UD’s Academic Terminology Definitions
| Term |
Definition |
| Concentration |
Grouping of courses which represent a sub-specialization taken within the major field of study. For example, a student majoring in electrical engineering can take a concentration in communication engineering. |
| Course |
A course consists of several instructional activities over a prescribed period. It deals with a single subject and is commonly described by title, number, credits, and expected learning outcomes in the institution’s Catalog. |
| Curriculum |
The term refers both to the range of courses offered at University of Dubai (UD) consisting of a set of related courses in the area of specialization, such as the computer science curriculum or the civil engineering curriculum. |
| Drop & Add period |
Is normally for one week after the start of classes, during a regular semester/term, and for two days only during short semesters. |
| Major |
The major is the field of study in which a student specializes at the baccalaureate level. The term is not typically used in qualifications below the baccalaureate and is only occasionally used in graduate programs. |
| Normal Study Load |
For an UG student in “Good” standing ranges from 12 to 18 credit hours in a regular semester, and from 3 to 6 credit hours in a short session. |
| Special/Non-degree Students |
Special students are students who have obtained their undergraduate degrees from UAE-accredited universities and who are interested in taking courses of similar or higher levels at UD for credit but not toward a degree. |
| Visiting student |
is a student enrolled at another institution who wishes to take courses at UD for transfer back to his/her home university.
|
Credit Levels
The UD offers programs aligned to the National Qualifications Framework (QFE) of the UAE. The QFE uses a ten-point scale to differentiate between the level of qualifications and their associated titles. The table below shows the ten levels and their associated qualification titles for Vocational, Higher and General education.
National Qualifications Framework Emirates (QFE)
Level Descriptors: The QFE Level Descriptors consist of the 10 Levels described in the table below and the expected learning outcomes for each level described in five strands: Knowledge, Skills and three Competencies (Autonomy and responsibility, Role in context and Self-development). The ten levels and the five ‘strands’ of learning outcome statements define the Level Descriptors indicating the complexity of learning for each level, the expected level of achievement for each level and how each level relates to occupations in the world of work.
| Level |
Generic Name |
Vocational Education and Training (VET) |
Higher Education |
General Education |
| 10 |
Doctoral Degree |
|
Doctoral |
|
| 9 |
Master Degree |
(Applied) Master |
Master |
|
| 8 |
Graduate Diploma |
Applied Graduate Diploma |
Post Graduate Diploma |
|
| 7 |
Bachelor Degree |
(Applied) Bachelor |
Bachelor |
|
| 6 |
Higher Diploma |
Advanced Diploma |
Higher Diploma |
|
| 5 |
Diploma/Associate Degree |
Diploma |
Associate Degree |
|
| 4 |
Certificate |
Certificate 4 |
|
Secondary School Certificate (G 12) |
| 3 |
Certificate |
Certificate 3 |
|
|
| 2 |
Certificate |
Certificate 2 |
|
|
| 1 |
Certificate |
Certificate 1 |
|
|