Master's degree in the UAE for foreign students: tuition fees

Master's degree in the UAE is a stage of higher education, traditionally following after the bachelor's degree. The duration of such programs is often a year, but there are programs with a duration of two and three years (depending on the university and direction). Most courses are conducted in English, but there are master's programs in Arabic as well.

Higher education in the UAE is a fairly young sphere, which at the moment is only about 50 years old. However, this does not affect the quality and prestige of educational institutions of the Emirates. Universities of this country, taking into account the experience of the most rated and popular institutions in the world, make their curricula effectively and practically.

That is why such education is already appreciated all over the world! Every year, this country spends about 15% of the state budget on the educational sector. Studying in the UAE is a combination of a state-of-the-box learning experience with traditional Arab values.

Advantages of studying Master's programs in the UAE

• The main language of education in this country is English. This attracts foreign students with the availability of admission, the prospects of studying and the universality of the application of such education. It should be noted that the language requirements for admission are relatively low: it is necessary to pass the IELTS language test from 6.0.
• Accessibility for foreign students. The UAE is open to students from other countries and is actively engaged in attracting them, offering various discounts on studying. Due to the internationality of society, it is quite tolerant of everyone.
• Huge investments. The UAE government constantly invests large sums in education, so all educational institutions are equipped with the most modern classrooms and high-tech equipment, students are provided with all the conditions for a comfortable process.
• International perspectives. DIPLOMAS of the UAE are recognized all over the world, the most prestigious universities in the world have opened their branches there, so students have an excellent opportunity to get a diploma from universities in countries such as the USA, Germany, France or the UK. The documents of these educational institutions will not differ from those issued in the country of the university.
• A huge plus for graduates of master's programs of the UAE is the ease of employment both in the Emirates themselves and abroad.  Due to the favorable economic situation and low taxes, a large number of top international companies open their branches in this country. And the quality of education of university graduates is not in doubt.

Types and content of Master's programs in the UAE

Master's courses in the Emirates are organized in the same way as in many other countries of the world:

1. Master of Science (MSc)
2. Master of Business Administration (MBA)
3. Master of Laws (LL.M)
4. Master of Arts (MA).

Education lasts 1-3 years, but there are also part-time programs, where studies can last up to 5 years. There are also accelerated types of master's programs for up to 11 months, but such a minority.

Some universities consider both full-time and distance or blended learning.

The course of the educational program of each of the types of magistracy provides for all forms of studying: lectures, seminars, practical classes, writing projects and dissertations.

At the moment, UAE universities have a wide variety of relevant master's programs. Some of the most popular are business areas, management, marketing, oil production, medicine and bioengineering.

Best universities to get Master's degree in the UAE for foreign students

1. HULT Dubai International Business School: MBA; Master of Finance; Master of International Banking; Master of International Marketing — from 171 000 aed\year.
2. Middlesex University Dubai: MBA, Master of Marketing; Master of Law; Master of Psychology; Master of Robotics; Master of Information Technology — from 16 438$\year
3. Heriot-Watt University Dubai: Master of International Business; Master of Internet Marketing; Master of Computer Science; Master of Investment — from 40 000aed\year.
4. University of Bolton: Master of Law; Master of Electronic Engineering; Master of Psychology; Master of Business Management – from 22 000aed\year.
5. American University in Dubai: Master of Business Administration – from $ 20 000 \ year.
6. University of Wollongong in Dubai: Master of Engineering; Master of Social Studies, Master of Business; Master of Finance — from 24 433$\year.
7. Emirates Aviation University: MBA; Master of Mechanical Engineering; Master of Aviation Security; Master of Engineering Business Management – from 28 000aed\semester.
8. Amity University Dubai: Master of Logistics, Master of Business Analytics; MBA – from 40 000aed\year.
9. The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management: MBA – from 87 580aed\year
10. American University of Sharjah: Master of Finance; MBA; Master of Teaching English to native speakers of Other Languages; Master of Mathematical Science — from 30 953$\year

Requirements for students in Master's programs

• To continue education in the UAE and obtain a master's degree, it is necessary to have a bachelor's degree from the university, quoted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the UAE.
• The total GPA of the diploma should be from 3.0 (the maximum on this scale is 4.0).
• To study in English-language programs, it is necessary to pass IELTS from 6.0 (some universities require a score of 6.5 for applicants to the magistracy) or TOEFL from 70.
• To study for a master's degree, you must be at 20 years old. In some universities - strictly from 21 years.
• If studies are conducted in Arabic, a certificate of passing the Arabic proficiency exam is required.

It should be remembered that different universities may impose additional requirements, they must be clarified with consultants or on the official websites of universities. For example, HULT International Business School for admission, in addition to language certificates and a bachelor's degree, requires a minimum of a year of work in the chosen specialty.

Documents required to obtain Master's degree in the UAE

Universities of the United Arab Emirates impose standard requirements for applicants' documents:

• Resume
• Personal letter\essay
• Certified documents on obtaining a bachelor's degree
• Certified copies of records (in English) about all universities where the applicant studied
• Proof of language proficiency
• Letter of recommendation
• Results of entrance examinations (if any were required at the university).

Minimum language requirements for applicants to the Master's course

• IELTS — 6.0+
• TOEFL — 70+

STUDENT VISA in the UAE

To obtain a student visa, the following documents are required:

• Passport, passport copy
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Letter of admission to the UAE University
• Bank statements confirming the availability of funds
• Photo
• Proof of residence
• Copy of the tuition fee document
• Copy of the receipt for payment of the visa fee
• Documents of medical examination (conducted in the UAE).

It is worth noting that it is necessary to legalize documents confirming the level of education. They must be translated in English or Arabic and notarized.

The cost of studying for master's programs in the UAE

In the United Arab Emirates, all higher education for foreign students is paid - and the cost of study is quite high. On average, master's programs cost from 20,000 dirhams per year and above. In some educational institutions, the price of an MBA program can be AED 280,000 per year of study.

The most popular areas for master's programs in the UAE are considered to be various business areas: finance, project management, business analytics and entrepreneurship. Also, the universities of the Emirates have a strong base for currently relevant specialties related to marketing, Internet communications and international relations.

Discounts on tuition for masters in the UAE

Despite the fact that all higher education in the United Arab Emirates is paid, universities offer discounts on tuition, which can cover an average of 30-50% of the cost of the program, and sometimes 100%. To receive such a discount, high academic indicators for admission (IELTS, average diploma score) are required. At the end of the year, academic results and success of extracurricular activities are evaluated and a decision is made on further funding of the student.

Also, a discount can be provided if several family members study at the same university.

In the case of advance submission of documents (usually the date is indicated on the university's website), the university management can also reduce the cost of the program.

Employment prospects after Master's degree in the UAE

Every year, thousands of university graduates of this country are successfully employed in the top companies of the world for several reasons: good quality of education, high prestige of educational institutions, which is valued not only within the country, but also abroad.

The United Arab Emirates is interested in constant economic and comprehensive development, so it actively attracts highly qualified foreign specialists. It is in this country that a huge number of working positions are occupied by educated migrants.