Al Ain University
جامعة العين
A young private university with campuses in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, charging per credit hour and teaching most professional degrees in English.
- Students
- 2,588
- International
- 61%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 11:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- AED 36,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 2004
About AAU
Al Ain University (AAU) was established in 2004 and admitted its first students in 2005. It opened a second campus in Abu Dhabi in 2008, initially for business and law, and now teaches on both campuses. The university is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and holds international institutional accreditation from the UK's QAA.
AAU is organised into eight colleges: Engineering, Pharmacy, Law, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Business, Communication and Media, Dentistry and Nursing. Together they offer 30 accredited bachelor's programmes, 14 master's programmes, 2 professional diplomas and 3 PhDs. Several programmes carry international accreditation: ABET for Computer, Networks and Communication, and Software Engineering, ACPE for the BSc in Pharmacy (the first in the UAE), AACSB for the College of Business, HCERES for Law and AQAS for Mass Communication.
Engineering, business, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing are taught in English, while law, education, Islamic studies and media programmes are taught in Arabic. THE's data lists about 2,600 students, 61% of them international, and the university's graduates between 2017-18 and 2022-23 came from 55 nationalities. It suits students from the UAE and the wider region who want an accredited professional degree at a smaller university, with fees charged per credit hour.
Why students choose AAU
Its BSc in Pharmacy was the first in the UAE to be certified by ACPE, and three engineering degrees are ABET-accredited.
The College of Business is AACSB-accredited, and all its BBA majors, from Business Analytics to Human Resource Management, cost AED 1,300 per credit hour at the Al Ain campus.
High-school excellence grants cut first-semester tuition by 20% to 50% for students with 90% and above, and 100% for the top five students in the UAE.
Students can choose between the Al Ain campus and the Abu Dhabi campus in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, with slightly different fees.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry (Spring 2027 intake also available)
Selectivity
AAU does not publish an acceptance rate. Admission depends on the high school certificate and, for some programmes, minimum subject scores: 90% in the competency subjects for Dentistry, 80% for Pharmacy and Civil or Computer Engineering, and 70% in maths for Law.
Typical entry requirements
| High school certificate (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | 90% in maths, physics, biology and chemistry (two of the three sciences) plus an interview; 80-89.9% requires a remedial course |
|---|---|
| High school certificate (Pharmacy, Civil and Computer Engineering) | 80% in the required maths and science subjects; applicants below this take a 3-credit remedial course |
| High school certificate (Law) | 70% in the required subject; Law is taught in Arabic |
| English language | IELTS 5 For English-taught programmes: 80% in high school English, IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 500. Applicants below this take a 3-credit remedial English course; the requirement is waived for students whose school curriculum was taught in English. |
Deadlines
- Fall 2026 semester start (past) Non-binding Passed31 August 2026 (classes began)
Fall 2027 dates have not yet been published.
- Spring 2027 semester start Non-binding Next deadline · In ~3 months4 January 2027 (classes begin)
Second intake of the 2026-27 academic year.
AAU publishes semester start dates rather than fixed application deadlines. Fall 2027 dates have not been published; in 2026 fall classes began on 31 August.
How to apply
Apply online through AAU's admission portal (aau.ac.ae/online-admission), choosing the Al Ain or Abu Dhabi campus and a programme, and upload the required documents. A university application fee of AED 1,000 and an admission fee of AED 1,500 apply.
What admissions looks for
- A recognised high school certificate with the required subject scores for the chosen programme.
- English proficiency for English-taught programmes (80% high school English, IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL 500).
- For Dentistry, strong science results and a successful interview.
Tips for applying to AAU
- 1 Check the language of your programme: Law, Education, Islamic Studies and media degrees are taught in Arabic.
- 2 If your high school average is 90% or more, claim the High School Excellence Grant; keeping it requires a GPA of 3.6-3.8 on at least 15 credit hours.
- 3 Compare campuses: most programmes cost AED 100-300 more per credit hour in Abu Dhabi than in Al Ain (Law costs the same on both).
- 4 Budget for fixed fees on top of tuition: registration (AED 500 per semester), activities and services (AED 1,000 per semester), health and advising fees (AED 100 each per semester) and a refundable AED 1,000 deposit (AED 5,000 for Dentistry); all fees are subject to VAT.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in AED
AAU offers merit discounts on tuition: High School Excellence Grants of 20-50% (100% for the top five students in the UAE), Dean's List (30%) and University Honor Roll (40%) grants, and a 40% discount for AAU graduates starting a new bachelor's degree, all conditional on a semester GPA of at least 3.6 on 15 or more credit hours. It also offers humanitarian aid for students in financial difficulty.
- 20% for 90-93.99%, 30% for 94-97.99%, 40% for 98%+, 50% for 99%+, 100% for top five in the UAE
- High School Excellence Grant (first semester)
- AED 1,000 + AED 1,500
- Application and admission fees
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall, spring and summer)
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
The first pharmacy degree in the UAE certified by ACPE; AED 1,700 per credit hour at Al Ain.
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
ABET-accredited, alongside Computer Engineering and Networks and Communication Engineering.
Bachelor of Dental Surgery
Taught at the Abu Dhabi campus, with 90% science requirements and an interview.
Bachelor of Law
Taught in Arabic and accredited by France's HCERES.
Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
One of AAU's newer engineering degrees, taught in English.
Research
- AAU runs a Deanship of Scientific Research and Graduate Studies with dedicated research centres.
- In 2025 it signed an agreement with Fakih IVF on joint research in reproductive medicine and student internships.
- It offers PhDs in Law, Education and Business Administration (DBA).
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Law
- College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Communication and Media
- College of Dentistry
- College of Nursing
Student life
AAU is split between its Al Ain campus and a purpose-built campus in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi. Student life is organised by the Deanship of Student Affairs, which runs student clubs and has hosted annual student conferences. The student body is mixed: of 1,663 new students in fall 2023-24, 469 were Emirati, 565 from other GCC states and 634 international, and undergraduates pay a semester fee that covers entertainment, interactive activities and services.
- Two campuses: Al Ain and Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.
- Student clubs run through the Deanship of Student Affairs.
- Graduates from 55 nationalities between 2017-18 and 2022-23.
- Business students compete in entrepreneurship events such as the 'Founders of Tomorrow' competition.
Location
Al Ain is a green oasis city about 160 km east of Abu Dhabi, on the plain before the Omani mountains. Its name means 'the spring', and it is known for its ancient falaj irrigation channels, date groves and tree-lined roads. It is quieter than Abu Dhabi or Dubai; AAU's second campus is in Mohamed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.
Nearest airport: Al Ain International Airport (AAN); Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) for most international flights
Frequently asked questions
How much are Al Ain University's fees?
Bachelor's fees are charged per credit hour: AED 1,200-1,700 at the Al Ain campus and AED 1,300-2,700 in Abu Dhabi. At 30 credit hours a year, that is about AED 36,000-81,000, plus VAT and semester fees.
What IELTS score does Al Ain University need?
For English-taught programmes, IELTS 5.0, TOEFL 500 or 80% in high school English. Otherwise you take a remedial English course.
Does Al Ain University offer scholarships?
Yes. High school graduates with 90% or more get a 20-50% tuition discount in their first semester (100% for the UAE's top five), and Dean's List students can receive 30% or more.
Which programmes at AAU are taught in Arabic?
Law, Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Studies, Special Education, Applied Psychology, Applied Sociology and the Communication and Media degrees are taught in Arabic. Engineering, Business, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Nursing are taught in English.
Is Al Ain University accredited?
Yes. It is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and holds institutional accreditation from QAA (UK), with programme accreditations from ABET, ACPE, AACSB, HCERES and AQAS.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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