Cost of Studying in Dubai: Tuition, Living Costs and Scholarships
Tuition by university, fees on top, student housing, visa packages and the scholarships international applicants can actually get.
The cost of studying in Dubai for an international bachelor's student at a UK or Australian branch campus is about 60,000–80,000 AED a year in tuition, plus roughly 5,500–9,000 AED a month to live. University of Birmingham Dubai sits well above that range, at about 129,000–157,000 AED a year.
Scholarships here are tuition discounts, not cash. Several are open to applicants from India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Egypt, with published grade thresholds.
Most universities have not yet published fees for the next academic year; Heriot-Watt Dubai has already posted its prices for the upcoming intakes. Every figure below shows the intake it applies to.
Tuition fees at Dubai branch campuses
The table covers five UK and Australian branch campuses. Prices come from the universities' own fee pages.
| University | Bachelor's tuition | Foundation year | Price list |
|---|---|---|---|
64,557 AED a year | 50,301 AED (International Foundation Programme) | Current price list | |
63,449 AED a year; engineering 68,909 AED | 60,000 AED (NCUK International Foundation Year) | Autumn intake | |
78,650 AED a year (management); 82,264 AED (engineering, computing) | 56,280 AED | January and September intakes |
How fees are charged
UOWD charges per subject each trimester, so your annual total depends on your study load. Curtin quotes one price for the whole program.
Heriot-Watt, Birmingham and Curtin fix your first-year rate until you graduate. Middlesex keeps the net fee the same, but passes on any VAT increase. Repeated units at Curtin and resits at Middlesex (500 AED plus VAT) cost extra.
Budget for a foundation year if your certificate needs one
Middlesex Dubai places students with Pakistani FSc/HSSC or Nigerian WAEC/NECO certificates on its foundation program, not year 1. At Heriot-Watt, WAEC holders cannot enter engineering or computer science directly. UOWD accepts WAEC/NECO only on its 4-year route. Check your certificate before you compare prices.
Master's degrees and public universities
Master's programs at branch campuses cost about 76,000–120,000 AED for the whole program. Examples: MBA at Middlesex, 84,872 AED; MBA at Curtin, 115,500 AED. Birmingham's International Business MSc costs 166,356 AED. Details are on our master's and MBA page.
Federal universities accept international students, but are not cheaper. UAE University now charges international bachelor's students 2,661 AED per credit hour, or 319,320–351,252 AED for a 120–132-credit program. Free tuition is for UAE citizens only.
Fees you pay on top of tuition
- Heriot-Watt: 300 AED application fee (non-refundable). When you accept the offer, you pay 10% of first-year tuition plus a 1,000 AED refundable security deposit.
- Curtin: 367 AED application fee (credited toward tuition), 3,500 AED registration fee on acceptance (non-refundable), and a 500 AED service fee for every trimester or semester. Optional university transport costs 2,100–3,675 AED per trimester.
- Birmingham: no application fee. A 5,000 AED deposit on acceptance is non-refundable but counts toward tuition. The university states that fees exclude visa, travel, housing, food and insurance.
A year of bachelor's tuition in Dubai
AED per year, latest published price lists
- University of Birmingham Dubai128,695–156,718 AED
- Heriot-Watt (management)78,650 AED
- Middlesex University Dubai64,557 AED
- University of Wollongong in Dubai63,449 AED
- Curtin University Dubaiabout 60,900 AED
Student visa costs by university
Your university sponsors your student residence visa and sells it as a package. Before it applies, it wants part of your tuition paid: 25% of the annual fee at Middlesex and Heriot-Watt, the full first trimester at UOWD, the first study period at Curtin. The visa is issued for one year and renewed annually.
| University | New visa, applying from abroad | Applying from inside the UAE | Refundable deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
Middlesex | 5,555.22 AED | 7,235.22 AED | 2,500 AED, paid on top |
UOWD | 8,237 AED | 9,917 AED | 2,500 AED, included |
Heriot-Watt | 3,315 AED (express 4,828) | 5,200 AED | 3,000 AED, paid on top; insurance 1,469 AED if you have none |
Birmingham | 7,068.10 AED (express 8,444.10) |
Packages differ in what they include, such as medical insurance, Emirates ID and admin fees, so compare the full line on the university's page. The step-by-step process and timelines are on our UAE student visa page.
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Student housing and living costs in Dubai
None of the five universities runs its own dormitory. Students rent rooms in partner residences; rent includes furniture, Wi-Fi and utilities, and longer contracts cost less per month.
| Residence | Monthly rent | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
ESAW | 2,200 AED (triple room) to 4,300 AED (private room) | 3,000 AED |
KSK Homes | from 2,850 AED; twin 3,050–4,699, single 4,999–6,550 | 3,000 AED |
The Myriad (Dubai International Academic City) | 3,050 AED (double) to 7,450 AED (studio) | 3,500 AED |
Yugo Dubailand | from 3,500 AED | not listed |
Each university negotiates its own rates: Birmingham's current price for a shared double at The Myriad is 3,250 AED a month.
Numbeo data puts a single person's monthly spending at about 4,207 AED, excluding rent. A one-bedroom apartment outside the center rents for about 5,507 AED a month.
Students aged 5 to 23 can get a Nol student card (70 AED, valid one year) with 50% off public transport. Over 23, there is no discount; the regular monthly pass is 275 AED.
In total, budget about 5,500–9,000 AED a month in a shared residence room, including food and transport.
Scholarships in UAE for international students: what Dubai universities offer
Every scholarship in this table reduces your tuition bill. None pays living costs, except the PhD stipend at Khalifa University.
| University | Scholarship | Discount | Who and how |
|---|---|---|---|
UOWD | Academic Merit Scholarship | 15 / 25 / 50% on the 4-year route; 10 / 15 / 25% on the 3-year route | Any nationality. For 50 / 25 / 15%: CBSE 95 / 85 / 80%; Thanaweya Amma 98 / 90 / 85%. WAEC/NECO: 5 A grades for 25%, 4 A grades for 15%. Limited places, first come, first served |
Heriot-Watt | Undergraduate Merit Scholarship | 30 / 40 / 50% of the first-year net fee, spread across all years | CBSE or Pakistan FBISE HSSC 80 / 85 / 90%. You need at least a C each year to keep it |
Birmingham | Chancellor's Academic Merit Scholarship | 15–30% every year | CBSE above 75 / 80 / 85 / 90% for 15 / 20 / 25 / 30%. No separate application. Published for the current intake only |
How to get a tuition discount
Check your exact grades against the published thresholds.
Apply early: UOWD awards merit scholarships first come, first served.
Check the procedure. Birmingham reviews conditional offers automatically and confirms within about 10 working days; Curtin needs a separate application with a letter.
Secure the award. At Middlesex, you accept the offer and pay the 3,000 AED deposit.
Keep your grades up. Heriot-Watt requires at least a C each year; UOWD lowers the discount if your average drops.
Part-time jobs in Dubai for students: what the rules allow
Plan your budget without work income. A student visa does not give an automatic right to work: Curtin's policy says students on its visa cannot work except through permitted schemes. The legal routes run through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE):
- Student Training and Employment Permit. A company can hire or train a student aged 15 or older who is already in the UAE. The employer applies, and the permit is valid for 3 months.
- Part-time Work Permit. It covers reduced hours. Working for more than one employer requires MOHRE approval.
- Typical documents. According to MOHRE service descriptions, you need a no-objection letter from your university, a valid residence visa, a medical certificate and a MOHRE-approved contract.
Sample first-year budget: the real cost of studying in Dubai
A first-year estimate for a bachelor's student at a branch campus, excluding Birmingham, based on the price lists above.
| Item | Approximate cost, AED |
|---|---|
Tuition, year 1 | 60,000–80,000 |
Application and registration fees | 0–3,867 |
Student visa package from abroad | 3,315–8,820 |
Housing, food, transport and personal spending (12 × 5,500–9,000) | 66,000–108,000 |
Total, first year | about 130,000–200,000 |
Foundation year, if your certificate requires one | add 50,301–60,000 |
You also need cash for refundable deposits: 2,500–3,000 AED for the visa where it is not included in the package, and 3,000–3,500 AED for a residence room. You get these back later, but you pay them before you arrive.
What to know before you apply
Licence and accreditation are two different things. In Dubai, KHDA licenses universities in the free zones. At the federal level, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) works through the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA): first the institution is licensed, then each program is accredited. If you need your degree for a UAE government job, a regulated profession or further study at a CAA-accredited university, check that both the university and your specific program are accredited.
All five universities on this page hold federal status, with programs accredited by CAA. The degree itself is awarded by the parent university in the UK or Australia. Recognition at home depends on your country's rules, so check with the relevant authority before paying a deposit, especially for regulated fields.
Tuition is only part of the bill. Living costs can exceed tuition; add a foundation year if needed, and upfront deposits. Student work permits are short-term and will not fund your studies.
Check the regional situation before you travel. In spring 2026, UAE universities briefly switched to distance learning several times. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not advise against travel to the UAE, but warns of possible escalation in the region, flight cancellations and airspace closures. Check your own government's current advice before you travel.
Where AcademGo helps: we build a first-year budget for your program, check its accreditation and match your grades against scholarship thresholds.
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Send us your certificate, your grades and the program you are considering. On a free consultation, we will calculate your first-year budget, show which universities' scholarship thresholds you meet, and tell you whether you need a foundation year. Book a consultation via the website form, WhatsApp or Telegram. For a wider comparison, see our list of universities in Dubai or the study in the UAE overview.
