In a recent interview from May of 2024, a senior official of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, explained how the buoyant job market, the booming business sector, high rates of employability in Multi-National Companies and relatively easy Visa rules and application process makes Dubai one of the prime choice for Indian students to study abroad.
Dubai, is home to around 50 plus universities, out of which multiple are accredited by the Ministry of Education, UAE. Out of the many aspects of these universities, in this blog, we will be addressing the financial factors. The fee structure for every course is different based on the structure and design of the course, as well as the University that hosts it. We will primarily be discussing the scholarships and Financial aid provided by the top universities in Dubai.
Value of UAED and INR
Let us first know the value an Indian rupee holds in the market of the UAE. A Hundred Indian Rupees equals 4.41 UAE Dirhams; conversely, a Hundred UAE Dirhams equals 2270 Indian Rupees. Based on the exchange rates, the value changes, but is still approximately around the above-mentioned value.
Because the value of the UAE Dirham is higher than that of the Indian Rupee, tuition fees, accommodation fees, and other miscellaneous finances might be a little taxing economically. Hence, applying and qualifying for scholarships in Dubai can prove to be a very beneficial and helpful financial aid.
Scholarships
According to the classic definition, a Scholarship is a financial award given to a student to help support their education. Scholarships can be based on academic merit, special academic achievements, athletic achievements (the field of sports activities), the background of the student, special quotas like the military or the minority, and based on financial needs of the student.
In the following paragraphs, the scholarships provided by the Top universities in Dubai, and applicable to Indian students will be explained.
Zayed University
Ranked at the 4th place in UAE, Zayed University has an Undergrad tuition fee of 2500 AED per credit hour. Here are details regarding the fee structure and scholarships.
- The fee is not exempted for Indian students.
- In case the complete payment cannot be processed in one go, they can be divided into instalments payable in the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms of the undergraduate level.
- At the graduate level, scholarships are provided for international students who fit in the given criteria.
- The applicant must submit the complete application before the due date and must receive an offer for full admission to Zayed University.
- The scholarship level and value are determined by the student’s academic CGPA. For instance, a student scoring a 3.70 CGPA, will be provided with 25% of the tuition fee as the scholarship.
- The scholarship is withdrawn if the student fails to maintain their CGPA above 3, and if the student is dismissed from the course for any reason.
- The Zayed University alumni scholarship is applicable to students passing out of Zayed University and holding a Zayed University Bachelor’s or Masters degree.
- ZU also provides a financial compensation award for students selected under the Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Graduate Research Assistantship, and Graduate Administrative Assistantship.
- They also provide tuition discounts for students who are sponsored by another entity that is in partnership with ZU and follows the protocol decided upon.
University of Wollongong in Dubai
UOWD has provisions to provide scholarships to qualifying students based on Merit, and athletic excellence. These scholarships cover an aggregate sum of the tuition fees but do not cover the living expenses or the additional study-related costs.
Scholarships provided for bachelor’s degree with integrated freshman-year students are:
- The scholarship is limited to the students who fit in the required criteria and is based on early applications for the same. The following scholarship
- The value of scholarships for Indian students is as follows:
- Students securing 95% and above in the State boards or CBSE, receive a 50% scholarship on tuition fees, meanwhile, a student pursuing a 3-year bachelor’s degree gets 25% off.
- Students securing between 85 to 95% in the State Board or CBSE examinations, receive a 25% scholarship on tuition fees, meanwhile, a student pursuing a 3-year bachelor’s degree gets 15% off.
- Students securing between 80% to 85% in the State Board or CBSE examinations, receive a 15% scholarship on tuition fees, meanwhile, a student pursuing a 3-year bachelor’s degree gets 10% off.
- To continue the scholarship, one must maintain a certain level of scores, and enroll in a specified number of courses as declared by the University.
- Masters’ students are provided with a 15% and 25% scholarship based on the following requirements:
- Acceptance from the University for a full-time course in ZU.
- A minimum of 9/10 GPA in the bachelor course for a 25% scholarship.
- A minimum of 8.5 /10 GPA in the bachelor course for a 15% scholarship.
- The Adam Gilchrist sports scholarship is awarded to two students who are professionally representing a team or playing at the state and national level and have had a 65% and above score in their board exams. This is applicable to both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- For continuing students, a 15% to 25% scholarship is provided with a requirement of a minimum cumulative Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 75 in their studies, and the completion of a minimum of 36 credit points.
- The number of Sports scholarships for continuing students is unlimited in number
The British University in Dubai
Following the University of Wollongong in the list of University rankings, BUiD provides Scholarships for Undergraduate and Graduate level programs.
- The scholarships at the undergraduate level are segregated depending on the departments like Law, Computer Science, Business, and Electromechanical Engineering degrees.
- For Indian students, merit-based scholarship is provisioned:
- 50% scholarship for high school grades > 98%; required to maintain a GPA around 3.9
- 35% scholarship for high school grades > 90%; required to maintain a GPA around 3.5
- 30% scholarship for high school grades > 80%; required to maintain a GPA around 3.2
- Other scholarships involve a Sibling discount (if one of your siblings is also studying at BUiD, scholarships for people of determination, and for children of BUiD alumni.
- Scholarships for the Master’s programs include:
- Discount if there is a first-degree relative studying in the University at the same time.
- Group discount for a minimum of 5 employees from the same company joining at the same time.
- Getting a score of Distinction in your bachelor’s degree.
Amity University Dubai Campus
The scholarships provided by Amity University in Dubai are granted annually after the re-evaluation of merit scores. Indian students can qualify for the International student scholarship.
Manipal Institute of Higher Education Dubai
The MAHE Dubai provides scholarships to Indian students in the following categories:
- Merit-based scholarships for students meeting the required criteria in terms of their academic performance. 30% of the tuition fee wavered during the first year of study.
- Sports Scholarship for individuals exhibiting athletic excellence. 50% of tuition fee is waivered during the first year of study.
- Girl Child Scholarship provides a 100% waiver on tuition fees. This scholarship is provided in partnership with the Embassy of India in UAE.
- Alumni Scholarships with a 25% waiver for students of MAHE Dubai pursuing higher studies in the same University.
All of the above-mentioned scholarships are subject to terms and conditions set by the Universities. Read carefully before applying. It is suggested that you opt for tele-consultation, or discuss with the administration staff regarding the scholarship that benefits you the best.
Make sure to visit the websites of these colleges to know more about the last date of application, and apply in due time
Happy learning!