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Qualification attestation and equivalency

To study at the University of Birmingham Dubai, you must meet the attestation and equivalency requirements set by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR).

What are attestation and equivalency, and why do they matter?

These processes ensure your previous academic qualifications are formally recognised in the UAE.

Attestation

Certificate attestation is the official authentication process of verifying your previous academic qualifications. This ensures your documents are genuine and issued by a recognised institution that can be accepted as valid documents in the UAE.

Equivalency

Equivalency is formal recognition that your previous foreign academic qualifications are equivalent to the educational standards and qualifications of the UAE. It is essential for your degree to be officially recognised and for future employment in the region.

Who needs to apply?

Except for certificates from UAE public higher education institutions, all applicants must have their academic certificates and transcripts attested. This applies to:

  • Undergraduate applicants: your final high school certificate and transcripts
  • Postgraduate applicants: your bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts

If you have a foreign qualification (including those completed at private schools within the UAE), you’ll also need to obtain equivalency.

The process followed depends on your level of study, curriculum, and where you completed your education.

If you studied in the UAE

You’ll need to apply to the MoE/MoHESR for attestation of your certificates and transcripts (excluding those from UAE public higher education institutions), or attestation and equivalency if from a private school.

Attestation

Public school curriculum (Thanaweya Al-Amma) attestation

Private non-ministerial school curriculum (e.g. British, IB, American) attestation

Accredited private higher education institution attestation

Equivalency

Private non-ministerial school curriculum (e.g. British, IB, American) equivalency

If you studied outside the UAE

You’ll need to apply for both attestation and equivalency of your certificates.

Attestation

You must have your certificates and transcripts officially attested before applying for equivalency:

  1. Your documents must be certified by your issuing university, secondary school board, or a recognised national education authority in the country where you studied. These documents must be attested by the local Notary.
  2. Have your certified documents stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country of study.
  3. Your documents must then be attested by either the UAE Embassy in your country or your country’s embassy in the UAE, followed by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

In special cases where complying with conditions (2) and (3) is not feasible, the certificates may be verified against originals by Embassies in the UAE and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • In these circumstances, you will be provisionally admitted to the University and permitted to commence the first semester of study.
  • If you are unable to secure the attestations as outlined, you will be asked to provide a written agreement to secure the equivalency. You will be permitted to commence your studies and will be given a maximum of one semester to obtain the equivalency certificate(s). The University reserves the right to take appropriate action against any applicant who cannot secure the appropriate documentation within this time, which may result in the termination of the student’s enrolment.

Equivalency

School curriculum certificate (issued from outside the UAE) equivalency

Degree certificate (issued from outside the UAE) equivalency

When to apply

We recommend starting the attestation and equivalency process as early as possible, upon receipt of your final certificates and transcripts from your highest educational institution, as it can take time to complete.

If you have already obtained attestation and equivalency when you accept your offer, upload them to your applicant portal.

However, you may begin your course while your attestation and equivalency are being processed. If you receive attestation and equivalency after starting your course, you must upload them to the portal within your first semester.