Studying at the University of Birmingham Dubai: Fees, Entry and Your Degree
A Russell Group degree taught in Dubai: what it costs, which grades you need, and where the limits are before you apply.
The University of Birmingham Dubai is the Dubai campus of the University of Birmingham, a UK Russell Group university. You study in Dubai International Academic City and graduate with a University of Birmingham degree certificate that mentions only the UK. Bachelor's programs take three years, master's programs one year full-time.
It suits students who want a UK research university's degree without moving to the UK and can budget roughly 129,000–157,000 AED a year for a bachelor's degree. It is a weaker fit if your budget matches other UK and Australian branches in Dubai, which charge about 60,000–80,000 AED a year. It is also not a route to the UK campus: there are no transfers.
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
Parent university | University of Birmingham (UK), Russell Group member |
Degree | University of Birmingham degree certificate; the transcript states Dubai |
Location | Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) |
Campus | Own campus since 2022, designed for up to 3,000 students |
Levels | Integrated Foundation Year, bachelor's, master's, MBA, PhD |
Intakes | Bachelor's and master's: September. Integrated Foundation Year: January and September |
UAE licensing | MoHESR license (programs accredited by CAA) and KHDA permit |
How to apply | Directly through the university's admissions portal, not UCAS |
Application fee | None |
Deposit on accepting an offer | 5,000 AED, non-refundable, counted toward tuition |
University of Birmingham Dubai tuition fees
The table shows the current price list for the September / January intakes, in AED per year. Fees for the next intake have not been published yet, so use it for planning, not as a final quote.
| Program | Fee per year (AED) | Price list |
|---|---|---|
Economics BSc | 128,695 | Sept / Jan |
Business Management BSc | 134,922 | Sept / Jan |
Business Management with Integrated Foundation Year | 123,506 in the Foundation year, then 134,922 | Sept / Jan |
AI and Computer Science BSc | 156,718 | Sept / Jan |
AI and Computer Science with Integrated Foundation Year | 134,922 in the Foundation year, then 156,718 | Sept / Jan |
International Business MSc | 166,356 full-time / 83,178 part-time | Sept / Jan |
AI and Machine Learning MSc | 174,509 full-time / 87,255 part-time | Sept / Jan |
How payment works
- For bachelor's students, the year-one fee stays the same for the whole course.
- You pay the full year at once or in three installments.
- The 5,000 AED deposit is deducted from tuition.
- Tuition does not cover the visa, travel, housing, food or insurance.
Scholarships
The Chancellor's Academic Merit Scholarship cut bachelor's tuition by 15–30% every year for the current intake. The top 30% went to A-Level A*AA, IB HL 7,6,6 or CBSE above 90%; 15% needed ABB, IB HL 6,5,5 or CBSE above 75%. There is no separate application: every conditional offer is reviewed.
Terms for the next intake have not been announced, so treat any discount as possible, not certain. A further 10% first-year discount applied only to UAE residents who paid the deposit early.
A year at Birmingham Dubai
AED per year, September / January intake
- Economics BSc128,695 AED
- Business Management BSc134,922 AED
- AI and Computer Science BSc156,718 AED
- Foundation year: Business Management123,506 AED
- Foundation year: AI and Computer Science134,922 AED
- International Business MSc (full-time)166,356 AED
- AI and Machine Learning MSc (full-time)174,509 AED
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Programs and the degree you receive
Bachelor's programs run three years full-time in Dubai, in business and finance, economics, AI and computer science, engineering, psychology, media and more. The CAA list covers 25 bachelor's and 36 master's programs, including Civil Engineering BEng, Psychology BSc, the MBA, Cyber Security MSc and Master of Public Health. Master's programs take one year full-time or two years part-time and start in September.
The university's FAQ confirms that your transcript will say Dubai, while the degree certificate mentions only the UK.
On most bachelor's programs you can apply to spend your second year at the Edgbaston campus in Birmingham, subject to your grades. Four programs include compulsory UK years: Biomedical Science BSc and MEng Computer Science and Software Engineering (final year), MSci Biomedical and MEng Mechanical Engineering (last two years).
Admission requirements for international students
You apply through the university's admissions portal, and decisions usually come within 10 working days. Your certificate decides the route: direct entry to year one or the Integrated Foundation Year.
How to apply
1
Check your grades. A-Level: AAA to BBB depending on the program (Business Management AAB–BBB; AI and Computer Science AAA–ABB with an A in Maths). IB: 32 points with HL 6,5,5 to 6,6,6.
2
Indian Standard XII allows direct entry. As a guide from the University of Birmingham's India page, CBSE/ISC needs around 75–90% depending on the program. The Foundation Year asks for 65% (CBSE, ICSE, West Bengal) or 70% (other boards).
3
Pakistan, Nigeria and the Gulf: the university publishes Foundation Year requirements for these certificates. Pakistan HSSC: grade B or 70%. Nigeria WAEC SSCE: five subjects at B3 or better, none below C5. Saudi Thanawiya and UAE Tawjihiyya: 85%. Egyptian certificates are not listed and are assessed individually.
4
Prove your English. Foundation Year: IELTS 5.5 in every skill, TOEFL 72 or PTE 59. Bachelor's: IELTS 6.0 or 6.5, TOEFL 80 or 88, PTE 64 or 67, depending on the program. Indian applicants can use a Standard XII English grade of 70–80% instead.
5
Upload your transcript (first-semester or predicted grades), certificate if you have it, personal statement, reference and English score.
6
Accept the offer and pay the deposit. The visa process starts after an unconditional offer.
7
Legalize your certificate. The UAE does not accept apostilles. The chain is: your school or education authority and a notary, your Foreign Ministry, the UAE embassy in your country, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Education then issues equivalency for your Grade 12 certificate. You can start classes meanwhile, but must upload the documents during the first semester.
8
Watch the timing. There is no fixed deadline, and exact September dates are announced later, so apply early once applications open. For the January Foundation intake, the standard visa deadline is 14 December (express: 21 December).
What to know before you apply
- Price. Fees are well above the 60,000–80,000 AED a year at other UK and Australian branches in Dubai. Budget for the whole course plus living costs before you commit.
- No transfer to the UK. The exchange year depends on your grades. Programs with compulsory UK years mean a UK visa and UK living costs.
- Foundation Year may be your route. For Pakistani, Nigerian and Egyptian certificates, only Foundation entry is published. That adds a year and a fee.
- Scholarships for the next intake are not confirmed. Plan on the full fee.
- Legalization takes weeks. Start in your final school year, not after you arrive.
- Recognition at home. The degree comes from the UK parent university. Recognition in your home country follows that country's rules, so check with the relevant authority.
- Regional situation. UAE universities briefly moved online in spring 2026. UK FCDO does not advise against travel to the UAE but warns of risks and possible flight disruption. Check your own government's advice.
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Rankings and accreditation
The University of Birmingham is ranked =98 in the THE World University Rankings and 68th in the QS World University Rankings. Both rankings apply to the university as a whole; the Dubai campus is not ranked separately.
In the UAE, the university is licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), and its programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). It also holds a Higher Education Permit from Dubai's KHDA. The CAA register lists it as active. Graduates can attest their degree with MoHESR, which counts for public-sector jobs in the Gulf.
Housing and student life
The university has no halls of its own. It partners with two residences in DIAC, 3 to 15 minutes from campus. Rents are per month at current prices.
| Residence | Monthly rent (AED) | Deposit (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
The Myriad | Shared double 3,250; single 5,000; studio 5,650 (9–12-month contract); shorter contracts up to 3,700 / 5,500 / 6,250 | 3,500, refundable | Up to 2,000 beds, walking distance |
KSK Homes | Twin sharing 2,999; twodio 4,950; single 4,999; premium club 5,499 (10–12-month contract); month-to-month 4,650–7,450 | 3,000 | Utilities and Wi-Fi included |
Beyond tuition, plan on about 5,500–9,000 AED a month for housing, food, transport and personal costs. Students aged 23 and under get 50% off public transport with a Nol student card. See our guide to the cost of studying in Dubai.
Student visa
The university sponsors your residence visa once you accept an unconditional offer for a full-time program and register online. Its package costs 7,068.10 AED (standard) or 8,444.10 AED (express) from abroad, and 8,698.10 or 10,074.10 AED from inside the UAE. This includes a refundable 3,000 AED visa deposit and 1,031.10 AED medical insurance.
Citizens of Pakistan, Nigeria and Egypt need a visa to enter, so use the entry permit the university arranges. Everyone over 18 has a medical test in the UAE. Expat parents resident in the UAE can sponsor sons under 25 and unmarried daughters themselves. Details are on our UAE student visa page.
Other options
If the fees are above your budget, compare Middlesex University Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, the University of Wollongong in Dubai and Curtin University Dubai. For postgraduate study, see master's and MBA programs in Dubai, or browse all universities in Dubai and our guide to studying in the UAE.
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
Other universities in UAE
Compare the terms: fees, language of instruction and entry requirements differ.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Middlesex University Dubai
University of Wollongong in Dubai
Not sure whether your certificate means direct entry or the Foundation Year? Send us your grades and English score. We check your documents against Birmingham Dubai's requirements, map out the legalization steps and compare two or three alternatives in Dubai that fit your budget. The first consultation is free: reach us through the form, WhatsApp, Telegram or our contacts page.