Dubai is climbing the charts and becoming one of the most popular destinations for Indian students to study abroad. Courses such as MBA, Hospitality and Tourism, Design and Arts are among the top 5 ones on the list. A most frequently googled question is “How to Study in Dubai for free?” Studying in Dubai for free might sound like an enticing option for many, but in reality, it will not be the kind of “free” that you imagine.
To study in Dubai for free, one needs either of the following three things:
- Citizenship of the UAE
- Scholarships or grants
- Internships
Many universities in UAE provide a full tuition fee waiver if the student is a resident national of the UAE. For non-resident nationals, some scholarships and grants give a partial waiver on the fees. Meanwhile for students who are non-nationals, certain merit-based scholarships, and internships help tremendously in reducing academic fees. Moreover, if one is provided with a licensed and paid internship following the rules of the UAE government, one can earn one’s keep and thus reduce the total expenditure.
Before we move ahead to understanding each of these categories in detail, let us first look at the type of scholarships and their classifications based in the colleges of Dubai.
Types of Scholarships Available:
To study in Dubai, these are the multiple types of scholarships largely classified into:
● Government Scholarship: The UAE government provides the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum scholarship, the LSE Middle East Centre Emirates Masters Scholarship, the Al Qasimi Foundation’s Doctoral Research Grants, etc. There are many others under the Ministry of Education and Dubai Knowledge Foundation.
● Merit-Based Scholarships: Awarded to students based on exceptional academic achievements and standardized test scores, providing partial or full coverage of tuition fees.
● Need-Based Scholarships: Aimed at students with demonstrated financial need, these scholarships support accessibility to education by covering tuition fees and other related costs.
● Sports Scholarships: Granted to talented athletes excelling in sports, allowing them to pursue their academic and athletic goals simultaneously.
● Research Scholarships: Support students interested in research endeavors, providing financial assistance for research projects and advanced studies.
● Cultural Scholarships: Promote cultural exchange by awarding scholarships to students representing diverse nationalities and backgrounds.
● Women in STEM Scholarships: Encourage gender diversity in STEM fields by offering scholarships exclusively for women pursuing STEM degrees.
● Industry Partnerships Scholarships: Collaborating with leading industries, scholarships may include internships or cooperative education programs for practical experience.
● Community Impact Scholarships: Awarded to students with a strong commitment to community service and making a positive societal impact.
● Alumni Scholarships: Exclusively for graduates of partner institutions, fostering a sense of community among international students and alumni.
● University Scholarships: Universities and Institutions in Dubai offer numerous scholarship opportunities, tailored to attract and support international students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
● Government Grants: Government grants in Dubai are typically awarded for specific programs or research initiatives aligned with national priorities. These might be difficult for typical students to access directly.
● External Grants: International organizations or NGOs might offer grants for students in Dubai pursuing studies related to their focus areas. For example, an environmental NGO might offer grants for students studying sustainability.
Financial aid particularly for UAE resident students:
- Zayed University provides a monthly stipend and educational devices for students of Emirati mother
- University of Birmingham in Dubai provides an Emirati excellence scholarship to outstanding student based on invitation only.
- The University of Dubai provides a 100 per cent scholarship to Emirati students under the ICT fund. This applies to those students who wish to study electrical engineering or Information technology at the University of Dubai.
Scholarships for International Students (Applicable to Indian students also):
- Zayed University provides Education Devices and financial aid to International students who qualify for their mentioned requirements. Education devices cover up costs of buying a laptop or tablet and so on.
- The University of Wollongong in Dubai provides Academic merit scholarships, and sports scholarships for new and continuing students of any nationality, given they fulfil the criteria mentioned by the university.
- The Canadian University in Dubai provides multiple scholarships ranging from Academic excellence or merit scholarships to sports scholarships, special needs scholarships, and financial hardship scholarships.
- The Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medical Science has programs like the Future Doctor’s program and the Jood scholarship program that award the top-ranking students and students with financial hardships with a tuition fee waiver respectively.
Some other scholarships are based on the universities, scholarships are as follows:
● The University of Dubai offers International student scholarships which are known to be full or partial tuition fee waivers.
● Al Qasimi Foundation’s Doctoral Research Grants by Al Qasimi Foundation, provides full tuition fees, living stipend and research allowance for outstanding international students pursuing PhD research.
● Zayed University Scholarships are restricted to Zayed University students but cover full or partial tuition fees and living stipends (for some programmes)
● Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship granted by the Dubai Government, which covers all tuition fees, living expenses, and health insurance for outstanding academic achievers.
● Several universities that are located in Dubai, including Dubai University, offer merit-based scholarships to international students with outstanding academic records.
● Mohamed Bin Zayed University Scholarship for AI is offered by Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Artificial Intelligence to exceptional international students pursuing postgraduate studies in Artificial Intelligence. It covers full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, health insurance, and accommodation.
● The bachelor’s academic merit scholarship at the University of Wollongong Dubai covers 15% – 50% of tuition fees each trimester.
● Amity University’s Merit-Based scholarship is an international student Bursary Scholarship known to offer a 20% bursary. It offers a 20% reduction in tuition fees for the whole of the student’s program.
Internships:
Universities in Dubai, also have the provision of part-time work within the University campus, or MOUs with partner companies that allow students to earn money. Although it does not make education free, at least you can earn a small percentage of it.
To sum it all up, merit-based students in terms of academics, sports, or special talent will find it relatively financially less burdening. Internships, assistantships in the university, and part-time jobs as permitted by the type of Visa are other ways to earn money and make it easy to Study in Dubai.