Studying in the UAE and getting qualifications recognised

The UAE has a large and growing university sector, from federal universities to international branch campuses. Before you apply, make sure the institution and programme are properly licensed and that your school certificate meets the requirements.

Who regulates universities in the UAE

• According to the UAE Government portal, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) leads higher education nationally.
• The Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), set up in 1999, licenses institutions and accredits their academic programmes. The portal says CAA has committed to publishing updated lists of licensed institutions and accredited programmes.
• Emirate-level regulators also play a role: the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in Abu Dhabi, and the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research.
• The portal says KHDA oversees private institutions in Dubai and certifies degrees from licensed Dubai universities.

Check the institution and the programme

• CAA runs two separate processes: licensure of the institution and accreditation of each academic programme. Check both.
• Use CAA's Higher Education Institutions list to see an institution's status (for example active, inactive or on probation) and CAA's Accredited Programs list to search by institution, emirate, subject and level.
• If a programme is not on the CAA list, ask the university in writing who licenses or accredits it (for example KHDA for some Dubai institutions) and what that means for recognition if you later want a government job or postgraduate study.
• Ask admissions three questions: Is this exact programme accredited? By whom? Will my degree certificate be attested for use in the UAE and abroad?
• Be wary of any provider that cannot show its licence clearly or that pressures you to pay before you can check.

Public and private options

• The UAE Government portal lists three public institutions: UAE University, Zayed University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. It says public institutions are mainly for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women, and that non-nationals should check each university's terms.
• Emirati students, and children of Emirati women, apply to public and private institutions through MoHESR's National Unified Registration System, which also covers the National Scholarship Programme to Study Abroad.
• Private universities and international branch campuses set their own admissions rules, fees and scholarships. Compare them carefully using the same checklist you would use abroad.
• If you are an expatriate staying in the UAE for university, you will need a student residence visa (see below).

Equivalency of your school certificate

• The UAE Government portal says the Ministry of Education handles high school certificate equivalency.
• Applicants must live in the UAE and show copies of their Emirates ID and passport, and must submit original certificates, mainly for grades 10, 11 and 12, which are returned after verification.
• Certificates must be attested by the UAE Ministry of Education and/or by the education authority in the country that issued them. Certificates in languages other than Arabic or English must be legally translated and attested.
• You can apply at a Ministry of Education office in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or online. The documents needed depend on your curriculum (British, American, IB and others), so check the service page for yours.
• Start early, especially if you studied in more than one country: collecting attested certificates from abroad can take weeks.

Recognition of degrees and student visas

• If you study abroad and return, MoHESR's University Qualifications Recognition service checks degrees from accredited institutions outside the UAE. The portal says the recognition report can be used for employment, further study, visas and government services.
• Before you choose a foreign university, check that it and your mode of study are likely to be recognised. Ask MoHESR or check its service page if you are unsure.
• Student residence visa: the portal says a student can be sponsored by a parent who is a UAE resident or by the accredited university they attend, with a certificate from the university stating the length of study.
• The portal says expatriate residents can sponsor sons up to age 25 (longer with proof of higher education) and can sponsor daughters for study regardless of age while they are unmarried. Rules can change, so check the latest guidance.
• The portal also notes that outstanding students may be eligible for a Golden visa; see the official Golden visa page for criteria.