Khalifa University of Science and Technology
جامعة خليفة
Abu Dhabi's small, research-heavy engineering and science university, with merit scholarships for UAE and international students.
- Students
- 4,299
- International
- 29%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 7.1:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- AED 81,250
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 2007
About Khalifa University
Khalifa University of Science and Technology is a public research university in Abu Dhabi. It took its current form in February 2017, when a presidential decree merged the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (founded 2007), the Petroleum Institute and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. It is compact: Times Higher Education's 2026 data count about 4,300 students, with roughly 7 students per member of staff.
Teaching is organised into three colleges: Engineering and Physical Sciences, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, and Medicine and Health Sciences. KU's undergraduate programmes page lists 17 bachelor's degrees, almost all in engineering and the sciences, from aerospace and petroleum engineering to robotics and AI, applied mathematics and data science, and cell and molecular biology. Classes are taught in English, and undergraduates can join an accelerated master's track while still finishing their bachelor's degree.
The university reports more than 300 issued patents and over 13,200 research articles, and has placed first in the UAE in the QS rankings for eight years in a row. It suits students who are strong in mathematics and science and want a small, technical university with research labs, rather than a broad liberal arts campus. UAE nationals study on full scholarships, and international students are considered for merit scholarships ranging from full tuition down to textbooks only.
Nurturing tomorrow's leaders. Growing the knowledge economy
University motto
Why students choose Khalifa University
Every UAE national admitted through direct admission receives a full tuition scholarship, with textbooks, and housing and transport for eligible students.
International applicants are automatically placed in one of five scholarship tiers, from full tuition (Tier I) to a textbooks-only award (Tier V), with no separate application.
The Main Campus on Abu Dhabi Island has 105 laboratories, including aerospace and underwater robotics labs, and what KU calls the UAE's largest academic sports centre.
Undergraduates can take the Accelerated Master of Science Program, earning master's credits during the bachelor's degree.
Admissions
Fall 2027 entry
Selectivity
Khalifa University does not publish an acceptance rate. It says admission is competitive, that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place, and that decisions depend on the programme and seat availability.
Typical entry requirements
| UAE General Secondary School | Mathematics plus one science (physics for most engineering and science programmes), with at least 80% in these subjects in the Advanced or Elite streams or 90% in the General stream; the Applied stream is not eligible |
|---|---|
| American High School Diploma, SABIS, Indian CBSE, Pakistani boards | Mathematics plus one required science, with at least 80% in the Grade 12 final grades for these subjects |
| British (IGCSE/GCSE, AS and A levels) | Five GCSE/IGCSE subjects at grade C or above, plus three AS or A levels (any combination) including Mathematics and one or two sciences at grade C or above; Arabic and Islamic Studies do not count |
| IB Diploma | Full Diploma with six HL/SL subjects, at least 4 in each and 24 points overall, including Mathematics and a required science |
| French Baccalaureate | Mathematics and a required science, with at least 14 in these subjects in the final grade |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 79 Only IELTS Academic is accepted (not IELTS Online). You can apply first and upload scores later, but the application is not processed until they arrive. Meeting the English requirement is mandatory for enrolment. |
Deadlines
Admissions for Fall 2026 have closed, and on 29 September 2026 KU's admissions page said the Fall 2027 application timeline had not yet been announced. Check the undergraduate admissions page for dates. KU says decisions usually take four to six weeks after all steps are complete.
How to apply
International students, and UAE nationals who graduated in the previous one or two years, apply through the KU online portal (ugapply.ku.ac.ae); there is no application fee. UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers graduating from high school this year apply through the Ministry's NAPO portal instead. Applications need at least first-term Grade 12 grades (or predicted grades for British and IB students), an English test score, passport documents and a recorded video interview. Shortlisted applicants are invited to sit the KUAT on campus.
What admissions looks for
- High school grades in mathematics and the science required for your chosen programme, measured against KU's minimum percentages for each curriculum.
- Performance on the KU Admission Test in mathematics and physics or chemistry, which assesses readiness for university-level study.
- In the recorded video interview: English communication, familiarity with your chosen profession, commitment to a professional degree, your reasons for choosing KU, and leadership potential.
- Optional evidence such as SAT Math 700+ or AP scores of 3+ in Calculus, Physics C, Chemistry or Biology.
Tips for applying to Khalifa University
- 1 Check the programme requirements table first: most engineering programmes need physics, Chemistry needs chemistry, and Cell and Molecular Biology accepts chemistry or biology.
- 2 Prepare for the KUAT using KU's published topic lists and sample questions. The mathematics test is 40 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, and 60% of it is precalculus.
- 3 Take IELTS Academic early. KU will not process your application until the score is uploaded, and it does not accept IELTS Online.
- 4 Treat the video interview seriously. It replaces the in-person interview and is scored on your English, motivation and leadership.
- 5 If you studied a private or international curriculum, start the UAE Ministry of Education equivalency process early. KU requires it, or a No Objection Letter, before you start classes.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in AED
UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers admitted through direct admission receive full tuition, textbooks, and free housing and weekly transport if eligible. International students are assessed for scholarship tiers as part of the admission application: Tier I covers full tuition and Tiers II to IV waive 75%, 50% or 25% of tuition, all with textbooks, while Tier V covers textbooks only. External sponsors such as ADNOC, ADIA and UAE ministries also fund students.
- Full tuition scholarship
- UAE nationals
- Tier I 100% tuition; Tier II 75%; Tier III 50%; Tier IV 25%; Tier V textbooks only
- International scholarship tiers
- AED 5,000, due within five working days of the admission letter
- Seat-holding deposit for new undergraduates
- None
- Application fee
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and spring, plus a summer term); the fall semester starts in mid-to-late August
BSc Petroleum Engineering
Rooted in the former Petroleum Institute, with the ADNOC Research and Innovation Center and its 39 labs on the Sas Al Nakhl Campus.
BSc Aerospace Engineering
Taught on the Main Campus, whose 105 laboratories include dedicated aerospace labs.
BSc Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
KU's newest bachelor's programme, requiring mathematics and physics, alongside underwater robotics labs on the Main Campus.
BSc Computer Science
Offers Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity concentrations, and accepts any one of physics, chemistry or biology as the school science.
BSc Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science
A mathematics-led degree in the College of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, with minors on offer in areas such as quantum computing.
BSc Biomedical Engineering
Housed in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, linking engineering with medicine.
Research
- KU reports more than 300 issued patents, 700+ invention disclosures and over 13,200 journal articles, with 39.1% of publications in the top 10% of journals.
- The ADNOC Research and Innovation Center on the Sas Al Nakhl Campus has 39 labs for reservoir rock and fluid characterisation.
- The Main Campus hosts aerospace and underwater robotics laboratories among its 105 labs.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- College of Computing and Mathematical Sciences
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Student life
Khalifa is a small, focused campus: most students study engineering, computing or science, and many live in university residences. Undergraduate housing is separated by gender, with male students at Al Rawda Residence and female students at KU Residence Halls and the Umm Al Lulu Complex. The residences are furnished apartment-style buildings with shared kitchens, weekly cleaning, a health clinic and a free shuttle to campus. An elected Student Council represents students, and clubs range from medical-student groups and an Emirati culture club to professional engineering chapters.
- The Main Campus sports centre is described by KU as the UAE's largest academic sports centre.
- An elected Student Council sits on university committees and helps run town halls and student events.
- Clubs include the Emirati Club, Surgery Club and Anatomy and Radiology Club, plus discipline-based engineering chapters.
- A Resident Assistant programme runs activities in the residences.
Housing. Housing is available to international students and those living outside Abu Dhabi, subject to availability; most rooms are doubles (AED 10,000 per semester) and singles cost AED 20,000 per semester.
Location
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, and the Main Campus sits on Abu Dhabi Island at the corner of Al Saada Street and Old Airport Road. The Sas Al Nakhl Campus is near Maqta Bridge. English is used widely alongside Arabic. Summers (June to September) are very hot and humid, and November to March is cooler. The Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island and the Yas Island attractions are within easy reach.
Nearest airport: Zayed International Airport (AUH)
Notable alumni
- AB Ahmad Belhoul Al FalasiUAE Minister of Sport and former CEO of Masdar; BSc in Telecommunications Engineering from Khalifa University
- AA Amna Al ShamsiUAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment since 2024; PhD in Computer Engineering from Khalifa University
Frequently asked questions
Is EmSAT required for Khalifa University?
No. EmSAT is not mandatory, but valid scores under 18 months old are still considered. Shortlisted applicants take KU's own admission test (KUAT) in mathematics and physics or chemistry unless exempted for outstanding grades.
What SAT score do you need for Khalifa University?
The SAT is optional. KU lists SAT Math 700 as a score that strengthens an application, and SAT Math 625 as a way to meet the mathematics subject requirement.
Does Khalifa University give scholarships to international students?
Yes. International applicants are assessed automatically for five merit tiers, from full tuition (Tier I) to textbooks only (Tier V). There is no separate scholarship application.
How much is tuition at Khalifa University?
AED 2,500 per credit hour, which KU estimates at about AED 81,250 a year. UAE nationals receive full tuition scholarships.
What English score does Khalifa University require?
IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79. The requirement is mandatory, and IELTS Online is not accepted.
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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