YOUR GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES www.studydubai.ae CONTENTS WHY DUBAI - 4 MANAGING YOUR Find out why Dubai is the best FINANCES - 40 place to help you excel and fulfil your ambitions Find out more about savings, scholarships, internships, work opportunities and much more UNIVERSITIES - 20 A comprehensive look on what is on offer at some of Dubai’s leading dubai essentials - 48 universities Discover how to streamline life and stay connected as a student with these top tips PLAN YOUR STAY - 28 An essential guide to all you need to know about student life from housing to food and hobbies www.studydubai.ae WHY DUBAI 7 6 Why Dubai Why Why Dubai Why LIVE, LEARN AND THRIVE A future-forward city with destination for start-ups and markets, from emerging Africa a reputation for pioneering high achievers in the region and the rapidly advancing innovation, Dubai is home and beyond, attracting bold E7 economic powerhouses of to a multicultural community thinkers and big ambition. China and India to its GCC of innovators, entrepreneurs neighbours. and visionary game changers From a flourishing innovation - a place where aspirations sector populated by the From access to industry become reality. Choose to world’s best-known tech thought leaders and an study in Dubai and you’ll names, software brands international community of not only gain a world-class and digital media giants, like-minded peers, to living education but be an active to its track record as an in a city that values the player in shaping the future, acknowledged R&D incubator individual, embraces diversity whatever your chosen field and in-demand location and encourages unity, Dubai or interest. as fertile ground for future is the ultimate career catalyst. enablement and opportunity, Students from across the Dubai ticks all the boxes for globe choose Dubai for its academic trailblazers and enviable standard of living, its visionaries. access to the largest selection of renowned international A global financial centre, re- universities anywhere in the export hub and transhipment world and its diverse career- nexus, Dubai is also at enhancing ecosystem. the strategic commercial crossroads between East and As a hyper-connected West. Its superlative land, business-first hub with a sea and air infrastructure and “nothing is impossible” connectivity opens the doors mindset, Dubai is the top to the world’s most valuable www.studydubai.ae Regional hub for global technology giants A globally respected test bed for 9 including EMC/Dell, Facebook, Google, autonomous mobility initiatives Dubai Why LinkedIn, Microsoft, Oracle and Twitter and investors in groundbreaking technologies like The Virgin Hyperloop One. 25% of all transport in The city is spearheading the application Attracting significant business and Dubai will be autonomous by 2030 of cutting-edge technologies such as innovation ecosystem investment and AI, biomimicry, genomics, space travel, talent through mega events like autonomous transport, robotics and Expo 2020 Dubai 3D printing through the Dubai Future Accelerators programme and other government initiatives Ranked #1 in the world for FDI technology transfer and #3 top location for artificial Location of the world’s first fully intelligence (AI) and robotics in terms of FDI functional 3D-printed office building A world leader in digital innovation. Set Launchpad for the One Million Arab to become the first city fully powered by Coders initiative and other programmes Blockchain by 2020, and has the world’s first laying the foundation for exciting new Minister of A.I next-generation career pathways Dubai leads the world in employment growth ADVANTAGE DUBAI Fast track your future in one of the world’s most forward-thinking cities www.studydubai.ae “The UAE has cemented its position as a global hub for knowledge 11 and culture, attracting some of the world’s brightest talent.” Dubai Why HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister a global of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai knowledge hub 60 world-class international Career hotspot with universities and colleges 100,000+ newly created Expo 2020 jobs Location of choice Regional base for many for cutting-edge R&D of world’s Fortune 500 organisations and Forbes Global 2000 companies Home to innovation Supportive, inclusive and accelerators including progressive community with Dubai Future Foundation a Ministry of Tolerance, and AstroLabs, part of the Ministry of Possibilities and #4 most visited city in the world Google for Entrepreneurs Dubai Happiness Agenda Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2018 partner network. #2 smartest city in Middle East & Africa McKinsey Global Institute Smart Cities: Digital Solutions for a More Livable Future report 2018 #1 city in Middle East & Africa for quality of living Mercer Quality of Living Survey 2019 Connects the world with Safe, friendly, inclusive, over 100 airlines serving multicultural and the region’s 240 destinations most liveable city www.studydubai.ae 13 Why Dubai Why QUALITY EDUCATION, GLOBAL OUTLOOK With an inspiring choice of over 60 globally leading local education facilities such as the respected international university campuses Emirates Institute for Banking and Finance - the largest number anywhere in the world - and Emirates Aviation University. Dubai offers an abundance of best-in-class higher education opportunities. An added bonus of studying in a world- leading knowledge-based economy is Backed by the government’s strategic vision the fact that Dubai is also a cutting-edge and investment, Dubai’s reputation as a R&D cradle, and home to a high-profile knowledge-based economy at the forefront community of pre-eminent research hubs. of innovation is founded on a commitment The most up-to-date resources, technology, to the provision of quality education as a principal building block for the next generation of leaders, innovators and COMING SOON... entrepreneurs. You only have to look at the Students at Dubai universities will wealth of courses and degrees that cover a full spectrum of curricula and disciplines, be able to study AND carry out to see why Dubai is one of the preferred business and creative activities as part choices for international students. of an integrated higher education programme with the planned launch of A melting pot of nationalities and cultures, new university free zones. Become a this gives you unparalleled access to tailor- future business leader or pursue your made programmes from the best international entrepreneurial dream while studying, seats of learning, specifically designed to with special economic and creative meet your unique abilities, ambition and aspirations. From a two-year vocational zones set up on campus! qualification or higher national diploma and a three or four-year undergraduate degree to postgraduate Masters’ or PhD laboratories and minds are all found here, programmes, there are hundreds of including the UK’s Moorfields Eye Hospital, stringently vetted and internationally Johns Hopkins from the US, Dubai Science credited courses to choose from. Park and the recently unveiled Mohammed Dubai is also home to an ever-expanding bin Rashid Aerospace Hub, to the likes of community of renowned educational the world’s foremost innovation accelerators institutions including Babson College, such as AstroLabs, part of the Google for “My experience as an international student has been positive. I must mention the Heriot-Watt University (International Entrepreneurs partner network, In5, DIFC broad academic curriculum offered within a high-quality education system, the efficient University of the Year 2018, The Times and Fintech Hive and Dubai Future Foundation. administration and infrastructure, and, above all, the international environment.” The Sunday Times) and the Rochester Institute of Technology, as well as highly respected DOREEN CHIWUNDURA, FROM SOUTH AFRICA BBA candidate at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus www.studydubai.ae 15 “We set in motion a revolutionary plan that will assist Dubai Why AN ENVIABLE students to realise their dreams in becoming the young successful business leaders of the future” HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai LIFESTYLE and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE Dubai is consistently ranked as one of the world’s safest cities, which will help put every parent’s mind at ease, and its multicultural reputation and rich diversity of lifestyle attractions, activities, events and accommodation options make it hard to beat for a standout student experience. The emirate is well on the way to achieving its goal of becoming the world’s smartest city by 2021 with essential everyday services such as paying utilities and getting a UAE driving license all easily done online and via blockchain. Dubai is also a global leader when it comes to air connectivity, with two-thirds of the world accessible in under eight hours via more than 100 airlines serving 240 destinations. STUDY AND STAY Dubai’s open-door policy attracts the brightest young minds from around the world to its high-profile universities. The city is now even more student friendly thanks to recent legislative changes that now offer extended study and post- graduation visas in addition to the regular one-year renewable student visa. The Dubai advantage of a safe and welcoming city, rounded lifestyle and the security of knowing your time as a student is free of red tape; makes it a winning destination for students looking for best-in-class internationally recognised degree programmes and world-class career prospects. ARE YOU A HIGH-ACHIEVER? If you are an outstanding student and all-round high-achiever then Dubai is the obvious choice to pursue your degree and career ambitions. Did you graduate from public or private secondary school with a final grade of 95% or above, or are you a university student with a distinctive UAE or international university awarded GPA of at least 3.75? If the answer is yes, then you could be eligible for a five-year study visa.