Master's Degrees in the UAE: Programmes, Requirements, Costs and Scholarships

A master's degree in the UAE takes one to two years and is almost always taught in English. There are two distinct formats: research programmes at Abu Dhabi universities such as Khalifa University, where strong candidates can win scholarships, and taught MSc and MBA programmes at branch campuses in Dubai. You need a bachelor's degree with a GPA of about 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent, IELTS 6.5 and, at many universities, ministry recognition of your degree. A whole programme costs from $20,830 (AED 76,491) at Middlesex University Dubai to $47,350 (AED 173,880) for an MBA at American University in Dubai in 2026/27.

Types of master's programme in the UAE

At United Arab Emirates University, many engineering master's programmes have thesis (33 credits) and non-thesis (30 credits) options. Choose the thesis option if a doctorate is your next step.

Entry requirements

Bachelor's degree. Khalifa University requires a degree in a relevant field with a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or equivalent, such as a UK upper second-class honours degree. Heriot-Watt Dubai sets a threshold for Russian degrees: 70% or 3.5 out of 5 for most programmes, and 80% or 4.0 out of 5 for Robotics and Global Sustainability Engineering. Middlesex University Dubai asks for at least a second-class honours degree or equivalent. Universities convert national grades themselves, so include your university's official grading scale.

English. Khalifa University accepts TOEFL iBT 91 or IELTS Academic 6.5. It does not accept the TOEFL iBT Home Edition or the GRE at home: tests must be taken at a centre. Graduates of English-medium universities who had IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79 when they were admitted there may be exempt.

Tests. The GRE and GMAT are not required for most master's programmes. At Khalifa University a GRE quantitative score of 150 is needed only for direct PhD entry after a bachelor's.

Documents. A certified copy of the degree and transcript, a statement of purpose, a CV and references. The statement should explain why this programme fits your goals and what you have already achieved.

Degree recognition: ministry equivalency

Khalifa University requires graduates of foreign universities to submit an equivalency certificate from the ministry and warns that the process is lengthy, so start early. Your degree must first go through consular legalisation in the issuing country, because the UAE is not a party to the Apostille Convention.

Under Cabinet Resolution No. 103 of 2026, the ministry's fee for a qualification recognition application is $14 (AED 50). This fee covers recognition only; consular legalisation of your degree in the issuing country is paid separately.

What a master's costs in the UAE

Application fees: $54 (AED 200) at Khalifa University and United Arab Emirates University, $110 (AED 400) at Abu Dhabi University, which also charges a one-off $780 (AED 2,850) registration fee on admission. The annual budget with housing, insurance and visa is in our guide to the cost of studying in the UAE.

Scholarships for master's students

Khalifa University awards competitive master's scholarships covering tuition fully or partly. You indicate interest in your admission application; there is no separate form. Standard PhD scholarships include a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend, and recipients must maintain the required GPA.

Branch campus discounts. Dubai campuses publish their own discount schemes, and terms and deadlines vary by intake. Confirm them before paying a deposit and keep the confirmation in writing.

Full funding for international master's students is found mainly at the research universities in Abu Dhabi and depends on your academic profile and research area. See our overview of scholarships abroad.

Application timeline

The main intake is in autumn, with spring entry at some universities. Khalifa University's Spring 2027 PhD applications were open until 28 September 2026; it announces its Fall 2027 master's timeline separately. A practical plan:

1. 12 months ahead — shortlist 3–5 programmes, check their CAA accreditation and start degree recognition.
2. 9–10 months ahead — take IELTS or TOEFL at a test centre, prepare your statement and references.
3. 6–8 months ahead — apply and indicate scholarship interest.
4. 3–4 months ahead — accept the offer, pay the deposit and send documents to the university visa office.

Study, work and visa

Full-time master's students receive university-sponsored residence, just like undergraduates. Work requires a separate MOHRE permit applied for by the employer. If you already work in the UAE on an employment visa, look at formats for working professionals such as an Executive MBA or course-by-course study at American University in Dubai. See our guide to the UAE student visa.

United Arab Emirates University does not provide housing for graduate students, so you will rent privately. At Khalifa University, graduate housing costs $540–820 (AED 2,000–3,000) a month depending on the residence, and for stipend holders it is deducted from the stipend.

What a UAE master's leads to

• Golden Visa for master's and PhD graduates of UAE universities: a class A or B institution, a GPA of at least 3.5 or 3.8 respectively, graduation within two years and a ministry-attested degree. ICP or GDRFA decides.
• Job seeker visa for 60, 90 or 120 days without a sponsor if you graduated from a world top-500 university within the last two years or your occupation is at MOHRE skill levels 1–3.
• Doctorate. A master's with a GPA of 3.25 out of 4.0 is the regular route into a PhD at Khalifa University.

Common mistakes

• Taking the TOEFL Home Edition. Khalifa University does not accept it, nor the at-home GRE.
• Starting degree recognition after admission. It is slow, and without it registration can stall.
• Comparing MSc and MBA prices in one line. An Executive MBA and a regular MBA serve different students: at Middlesex, $32,010 versus $23,110.
• Not checking whether a new programme is accredited. The ministry prohibits enrolment before CAA accreditation.
• Expecting campus housing everywhere. United Arab Emirates University has none for graduate students.

How StudyU helps

Programme shortlisting for your degree and goals, GPA conversion, a recognition plan, statements, CVs and scholarship applications are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Admission and scholarships are decided by the university, degree recognition by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and student residence by the emirate's immigration authority. See our guide to universities in the UAE and the UAE country page.

FAQ

Sources

• Khalifa University: master's and PhD requirements, documents, fee — checked 29 September 2026
• Khalifa University: postgraduate scholarships
• Khalifa University: fees and housing
• Heriot-Watt University Dubai: requirements for Russian degrees
• Middlesex University Dubai: 2026/27 postgraduate fees and required documents
• American University in Dubai: graduate programme fees
• United Arab Emirates University: graduate rates and housing policy
• Abu Dhabi University: 2026/27 rates (PDF)
• Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: master's programmes and fees
• Abu Dhabi Residents Office: Golden Visa for graduates
• Khaleej Times: Resolution No. 103 of 2026 on ministry fees
• The National: job seeker visa
• HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
• Currency: dollars calculated at the peg of $1 = AED 3.6725 and rounded to $10 (amounts under $100 to $1).

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. Apply