UAE Eases Travel Restrictions, Giving Indian Students Access to International Universities in Dubai  

• Eligibility to study in UAE dependent on COVID-19 vaccination status, travel protocols, and meeting a university's admission requirements.
• University of Wollongong in Dubai are accepting international students for the upcoming Autumn intake
• Students can finish their bachelor’s degree in three years at UOWD, instead of existing four-year programs.
• Degrees align with those offered at home campus, University of Wollongong, Australia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently announced the ease of travel restrictions from India, allowing students to pursue their tertiary education in the country from 23 June. Students who have received two doses of a UAE-approved vaccine, fulfil the required travel protocols and meet specific conditions are able to study in the global education hub.

With several countries still locked down due to COVID-19 restrictions, students are finding it increasingly difficult to travel to pursue their higher education at an international university. The UAE in this regard is a viable option, with the highest number of vaccines administered, strict safety measures and protocols across the country making it suitable and safe for students to pursue their education at leading international higher education institutes.  Indian students looking to study in the UAE will be required to have received a UAE-approved COVID-19 vaccine, a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of travel and will have to undertake a second PCR test upon arrival in the UAE.

The University of Wollongong Dubai (UOWD) established in 1993, is the first international Australian university in the UAE and the highest-ranked Australian university in the region. UOWD is now accepting international student enrolments for the upcoming Autumn intake beginning September 26^th, 2021.

UOWD is part of the University of Wollongong’s international portfolio of campuses that span across Australia, Hong Kong and Malaysia. UOWD offers more than 40 degrees that are internationally accredited and recognized across 10 industry sectors and have been meticulously designed to address future global workforce demands. The university boasts a strong placement rate with 77 percent of its bachelor’s students finding employment within six months of graduation.

As part of its continued pursuit of excellence in teaching and student experience, UOWD, announced its bachelor degrees will align seamlessly with those offered at the University of Wollongong (UOW) Australia. This alignment allows students who have excelled academically at select high school curricula, including CBSE, to complete their bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. Upon graduation, students will receive a worldwide-recognized degree from UOW Australia that is accredited by the UAE's Ministry of Education.

The opportunity to complete bachelor degrees in three years is available to all students who have excelled academically in curricula such as CBSE, GCE A level, IB Diploma, and American High School Diploma for all UOWD bachelor degrees excluding the Bachelor of Engineering, which is four-year honours program. The eligibility for direct admission into the three-year bachelor programs is subject to the student’s high school curriculum, grades achieved and English proficiency level. CBSE/ISC students require a score of 65 per cent and above and British GCE (A level) students require a minimum grade of “CCD” in A levels.

Students are also able to transfer to UOW Australia and complete their studies in Australia, once travel restrictions in Australia ease.

Professor Mohamed Salem, President of UOWD, said: “As a future-focused higher education institution, we aim to continuously improve and tailor our offerings to meet today’s dynamic labour market requirements. This important restructuring of our Bachelor Degrees recognizes the differences between needs of students from different secondary education systems allowing, thus, many UOWD future students to graduate faster and at a lower cost.”

“To achieve greater flexibility, the bachelor degrees curriculum was structured to allow either a direct entry to standard Australian 3-Year bachelor degree or indirectly through an additional bespoke University Freshman Year. Doing so allows students more time to prepare to enter the workforce and plan their future career paths, giving them a head start in the world of work. Furthermore, to ensure a competitive edge, all UOWD students will all receive an international, world-class degree from UOW Australia that is accredited both locally and globally.”

All UOWD bachelor degrees are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education through the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). The CAA accreditation offers assurance to prospective students, their families, employers, and other interested parties by ensuring the programs meet standards of quality consistent with current international practice and is universally recognized for credit transfer and further education abroad opportunities – a major boon for students who are looking to confidently start a life abroad.  

All further information on the eligibility requirements for the three-year bachelor degrees can be found here.

About University of Wollongong in Dubai

University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is the first international university in the UAE and the premier Australian university in the region. Established in 1993 by the University of Wollongong Australia, UOWD is accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the UAE Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and is licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

UOWD is the highest ranked Australian university in the UAE – its curriculum and teaching practices reflect those of UOW Australia, which ranks among the top 1% of universities worldwide. Offering over 40 higher education programmes across 10 industry sectors, the university has over 3,500 students from 108 nationalities and a global community of 152,000 alumni.

As part of its continued pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, industry engagement and student experience, UOWD inaugurated its new purpose-built 200,000-square-foot campus at Dubai Knowledge Park in 2020. Featuring cutting-edge technologies, modern architecture, and a mix of traditional and innovative learning spaces, the campus provides an enriched experience to meet the demands of today’s student population, while supporting the teaching staff and community research projects.