Curtin University Dubai: An Australian Degree in Dubai International Academic City
Fees per program, entry rules for CBSE, Pakistani and other certificates, the Foundation route and visa costs.
Curtin University Dubai is the Dubai campus of Curtin University, a public university based in Perth, Western Australia. It teaches Curtin's own bachelor's, master's and PhD programs in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). The campus is institutionally accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and licensed by KHDA in Dubai.
It suits students who want Curtin's curriculum in business, IT, cyber security, design, psychology or engineering, with the option to move to Perth later. It also suits expat families in the UAE who want their child close to home.
It is a weaker fit if you need medicine or law, want a university dorm on campus, or plan to work part-time to pay your fees. If you have a school certificate from Nigeria, Egypt or Central Asia, expect to start with an 8-month Foundation year.
For the full country overview, see our Study in UAE guide.
| Key fact | Curtin Dubai |
|---|---|
Parent university | Curtin University, Perth, Australia (public; TEQSA PRV12158, CRICOS 00301J) |
Campus operator | Transnational Academic Group Middle East FZ LLC |
Location | Dubai International Academic City, Blocks 10 and 11 |
UAE accreditation | CAA institutional accreditation since January 9, 2025; KHDA license |
Accredited programs | 16 bachelor's, 5 master's and a PhD |
THE World University Rankings | Curtin University: 251–300 |
Bachelor's length |
Curtin University Dubai tuition fees
Curtin Dubai quotes tuition for the whole program, not per year. The fees below come from the university's current fee policy. There is no separate price list for the next year yet, so this list applies until the university replaces it. Always confirm the current fee before you apply.
| Program | Fee for the whole program, AED (incl. 5% VAT) | Approx. per year |
|---|---|---|
Foundation (non-engineering), 2 trimesters | 52,500 | — |
Foundation (engineering), 2 trimesters | 54,600 | — |
Bachelor's: Commerce, BBA, Design, Psychology, IT, Cyber Security, Interior Design (3 years) | 182,700 | 60,900 |
BAppSc Architectural Science (3 years) | 195,300 | 65,100 |
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (4 years) |
Fees on top of tuition
- Application fee: 367 AED, non-refundable, credited toward tuition.
- Registration fee: 3,500 AED for every program when you accept the offer, non-refundable.
- Service fee: 500 AED per trimester or semester.
Tuition is charged by credit, so your offer may show an estimate. Curtin fixes your tuition for the length of study unless you repeat units. You pay at the start of each study period, with installments by post-dated checks or bank standing instruction; late payment costs 500 AED per month.
The refund rule matters for international students. A new student gets 100% of tuition back if they withdraw before the first study period starts or do not get a UAE visa. After the census date there is no refund, and the application and registration fees are never returned.
Curtin does not publish percentages for its merit scholarships (Academic Excellence, Women in STEM, Sports and others). It offers two full Dubai Top Achievers scholarships per year for all nationalities, plus grants such as the Financial Aid Bursary and Family Grant. Foundation tuition grants go up to 10,000 AED. You apply separately with a motivation letter, and different types of support cannot be combined.
Program fees at Curtin Dubai
AED for the whole program, current fee policy
- Foundation (2 trimesters)52,500–54,600 AED
- Bachelor's: business, IT, design (3 years)182,700 AED
- BAppSc Architectural Science (3 years)195,300 AED
- BEng Mechanical Engineering (4 years)260,400 AED
- Master of AI / Cyber Security (12 months)84,000 AED
- Master of Engineering Management91,350 AED
Programs and the degree you receive
Bachelor's options include the BBA (5 specializations), Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Finance, Marketing, International Business, double majors), Design, Interior Design, BSc Cyber Security, BSc IT, BSc Psychological Science, BAppSc Architectural Science and BEng Mechanical. Master's options are the Master of AI and Master of Cyber Security (12 months), the MBA and Master of Engineering Management (16 months), and a Graduate Certificate in Business Fundamentals. A PhD takes up to 4 years.
According to Curtin, you study for a Curtin University degree, with the curriculum and calendar aligned with Curtin's other campuses. You can transfer to Perth or another Curtin campus if you perform at an appropriate level and get an Australian student visa (Genuine Student requirement). The program generally has to exist at the target campus, so check this before you choose a major.
Let's review your case in a free consultation
We will match a country, university and programme to your documents and budget, and explain deadlines and the visa.
or message us
Admission requirements for international students
Entry rules depend on your school certificate. The main routes look like this.
How to apply to Curtin Dubai
1
Check your grades. India (CBSE or ISC): 60% in your best 4 subjects and 60% in English; state boards (HSC): 65% plus a separate English test. Pakistan (HSSC or Intermediate): at least 75% (825 of 1,100) plus a separate English test. A-Level: 2 A2 subjects with at least 5 points. IB: 24 points (BBA). US high school diploma: B average plus SAT 1000 or ACT 21. Some courses ask for higher grades.
2
Choose Foundation if needed. Direct bachelor's entry from a Russian, Saudi or UAE state certificate needs 1 year of university first. With a school certificate from Nigeria, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and many other countries, plan on the Foundation route. Foundation entry needs completed Grade 11 or 5 IGCSE/GCSE/O-level subjects at C or above. Foundation lasts 8 months, and you progress to the bachelor's once you meet the academic requirements.
3
Prove your English. Bachelor's: IELTS 6.0 with at least 6.0 in each band. Foundation: IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0), or 6.0 in each band for Arts and Media; IGCSE/O-level English at C or higher or SAT 1000 also count.
4
Apply online. Upload your certificates and transcripts, English results, 2 photos and your passport with the visa page. The university then sends an offer and an acceptance pack.
5
What to know before you apply
Many school certificates do not give direct entry. For applicants from Nigeria, Egypt and Central Asia, Foundation adds 8 months and 52,500–54,600 AED. We check your certificate against Curtin's table before you pay the application fee.
The first payment is large. For visa confirmation you pay the first study period (100 credits) before arrival, plus the registration fee and visa package. The refund rule covers a visa refusal, but plan the cash flow early.
Work will not pay your fees. On the university's visa you can only work through permitted schemes, such as the 3-month Student Training and Employment Permit arranged by an employer, or a part-time work permit.
Recognition at home differs by country and profession. Check with the relevant authority in India, Pakistan, Nigeria or Egypt before you enroll, especially for regulated careers.
The region saw disruption in 2026: in spring, UAE universities briefly moved online a few times. Check your government's current travel advice before you travel.
Rankings and accreditation
The UAE federal regulator is the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), with the CAA inside it; Dubai free-zone universities are also licensed by KHDA. Curtin Dubai has both, and in Australia Curtin is registered with TEQSA.
In the THE World University Rankings, Curtin University is placed 251–300. According to Curtin, it is in the top 1% in ARWU, 4th for Mining Engineering in QS by Subject, and rated QS Five Stars Plus.
Housing and student life
Curtin Dubai has no dorm of its own. It works with partner residences: Yugo, The Myriad (DIAC), KSK Homes (DIAC) and DSOA University Residence, and does not publish their prices. For reference, Middlesex Dubai listed The Myriad at 3,050–7,450 AED per month and KSK Homes from 2,850 AED, with furniture, Wi-Fi and utilities included.
Outside tuition, plan roughly 5,500–9,000 AED per month for housing, food, transport and personal costs. The student Nol card gives 50% off public transport, but only up to age 23. The campus has been expanding by 50% since October 2025, and students from 90+ nationalities make English the everyday language.
Student visa
Curtin Dubai sponsors the student residence visa for full-time students. For a new student from abroad, the package costs 8,820 AED (20–25 working days) or 10,200 AED express (15–20). It includes Emirates ID, medical test, insurance and a refundable 3,000 AED deposit. A change of status inside the UAE costs 7,140 or 8,520 AED.
The visa lasts 1 year; renewal costs 3,730 or 4,530 AED. Expat parents in the UAE can sponsor sons up to 25 and unmarried daughters instead. Full steps are on our UAE student visa page.
Other options
Compare Curtin with Middlesex University Dubai, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai and the higher-budget University of Birmingham Dubai. See all universities in Dubai, the cost of studying in Dubai, or master's and MBA in Dubai.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
Send us your transcripts and English results. We check them against Curtin Dubai's requirements for your program, tell you whether you need the Foundation year, and compare 2–3 alternatives in Dubai on fees and entry rules. The first consultation is free. Write to us via the contact form, WhatsApp or Telegram.
