Dubai application FAQs

We are not a franchise; the University of Birmingham has established itself within the International Education Hub in Dubai.

Our campus space has been developed and tailored to complement the programmes that we offer in Dubai.

Our Phase 1 site opened in autumn of 2017 and marked us out as the first global top 100 and Russell Group University to establish a campus in Dubai. We now occupy a prominent position at the heart of Academic City, following the completion of Phase 2, with the opening of our new campus in 2022.

70% of staff live and work here in Dubai and 30% are flying faculty from the UK.

When you graduate from the University of Birmingham Dubai, your transcript will say Dubai, but you will be awarded a University of Birmingham degree certificate, which will only mention the UK. 

To find out more information about the University of Birmingham Dubai you can register your interest and download our Dubai prospectus.

Alternatively you can email us at dubai@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

See a full list of our undergraduate programmes

See a full list of our postgraduate programmes

Yes, programmes contain the same set of compulsory modules as taught at our Birmingham campus in the UK.

We offer a range of part-time postgraduate courses which are taught over evening and weekends. Please refer to course pages for further information.

See a full list of our postgraduate programmes

A foundation year is a year for those who have not completed 13 years of education as per the British curriculum, it has been designed as a preparation year for the first year of studies.

Our four-year programmes include an integrated entry year, which you may need to take depending on your previous study (for example if you have taken 12 years of previous study, rather than 13).  We will ensure that you are fully prepared for your undergraduate programme, immersing you in the University environment.

View all of our programmes on our course listing page

Tuition fees, entry requirements, modules, and more can be found on each of the course pages.

Search for a course

Please visit your chosen programme page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Search for a course

If you are successful in obtaining a place to study as an undergraduate at the University of Birmingham Dubai, you will have the opportunity to apply to spend the second year of your chosen programme in the UK at our Birmingham campus.

Explore studying in the UK at our Birmingham campus

We do not offer transfers, for most of our UG programmes, the student can take part in an exchange year which means they will study their second at our beautiful Edgbaston campus in the UK. We require 60% to be achieved over two semesters in Year 1. For the programmes listed below there is also a 20% cohort threshold.

• BSc Computer Science
• BSc Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science
• MEng Computer Science & Software Engineering (if student wants to go in 2^nd year part of UG, noting the last year is also in the UK mandatory)

This is to maintain the vibrancy of our student cohort and community.  

No, your visa will be cancelled upon graduation, upon cancellation you will have 30 days to leave the country, unless you have been sponsored by a family member or employer. 

Our academic terms starts on Monday 25th September 2023, you may be required to attend earlier depending on your chosen programme. More information will be provided in your offer letter.

View University of Birmingham Dubai term dates

For undergraduate students the fees paid in your first year will remain the same across all years of study. Tuition fee information is listed on the course page.

See a full list of our undergraduate programmes on our undergraduate courses page

Find out more on tuition fees

For all postgraduate programmes, students will be charged per year of study. Tuition fee information is listed on the course page.

See a full list of our postgraduate programmes on our postgraduate courses page

Find out more on tuition fees

Yes, you can pay the full fee or in instalment on the following dates (upon request once you join):

• 1^st November 2023
• 1^st February 2024
• 1^st May 2024

Yes, they are same as the UK campus as we deliver the same content and high-quality education as our home campus, the main different is cohort sizes, we have a smaller student to staff ratio when it comes to teaching. We also offer several scholarships to benefit those who choose to study with us.

We offer several scholarships.

You do not apply for a scholarship. Students must fill out an online application form to study with us (free of charge), upload your transcripts and if eligible you will receive a conditional offer within 5 – 10 working days. In parallel your application will be reviewed by our scholarship team who will notify you directly via email about your eligibility.

Visit our scholarships page

We have several scholarships available, but not all scholarships apply to all years of study. 

The Chancellors academic merit scholarship (based on predicted grades, applies to all years of study except for the Undergraduate Students who are on 2+2 and 2+1 programmes.

• BSc Biomedical Science (last year in the UK)
• MSci Biomedical (last two years in the UK)
• MEng Computer Science and Software Engineering (last year in the UK)
• Meng Mechanical Engineering (last two years in the UK)

Our advanced award scholarship applies to year one only (once the student accepts and pays the deposit before the deadline) and if scholarships are combined they should not exceed 40%. Further information can be found on our scholarships page.

For PG programmes, the advanced award applies to the total tuition fees (irrespective of being a FT or PT course). 

No, students do not have to maintain a GPA or grades once they join, it also is automatic and does not have to be renewed.

We offer students support with their visa applications.

Find out more about the visa process

We have the IST (International student team) based in the UK which can provide visa support for your exchange year in the UK.

Additional costs whilst studying at our Dubai campus may include:

• Housing
• Food
• Transportation
• Visa
• Medical insurance
• Additional books (only if required)

Visit our cost of living page

Choosing to study with the University of Birmingham at our Dubai campus is an exciting decision and you may have many questions on how to apply and what to do next.

Follow the steps outlined on our 'how to apply' page

You do not need to apply via UCAS.

Follow the steps outlined on our 'how to apply' page

No, you can apply before you have your final grades but they will be required for your offer to be made unconditional and subsequently accept your place.

You will receive a decision within 10 working days of your application being received.

If you have not received an offer after this period, please uobdubaimiddleeast@contacts.bham.ac.uk for support. This email inbox can also be used for any support with the application process. 

As you are not applying via UCAS this does not count towards one of your five choices.

Please refer to our international pages and view entry requirements for specific information for your country or region.

Once you receive your offer letter from us, you will be able to make your deposit payment of AED 5,000 via HSBC. This is required to secure their place on the programme this is non-refundable unless the student is unable to meet our entry requirements. 

You may pay your deposit via bank transfer, or noqoodi payment link if you are based in the UAE. 

Visit our tuition fees page to find our payment details

In exceptional circumstances, a deposit may also be refunded if you are prevented from commencing your studies by matters outside your control (other than those referred to above), for example a change in your personal circumstances including your ability to fund your studies, a serious illness or a death in your immediate family.  The University reserves the right to deduct an administration fee of £100 from the deposit in these circumstances.

We would encourage you to accept your place by the date stated on your letter. However, if you do require extra time please contact us using the details provided within your offer letter.

Our offer letters are issued as standard to all with the full tuition fees, the scholarship letter will have details of your entitlement which is kept on record.

There is no deadline for applying, but if you are applying from outside the UAE you will need to allow sufficient time to process your study visa.

21^st August 2023, from 1^st September onwards it will be in country express visa only.

Visit our visa process page for information visa costs

Yes, we do provide medical insurance, but only to university sponsored students. 

Visit our visa process page for information on medical insurance

We work with 4 accomodation providers based in the local vicinity. Myriad, KSK Homes, Yugo and DSOA.

Explore our accomodation 

The Careers and Employer Engagement Service at the University of Birmingham Dubai work with a number of prestigious employers within the region. We work with employers and business who can support our students through a variety of activities including industry insight through workshops, mentoring, alumni networking and engagement, internships and graduate opportunities. We have successfully worked with Barclays Bank to establish and enable an annual programme of mentoring for women interested in business. We are excited to have 6 more students and graduates paired with senior Barclays staff to begin our 2023 programme. As well as Barclays, in 2023 we will be launching our Dubai alumni mentoring programme, pairing successful alumni based in the UAE with students across our subject disciplines.

Our students have had the opportunity to work at several businesses across a range of disciplines through internships made available to the University of Birmingham Dubai including copywriter roles at Wunderman Thompson, Assistant Engineers at Atkins & Partners and Marketing Interns at LEGO. In the past students have successfully gained internships at Dubai Police, Jaguar Land Rover and Estee Lauder to name but a few.

As well as employer based opportunities, we have a number of opportunities for students to explore entrepreneurship and freelance work through our student group The Innovators Hub as well as targeted Entrepreneurship activity. We have expert business owners coming and speaking with our students, including the Managing Director for Microsoft Start Ups, the Founder of Blossom and the CEO of Creative Zone.

A Student Association team (six current students) who advocate for the students, collect feedback, and arrange student led events.

Events this year have included: Welcome week, Halloween, UAE National Day, Christmas Celebration, UoBe Festival, Valentine's Day, International Women's Day, Welcoming Ramadan Celebration and much more.

We have arranged trips to: 

• Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque and Presidential Palace
• MBR Library 
• MBR Space Centre 
• Atlantis Aquaventure 
• Adventura park 
• IMG theme park
• Trip to Dubai Opera to speak to a UAE astronaut currently at the International Space Centre
• Volunteering with K9 dog centre and packing aid boxes for Syria & Turkey

We have around 27 clubs and groups open to all students, including sports teams (male, female and mixed).

Our sports clubs include: adventure sports, power lifting, football (male), touch rugby, volleyball, badminton, basketball, table tennis, and cricket. 

If your interest is not listed, we empower our students to take ownership of their initiative and support them with their interests, encouraging them to start their own club with like minded students. 

We hold regular Open Days, both in person and online. View the full list of our upcoming Open Days and events on our events page.

Register for a University of Birmingham Dubai Open Day

Our campus is based within Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). 

View our maps and directions page for how to find us

Yes. The University of Birmingham Dubai provides bus transport at an additional cost to all Emirates except Abu Dhabi (unless we meet the minimum number of students required). 

The cost of the transport will vary depending on where you need transport from and your distance from campus. 

Find student transport fees

To switch to a new route, you will need to notify Student Services of your change of address and complete any necessary transfer documentation. We can then assess your request, make the necessary arrangements and advise you of any change in your transport fees. You can contact us at dubai@contacts.bham.ac.uk 

If you have changed your address you should also ensure that your student record is up-to-date with your latest address.

Free parking is available. The university car parking facility has 550 car parking spaces. Students will need car parking access cards to be able to use the car parking. 

Yes. The RTA bus number 365 runs on the Dubai International Academic City route. Please refer to the RTA’s journey planner to confirm schedules and plan your trip or call the RTA at 800-9090.