are American Universities of Sharjah and Dubai, Sharjah University and the Ajman University of Science and Technology. The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is responsible for the accreditation of institutes and degrees.

Development of international universities in UAE
Over the last few years, a number of foreign universities have set up their campuses in the country. Some well-known universities that have established their campuses include American University in Dubai, British University of Dubai, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Middlesex University of Dubai and many other universities.