Discover 20 helpful tips for students who want to study in UAE! The United Arab Emirates is one of the most preferred destinations for aspirants across the globe. From its incredible opportunities to its brilliant infrastructure, UAE proves to be one of the best countries to study in

1. Top 20 Tips: What
To Look For When
Choosing a UAE
University

2. Recognition and accreditation
Examine the accreditation and recognition. The UAE
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
(MOHESR) has accredited a number of institutions.
Some institutions choose not to apply for MOHESR
accreditation but may be accredited by other bodies or
organisations. If you intend to work for the UAE
government, you should enroll in a MOHESR-accredited
institution. Private companies in the UAE do not
typically seek MOHESR accreditation, but if you intend
to pursue a postgraduate degree at a MOHESR
accredited university, you must also ensure that your
bachelor's degree is from a MOHESR accredited
university.
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3. Campus size/Location/Facilities
Check that the university's location is convenient for
you in terms of transportation and timing. In Dubai, for
example, some universities are in Knowledge Village,
while others are in Dubai International Academic City.
Others can be found throughout the city. Check out the
campus size and facilities as well. Websites may use
words like "vast," "sophisticated," "modern,"
"updated," and so on, only to reveal that the institution
is housed on one floor of a building. So, when visiting
universities, make sure the location and size are to your
liking, and then look at the facilities they have. Insist on
visiting classrooms, computer labs, libraries, and other
facilities.
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4. Transportation/Accommodation/Visa
Requirements
You may end up selecting a university in another
emirate or far away from where you live. In this case, if
you don't have your own transportation and public
transportation isn't an option, see if the university
offers transportation. Buses serve specific areas at
many universities. If you are visiting from another
emirate or country, inquire about lodging options. Even
if the university does not have its own hostel, it may
have arrangements with other institutions to share
accommodation or assist you in finding something
suitable nearby. A pertinent question would be one
concerning visas. Most UAE universities should be able
to process a student visa. Inquire again about the
required documentation, the cost, and the time
involved in obtaining a student visa.
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5. Look into the university's age.
The longer a university has been in operation in the
UAE, the better. Although new universities may be
appealing in terms of course variety or facilities, it is
preferable to choose a university with a research
tradition. Actively conducting research and contributing
to academic publications would undoubtedly contribute
to the high standards of teaching and learning in any
institution.
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6. Who are the members of the faculty?
Check out the faculty members for whatever course
you're interested in. Examine their educational
backgrounds and previous work experiences. If a
university's website does not make this information
easily accessible, you should reconsider. Information on
faculties should be easily accessible.
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7. Course variety
Examine the course offerings at any university. Large
universities (with over 3000 students) may provide a
wide range of courses to choose from. Be wary of
smaller institutions (around 500 students) that offer an
excessive number of courses. This has occasionally
resulted in a course/module not being offered in a
given semester due to a lack of enrollment. Find out
this information before enrolling in any course. Inquire
about schedules specifically because you might find out
later that your classes are at night!
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8. Examine the annual enrollment
figures.
It is critical to double-check enrollment figures. For
example, if you see that the university had 1500
students enrolled in 2010, cross-reference to see how
many of those graduated in 2013 or 2014. If the
number of graduates is significantly lower, it may
indicate that the university has a high dropout rate.
Examine the student population because the UAE is
multi-cultural. Some students may prefer to attend a
university with a similar ethnic makeup, whereas others
may prefer a more multicultural environment.
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9. Examine university websites.
Is there current information on fees, extra costs, entry
requirements, course/module content, credit transfer,
and so on? A comprehensive and informative website
strongly suggests an efficient and 'transparent'
application system, which should make the application
and enrollment process easier for you.
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10. Time to respond to inquiries.
Use the pop-up window on the website to ask
questions. If no pop-up window appears, send an email
to the university's general email address and wait for a
response. A prompt response indicates efficient staff
and systems, which will aid in making your application
and period of study as stress-free as possible.
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11. Alumni organisation
Check to see if the university has an active alumni
association. Discover how and in what capacity alumni
members contribute to the university. Alumni who are
active and involved suggest a university that cares
about its 'community,' and vice versa.
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12. Internships and work experience are
also acceptable
Companies nowadays place a high value on internships
and work experience. Check to see if your university
offers internships during your studies. Which
companies is the university working with on this? Are
there any job opportunities on campus? Is there a
career and guidance counsellor at the university?
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13. Scholarships
Investigate whether the university provides
scholarships. Sometimes websites claim to offer
scholarships, but they may only be for 20% off tuition.
Investigate the various types of scholarships, the
application process, the required documents, and
references. Be wary of institutions that require you to
enrol and pay upfront before applying for a scholarship.
If you are denied a scholarship, you will be forced to
pay out of your own pocket. In terms of scholarships,
larger/well-known institutions are safer bets.
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14. Same/different branch campuses
There are several institutions here that are branch
campuses of well-known universities from the United
Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Do not
assume that a branch campus has the same standards
as its parent institution. Even if they claim to offer the
same courses and teaching and learning standards, you
should still visit branch campuses. Some branch
campuses have lower entry requirements than their
parent universities; locally hired faculty with no prior
experience at the parent institution; different grading
systems; very different completion requirements; and
limited access to parent university
resources/databases.
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15. Fundamental/general studies
Many institutions in the Philippines have adopted the
American model of Foundation/General studies. Even if
you have excellent grades in Mathematics and English,
you may be forced to take a Foundation course because
it is required of all students. You could waste up to two
semesters studying subjects that are unimportant to
you. Some universities 'persuade' students to drop out
of high school after grade 11 and enrol in a Foundation
year. Be aware that if you do this, you may face
consequences later on if you want to pursue a
postgraduate degree in the west. You may be required
to demonstrate that you have completed 12 years of
schooling.
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16. Academic assistance/writing centre
This is something that many new undergraduate
students and parents overlook. Investigate the level of
assistance provided by the university to new students.
Are there workshops on academic skills, library usage,
time management, and so on? Is the university home to
a writing centre? Who is in charge? A writing centre
with peer tutoring usually indicates that the institution
has a history of assisting students throughout their
academic careers. Examine the layout, location, and
arrangement of the Writing Centre.
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17. Policy collaboration
Is the student handbook and specific policies on
academic honesty, for example, readily available on the
university website, in addition to admission
requirements and course information? Transparent
policies strongly suggest that student management
systems are efficient. For example, finding out if the
university has a minimum attendance policy, changing
courses, or requesting assignment extensions may be
beneficial. Although student policies may appear
insignificant, they are effective in protecting the rights
of individual students.
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18. Social media – activities on Facebook
and Twitter, university events
Examine any university's Facebook or Twitter page. It is
critical to determine whether the institution is keeping
up with current social media trends. An institution with
a Facebook page that only contains graduation photos
from two years ago suggests that it is understaffed or
has a limited marketing or public relations budget. This
may not affect course quality, but for some students, it
is important to attend a well-known university rather
than one they have never heard of. Furthermore, it will
be interesting to see if there is a 'conversation'
between students and staff and what the topic of this
conversation is!
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19. Management
This may appear trivial, but it is critical to know who the
Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar/Bursar, and
Deans are because this information reflects the
institution's leadership quality. High staff turnover at
the management level could indicate serious leadership
issues, which could impact the general learning
environment and, as a result, students. Because most
people in the UAE are on contracts, you must ensure
that you are not in an institution where
lecturers/professors leave mid-semester to join another
institution or return to their home countries.
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20. The rate of employment
Most universities in the UAE are proud of their
graduates' employment rates and use that data to
market programmes on their respective websites.
Check to see which courses/programs' graduates are
employed, with which companies, and at what levels.
Sometimes universities simply provide statistical
information, such as an employment rate of 80%, but if
no other information is available, proceed with caution.
This percentage may include graduates who were
already employed when they enrolled in university
because they could have been working and studying!
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21. Technology/online education
Again, many students only bother to find out after
they've enrolled. It is critical to determine which
learning management system the university employs
and in what capacity. Are there any online courses? Is it
possible to submit and grade assignments online? Is the
university equipped with an online learning support
unit? Without a proper support unit, no staff will be
readily available to assist you if you encounter
problems with the learning management system, which
may have an impact on your grades.
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22. 22
Contact Us
Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities
Address: Al Muroor Street, Signal 23, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates.
Phone: 024999000
Email: info@mbzuh.ac.ae
Website: https://www.mbzuh.ac.ae/