One of the most sought after study destination you wouldn’t want to be told about is Dubai. Located in the Middle East, Dubai promises to give you high ranking quality education and lucrative career opportunities. It is one of the many wonders of the world as it shocked everyone with its fast evolution and construction. Today, Dubai has become one of the booming economies the global village is proud of. In the last decade, tourism has built its niche in Dubai, thanks to the modern structure.
Dubai is one country with globally recognized universities that impart world-class quality education. It has more than 65 colleges and universities located within the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) and the Dubai Knowledge Village.
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As an international student coming to study for your master’s, you’ve got to experience the Arabic system of teaching and immerse yourself in the city’s Knowledge Village. Almost all the degree courses are accredited; the reason you won’t be bothered about the global acceptability of your certificate. Better still, you would find a master’s degree in almost all the courses, ranging from business administration to communication, insurance, entrepreneurship, ICT, law, fashion designing, architecture, sports, and a lot more.
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Why Study in Dubai?
Dubai is a prominent country that is not just known for its business activities, but so many other reasons that work in its favor. High-quality education is one of them. Below are some of the outstanding qualities you would love to encounter on your destination to study Masters in this global city, city of gold, and business hub of the Middle East.
- Low cost of studying. Studying in Dubai does not promise to be extremely cheap; rather, it is quite affordable when compared to other developed countries.
- Career opportunities: Dubai is rapidly growing, thanks to oil production, trade and tourism. With the constant growth in fields like ICT, business, entrepreneurship, and finance, you could pitch your tent in any industry of your choice after graduation. Companies like Oracle Corporation, IBM, BBC, Reuters, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and so on, all have international standards and their offices are located in Dubai.
- Lifestyle: Dubai has become the city everyone would wish to go to before death comes calling. Unfortunately, not everyone would be there and fortunately, you are going to be there. Therefore, you are going to have a view of 200 islands in different shapes. Surprise sight-seeing like the desert, skyscrapers, malls and beaches, would give you a fantastic experience. Not to forget, Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world is located here. Dubai Mall, the world’s biggest commercial centre with underwater zoo, aquarium, and the ice rink is a wonderful place that would stun you. Events like the annual Dubai Shopping Festival are hosted in Dubai and world’s famous movies set in this wonderful country.
- International atmosphere: Not to exaggerate, 85% of the residents of the city are foreigners from all walks of life. This makes Dubai a global city. Even though the official language is Arabic, English is widely spoken here. Other languages include Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Chinese, Persian and more. Dubai is not only the largest city in the UAE; it is the richest and most cosmopolitan part of the Emirate.
- Beautiful weather: Usually, the climate of Dubai is relatively warm. This is as a result of the desert surrounding the city. The average winter temperature is within 24°C and that of summer is 30°C.
- World-Class Universities: The majority of the universities in Dubai have links with business and industries. This is great for career development. In short, you will study alongside students from different cultural backgrounds and it could be an opportunity for you to have a glimpse of what other cultures look like. With an MBA in Dubai, you will enjoy a competitive advantage over your counterparts in securing high-level positions in strategic businesses and industries. You would think globally when it comes to business and your leadership skills would be topnotch.
- Cultural diversity: The UAE is made up of seven emirates and each has its own unique culture. Studying for your master’s programme will offer you the opportunity to enjoy a first-hand treatment of this diversity.
- The course of study: Master’s degree in Dubai is systematized in similar ways to those of other developed countries of the world. The length of a master’s degree is usually one or two years for full-time studies. The academic year in Dubai is between September and June, with two semesters. The semesters run between September and December or January and the second is between February and June. There are opportunities for part-time studies and they can extend to five years, though there are some less common courses that could be offered within the space of one year.
Fees and Funding
Basically, postgraduate studies in the UAE are free for its citizens, however, it is not so for international students. They pay some token as tuition fees. Courses are assessed by credit hours per semester and universities charge per credit hour. In a nutshell, the required cost of studies in the UAE varies according to the required credit hours of the course you offer.
In addition, private universities are a bit more expensive. They set their own tuition rates. So, individual universities have their unique cost of master’s programme for the students.
Generally, the cost of the master’s programme is fairly expensive. This ranges between AED 48 000 ($13 000) and AED 130 000 ($35 400) for specialty programmes. Do not forget that these fees are different from the application fee which is about AED 200 or $55.
Furthermore, due to the relatively pricey cost of master’s programme in Dubai, there is some funding made available to students to offset their tuition.
Currently, there is no available scholarship in Dubai for international students who are studying for their postgraduate programmes. However, some of the universities offer tuition grants and scholarships to international students studying for their master’s programme. Advisably, it would be better to search out the individual programme and university in Dubai in order to know their available financial support to international students.
Cost of Living and Accommodation for Students
It is not news that Dubai is famous for its glamorous shopping and luxury. Hey, it is not so cheap. But then, there are affordable options for master’s students. Living costs for students vary based on the location. Usually, the cities are more expensive and the price is on the rise. Rent might be quite expensive, but basic food and groceries are quite affordable.
The country makes provisions for appropriate facilities and accommodations for its students. There are optional students’ accommodations on campus and on nearby places. It is unlikely for you to live far from your university as Dubai is not even as big as most European countries.
Alternatively for those with little money, you can share a dormitory room with another student. But if you can afford a single room, that would be commendable. Prices of accommodation are usually charged per semester and vary among universities. A deposit for your accommodation would be required of you and upon graduation or withdrawal; you would be refunded the balance.
The price to be charge per semester is around AED 5000 or $1 360 and the housing deposit is around AED 1000 or $270.
Applying for a Master’s Programme in Dubai
The following are the minimum requirements set for the universities in Dubai:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in your undergraduate studies.
- A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized university and accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR).
It would be better to check with your university for their unique requirements before you apply. You will need to apply online around May or June against the September programme. Also, an upload of your application, proof of a valid passport, and a copy of your undergraduate transcript will be required of you.
Language Requirements
For non-English Native speakers who wish to study in English, there may be a necessity for them to submit a test score. Mostly, an IELTS (International English Language Test System) with a minimum of 5.0 or a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum of 60 scores will be required.
Visas and Immigration for Master’s Students
Basically, you will need a visa to study abroad in Dubai. All international students from diverse nationalities are eligible to apply for a resident visa in Dubai. This is with an exception of Israel’s nationalities. Also, students with a passport from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) do not require any student visa.
For you to get a student visa in Dubai, you will need a sponsor, and your university can stand in the gap for you. With a sponsor, you can apply for a Dubai visa for the length of your stay. The visa is issued on a yearly basis and would be subsequent to renewal. However, this is based on the duration of your programme.
For you to acquire a student visa, you would be charged a fee of AED 3000 or $820.
To apply for a visa, you will be required to bring the following:
- An admission letter from your university;
- A copy of your receipt for your university registration;
- A completed visa form;
- A copy of your passport that is valid for at least seven months;
- A scanned photograph of yourself.
The duration for visa processing is between three to five weeks. Additionally, an express visa normally takes one to three weeks to process.
Furthermore, it is compulsory that you have a health insurance policy that lasts for the length of your studies. Your university will grant you medical insurance cover once they sponsor you for your visa and you have undergone the medical test.
You must hold a valid Emirates ID card and this costs about AED 1000 or $30. This is subsequent upon yearly renewal.
In conclusion, saying that Dubai is the best place to study is not over-hyped. There are a lot of offers you would meet and one of them is having the prospect of a tax-free salary, in case you would wish to work after studies. So, what are you waiting for to enjoy this amazing package waiting for you? If I were you, I would not miss it.
