University of Wollongong in Dubai Now Offers Three-year Bachelor Degrees

• Students can finish their bachelor’s degree in three years, instead of existing four-year programs.
• Eligibility for three-year bachelor degrees depends on high school curriculum, grades achieved, English proficiency
• Degrees align with those offered at home campus, University of Wollongong, Australia

University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), the first international university and the highest-ranked Australian university in the UAE, today 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, 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.

This change is in line with the UAE’s National Strategy for Higher Education 2030 that aims to shape an innovative educational system and provide future generations with the necessary technical and practical knowledge and skills to contribute proactively to driving the economy. 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.

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.”

The University Freshman Year allows prospective students who do not directly qualify for a three-year program, to enrol in any UOWD bachelor’s degree by providing them with strong foundational knowledge to succeed in their preferred areas of specialisation..

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.  

The eligibility for direct admission into three-year bachelor programs is subject to the student’s high school curriculum, grades achieved and English proficiency level.

• CBSE students require a score of 65 per cent and above
• British GCE (A level) students require a minimum grade of “CCD” in A levels
• American High School Diploma students require an overall SAT score of 1,100
• International Baccalaureate Diploma students need to achieve 25 points overall

UOWD offers more than 40 degrees spanning 10 industry sectors that have been meticulously designed to address future global workforce demands, and boasts a strong placement rate with 77 percent of its graduates finding employment within six months of receiving their degree certificates. The new announcement comes on the back of the Australian university’s recent 200,000-square-foot ‘Campus of the Future’ launch, featuring a mix of traditional and innovative creative learning spaces that provide students with an educational experience that enables them to thrive in tomorrow’s workplace environment.

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.