Undergraduate Admissions Policy

General Policy Overview

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a comprehensive, transparent, and equitable set of guidelines and criteria for the selection and admission of applicants to all undergraduate programs at the University of Dubai (UD). This framework ensures that the university attracts and enrolls highly qualified candidates who demonstrate the academic potential and commitment necessary to succeed in rigorous undergraduate-level studies.

Scope

This policy applies universally to all prospective undergraduate students seeking admission to bachelor's and microcredential programs across all schools and colleges within the University of Dubai. It also serves as the primary operational directive for the Academic Affairs Council, Deans, Registrar, and Admissions Department responsible for evaluating applications and rendering admission decisions.

Admission Standards and Principles

The University of Dubai is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic excellence in alignment with the stipulations set forth by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). Applicant information utilized for admission decisions is gathered systematically, evaluated objectively, and applied consistently across all programs. The university ensures that all admission requirements, deadlines, and procedures are clearly communicated and readily accessible to prospective students through official university channels, brochures, and the institutional website.

By adhering to these established policies, the University of Dubai guarantees a structured admissions process that provides clear and specific entry requirements based on accrediting body standards, enforces established application deadlines, and clearly delineates the responsibilities of the Admissions Department in facilitating a seamless transition for incoming undergraduate students.

Definitions and Abbreviations:

UD	University of Dubai
MOHESR	Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
MPT	Math Placement Test
EPT	English Placement Test
LLB	Bachelor of Law
BBA	Bachelor of Business Administration
BSc	Bachelor of Science
BSCIS	Bachelor of Science in Computing & Information Systems
BSEE	Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering
BSCE	Bachelor of Science Communication Engineering
RD	Registration Department
GPA	Grade Point Average
CGPA	Cumulative Grade Point Average
CAA	Commission for Academic Accreditation
MOU	Memorandum of Understanding
CH	Credit Hours
UoL	University of London
AVC	Application Validation Code
BSc DSBA	Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Business Analytics
BSc EP	Bachelor of Science in Economics and Politics
BSc MDT	Bachelor of Science in Management, Digital Technology
LSE	London School of Economics

Dubai Business School (DBS)

Program: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Document Requirements	Completed application form Original UAE high school certificate or a certified/attested equivalent (approved by MOHESR) Official documentation of minimum English requirements valid at the time of admission Copy of a valid passport and identity card Four recent good-quality passport-size photographs (color, JPEG)
Admission Criteria	Regular Admission - English Requirements: Achieve a minimum score of 80% in the High School English If English was not taken in the final year or less then 80% or High School Score is not valid, the applicant must pass the university English Placement Test (EPT), or provide valid proof of English proficiency by achieving one of the following scores within the past 2 years from date of application: IELTS Academic: 5.0 TOEFL (Paper-Based): 500 TOEFL (Internet-Based): 61 Conditional Admission: Low English Score: Must take and pass UD English Placement Test (EPT). Based on result, placed in an English course. Up to one long semester to complete this requirement. May register in up to 12 credits toward degree. Students not in a remedial English course have only two long semesters to meet the minimum English exam score requirements. A hold will be placed on the student's account, and they will be dismissed from the program unless they meet the admission conditions.
DBS Dual Degrees	Please refer to Addendum 1
Program: Micro Credentials (Undergraduate Level)
Admission Criteria	UD-offered: must meet the admission requirement of the undergraduate program Partnership: must meet the admission requirement of the partnership program and provide written consent to share their data, personal (passport, visa, etc.) and related academic documents with the external entity

College of Law (COL)

Program: Bachelor of Law (LLB)
Document Requirements	Completed application form Original UAE high school certificate or a certified/attested equivalent (approved by MOHESR) Official documentation of minimum English requirements valid at the time of admission Copy of a valid passport and identity card Four recent good-quality passport-size photographs (color, JPEG)
Admission Criteria (UD)	Regular Admission - English Requirements: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in writing and reading or overall TOEFL 87 overall (with 21+ in Reading and Writing sub-tests and 19+ in Speaking and Listening sub-tests Applicants who and IELTS academic score of 6.0 with less than 6 in reading and writing will be required to: Required to appear for EPT and admission interview.
Admission Criteria (UD)-Joint Program	Please refer to Addendum 2

College of Engineering & IT (CEIT)

Program: Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSEE, BSCE)
Document Requirements	Completed application form Original UAE high school certificate or a certified/attested equivalent (approved by MOHESR) Official documentation of minimum English requirements valid at the time of admission Copy of a valid passport and identity card Four recent good-quality passport-size photographs (color, JPEG)
Admission Criteria	Regular Admission - English Requirements: Achieve a minimum score of 80% in the final year of High School English English was not taken in the final year or less then 80% or High School Score is not valid the applicant must pass the university English Placement Test (EPT), or provide valid proof of English proficiency by achieving one of the following scores within the past 2 years from date of application: IELTS Academic: 5.0 TOEFL (Paper-Based): 500 TOEFL (Internet-Based): 61 Additional Academic Requirements (Minimum High School Subject Grades): • 80% in Mathematics OR pass the MPT • 80% in Physics or pre-physics course • 80% in Chemistry or Biology Conditional Admission: Low English Score: Must take and pass UD English Placement Test (EPT). Based on result, placed in an English course. Up to one long semester to complete this requirement. May register in up to 12 credits toward degree. Students not in a remedial English course have only two long semesters to meet the minimum English exam score requirements. Low Math Score: Must take UD Math Placement Test (MPT). If failed, must take and pass Pre-Math or Pre-Calculus course associated with major. Low Physics Score: Must take and pass the pre-physics course. May register in up to 12 credits of appropriate General Education coursework. A hold will be placed on the student's account, and they will be dismissed from the program unless they meet the admission conditions.
Program: Bachelor of Science in Computer Information System (BSCIS)
Document Requirements	Completed application form Original UAE high school certificate or a certified/attested equivalent (approved by MOHESR) Official documentation of minimum English requirements valid at the time of admission Copy of a valid passport and identity card Four recent good-quality passport-size photographs (color, JPEG)
Admission Criteria	Regular Admission - English Requirements: Achieve a minimum score of 80% in the High School English If English was not taken in the final year or less then 80% or High School Score is not valid, the applicant must pass the university English Placement Test (EPT), or provide valid proof of English proficiency by achieving one of the following scores within the past 2 years from date of application: IELTS Academic: 5.0 TOEFL (Paper-Based): 500 TOEFL (Internet-Based): 61 Conditional Admission: Low English Score: Must take and pass UD English Placement Test (EPT). Based on result, placed in an English course. Up to one long semester to complete this requirement. May register in up to 12 credits toward degree. Students not in a remedial English course have only two long semesters to meet the minimum English exam score requirements. A hold will be placed on the student's account, and they will be dismissed from the program unless they meet the admission conditions.
Program: Microcredentials (Undergraduate Level)
Admission Criteria	UD-offered: must meet the admission requirement of the undergraduate program Partnership: must meet the admission requirement of the partnership program and provide written consent to share their data, personal (passport, visa, etc.) and related academic documents with the external entity

General Policies — All Schools

Program: Applicable to all undergraduate programs at University of Dubai
Transfer Students	UD accepts students from other UAE-accredited universities if they satisfy UD regulations Transfer credits from MOE-accredited universities accepted only if admission conditions are met English scores should be valid for transfer students See Policy S 6.3 Transfer Students for full details
Advanced Standing	UD allows academic credit exemption for up to 6 courses (18 CH) for Advanced Placement subjects Eligible students can benefit significantly from reduced cost and speed up graduation See Policy S 6.4 on Advanced Standing for full details
Visiting Students	Must present approval from home university regarding transferability of UD credits Submit application form, passport copy, four recent photos (JPEG), and latest University Transcript Must meet UD English language requirements (if home university instruction is not in English) Must fully adhere to UD regulations and rules, including attendance Max 36 credit hours; no more than 2 consecutive regular semesters or 4 non-consecutive semesters Exchange students (MOU universities) are subject to terms of such agreements May apply for regular student status after complying with UD admission requirements
Audit Students	Must show evidence of prerequisite knowledge (meeting with instructor/Program Director/Dean) Submit signed Application Form, passport copy, and four recent photographs (JPEG) Must pay regular course and other applicable fees before attending classes Attendance is not mandatory; no attendance certificate issued Homework/examinations not mandatory; no transcript issued Course(s) taken as an audit cannot be counted toward a degree offered at UD
Readmission / Reinstatement	Submit formal request to Registration Department one month prior to semester/term Academic dismissal: may re-apply to different program in different field. Rejoining same major requires President approval and declaration committing to semester GPA 3.0 Disciplinary dismissal: NOT re-admitted under any circumstances Interruption ≤5 years (10 regular semesters): same ID retained; UD courses considered; outside courses with min. grade "C" transferred Interruption >5 years: treated as new student with new ID; must meet current program enrollment requirements Exception to Time-to-Degree Limit: In exceptional cases, a student who has exceeded the maximum time-to-degree limit may be permitted to complete the degree if the student has only one remaining requirement, submits a petition demonstrating extenuating circumstances, and receives written approval from the program director, dean, registrar, and VPAA office. The student must satisfy an academic currency review, complete any required substitute or current-equivalent course, and finish within the dead line stated in the approved completion plan. Such approval shall be granted only once and shall not constitute precedent.
General Admission Regulations	Applications accepted until announced deadline (normally 2 weeks prior to semester) Admission valid for one semester only; failure to register requires resubmission as new applicant Postponement request on reasonable grounds: no need to repay non-refundable registration fees All required documents must be submitted before course registration begins Names spelled exactly as on passport or identity card Denied applicants may petition for conditional admission (case-by-case, approved by VPAA) Conditionally admitted students are classified "At-Risk" and monitored by faculty advisor Admissions standards assessed every 3 years as part of continuous improvement

Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed every three years or earlier if required due to changes in accreditation standards, or university governance.

Addendum: Dual Degrees

Addendum 1

Program: Bachelor of Science (BSc) Dual Degree — DSBA / EP / MDT \| Joint Program with London School of Economics (LSE) / University of London (UoL)
Document Requirements	1. Completed application form 2. Original UAE high school certificate or a certified/attested equivalent (approved by MOE) 3. Official documentation of minimum English requirements valid at the time of admission 4. Copy of a valid passport and identity card 5. Four recent good-quality passport-size photographs (color, JPEG) 6. Student signs dual degree acknowledgment form
Initial Admission Criteria (UD — Year 1)	Students are admitted initially to UD only. Dual-degree status becomes operational only after successful completion of Year 1 progression criteria. High School Requirements (all types require MOE equivalency): • UAE Curriculum (MOE): Advanced/Elite Stream — min 70%; General Stream — min 75% • American Curriculum: Advanced/Elite Stream — min 70%; General Stream — min 75% (Grades 10, 11 & 12 required) • British Curriculum: Grade 12 completion; ≥5 IGCSE/GCSE subjects (A–E) + 2 AS or 1 A Level (A–D); Islamic/Arabic subjects not counted • International Baccalaureate (IB): Grade 12 — min 75% • Indian Curriculum: Grade 12 — min 65% • Pakistani Curriculum: Grade 12 — min 65% English Requirements (mandatory): EmSAT 1100 OR Academic IELTS 5.0 OR TOEFL (PBT 500 / IBT 61 / CBT 173) Mathematics Requirements (mandatory): EmSAT 600 OR 70%+ in Math OR pass UD Math Placement Test (MPT) OR Math SAT I ≥ 485 (American Curriculum only) Conditional / Probationary Admission: • Low English Score: May be considered for BBA conditional admission. Must take UD EPT or register for remedial English. Must satisfy minimum English requirement upon Year 1 completion to be eligible for BSc dual-degree pathway review. • Low Math Score: Not eligible for BSc dual-degree enrolment. Exception: if enrolled in BBA and subsequently completes Business Mathematics and Statistical Analysis meeting program criteria, may apply for eligibility review. • Low High School Score: Not eligible for BSc dual-degree enrolment.
Progression Criteria Year 1 → LSE-Directed Study (Years 2–4)	Admission to the LSE component occurs after successful completion of Year 1 at UD. Eligibility is verified by the DBS Academic Progression Committee prior to submission to LSE for final confirmation. Minimum Academic Requirements: • Successfully complete 30 UD credit hours in Year 1, including Business Mathematics (3 CH) and Statistical Analysis (3 CH) • BSc DSBA (highest requirement pathway): minimum grade B− in Business Mathematics AND B− in Statistical Analysis • BSc EP and MDT (high requirement pathway): minimum grade C− in Business Mathematics AND C− in Statistical Analysis LSE Activation Process (upon meeting Year 1 criteria): • Program submits eligible student details for LSE activation • Student pays fees, receives LSE ID, creates and activates LSE account • Registration records LSE ID / account details • Student registered in Year 2–4 UD + LSE-directed courses • At each review cycle: verification of LSE requirements, progression, degree audit, and graduation clearance Students Not Meeting Progression Requirements: • Exit LSE pathway and continue under UD-only BBA program (subject to transfer/RPL policies), OR • Repeat relevant Year 1 courses to improve grades and reapply for progression (subject to university regulations) Advanced Standing: Advanced standing and course exemption apply to UD-BBA courses only. LSE-directed courses are not included in any advanced standing or course exemption unless separately recognized by LSE/UoL under approved arrangements.

Addendum 2

Program: Bachelor of Law (LLB) - Joint Program with University of London (UoL)

Admission Criteria (UoL)

UoL applications submission takes place every year before the end of September.

Provide the written consent form to share their personal data (e.g., passport, visa etc.) and related academic documents (e.g., transcripts, grades, certificates).

Fulfilling all the above UD admission requirements

Attend one full year at UD, successfully completing 30CH with a minimum CGPA of 2.0

Provide valid IELTS Academic: 6.5

Digital copy of UD official Transcript as a proof of successfully passing & completing the 30 CHs

A digital copy of a valid passport and identity card

Official name change certificate (if applicable)

A non-refundable application handling fees of £60

Every student is required to submit a University of London (UoL) application using the UoL AVC obtained from the student portal

Academic Catalog