University of Sharjah

About University of Sharjah

Founded in 1997, the University of Sharjah operates as an autonomous nonprofit institution associated with the Government of Sharjah. Its official history credits Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, with establishing the university to meet educational needs in the UAE and Gulf region while maintaining connections to Arab and Islamic culture. The institution has since expanded beyond its principal setting in Sharjah University City, including the development of campuses in Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Al Dhaid. The university is organized as a comprehensive institution rather than a specialist school. Its academic scope extends from Sharia, humanities, social sciences, business, communication, law, and public policy to engineering, computing, natural sciences, fine arts, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health fields. This breadth can be useful for students seeking interdisciplinary options or access to professional disciplines within one university. Institutional status is independently supported by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation, which lists the University of Sharjah as active and records both active and discontinued programs. Applicants should therefore check the status of their exact intended program rather than assuming that every historically offered course remains available. The official 2026/2027 undergraduate admissions information demonstrates current recruitment and confirms that the institution continues to accept new students.

For fall 2026/2027 undergraduate entry, the university published an early-admission period from 4 May through 4 June 2026. Regular applications were scheduled from 22 June through 13 July 2026 for Medicine and from 22 June through 3 August 2026 for other colleges. These dates apply to that intake and should not be reused for later terms. Spring admission is normally limited to selected programs announced by the university. Undergraduate applicants submit an online form, upload documents, and pay a nonrefundable AED 360 application fee. General documentation includes a valid passport, a certified secondary-school certificate or equivalent, photograph, health-fitness certificate, good-conduct certificate, birth certificate, UAE identification and residence documents where applicable, and an English-proficiency result for verification. Requirements vary by nationality, school curriculum, and college. Completing the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission because decisions may be competitive. Applicants to Medicine and Dental Medicine follow an additional competitive process and pay a nonrefundable AED 1,500 competition fee. Other admitted students are generally asked to pay an AED 12,000 seat-reservation amount; it is credited toward tuition when the student enrolls, while AED 3,000 is nonrefundable if the student withdraws or does not enroll. Graduate candidates should use the separate graduate-admissions process and check degree-specific academic, language, document, and deadline requirements rather than applying undergraduate rules to their case.

The University of Sharjah offers education at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its official academic directory permits students to search separately for undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and higher-diploma offerings. The UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation also records active programs at the three profile-supported degree levels. Because that regulator’s listing includes some inactive programs alongside active ones, prospective students should verify the current status and campus of each program before applying. The academic structure covers Sharia and Islamic studies; arts, humanities, and social sciences; business; engineering; health sciences; law; fine arts and design; communication; medicine; dental medicine; pharmacy; sciences; computing and informatics; graduate studies; and public policy. This range supports combinations that may be difficult to find at a narrowly focused institution, particularly across engineering, computing, health, and policy-related study. Facilities described by the university include libraries, laboratories, research facilities, and collaborative learning spaces. Academic advising and faculty support are also presented as part of the student-service structure. Program requirements, teaching language, accreditation, clinical or practical components, and availability can differ substantially by college. Applicants should consult the current program page and catalog rather than relying on the database record’s general language-of-instruction field. The 2025/2026 catalog was the newest complete catalog located during research, while the live academic directory provides the more current program-search interface.

Key Highlights

• Active higher-education institution recognized by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation
• Founded in 1997 as a nonprofit institution
• Principal setting in Sharjah University City, with additional campuses in the emirate
• Comprehensive subject coverage spanning humanities, professional fields, sciences, and health disciplines

Student Life & Environment

Student life is centered on a large university environment with separate men’s and women’s student-support contacts and a range of organized services. The university’s student-life directory points to student clubs, student councils, activities, sports, community engagement, health and wellness services, housing, dining, student forums, and transportation. The experience available to an individual student will depend on eligibility, gender-specific arrangements, campus, and the current activity schedule. University housing is available, with separate published 2026/2027 fee information for undergraduate residents and for master’s and doctoral students. Accommodation is a charged service rather than an assumed component of tuition, so applicants should compare room categories, contract periods, availability, and housing rules before committing. The university notes continuing demand for campus accommodation and says housing charges were increased beginning in 2025/2026 to support facility, operational, and housekeeping improvements. Career preparation also forms part of student support. The 2025/2026 student handbook describes career advising, training, and student-employment functions, including résumé and interview workshops, career fairs, practical-training support, and on-campus employment opportunities. These services provide preparation and work exposure, but they should not be interpreted as a guarantee of placement or employment after graduation.

Location & Surroundings

The principal University of Sharjah campus is located in University City in the emirate of Sharjah. This places students within a purpose-built higher-education district rather than in a standalone downtown building. The institutional history also records the opening of campuses in Khorfakkan, Kalba, and Al Dhaid, so students should confirm where their chosen program is delivered and avoid assuming that all study takes place at the main campus. Sharjah is part of the UAE’s closely connected northern urban region and sits near Dubai, but travel time and transport practicality depend on a student’s residence, class schedule, and campus assignment. The university provides internal transportation and services oriented particularly toward students living in university accommodation, while its student-life directory also identifies dining, housing, and nearby-area information. For decision-making, the main location question is not simply whether to live in Sharjah. Applicants should determine the exact teaching campus, whether clinical or practical training requires off-campus travel, and whether university housing or commuting better fits their schedule and budget.

Costs & Career Outcomes

The university publishes separate 2026/2027 schedules for tuition and housing. Tuition varies by program and degree level, and the official page distinguishes undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs as well as admission cohorts. Because the accessible page did not expose a reliable single price covering all programs, applicants should calculate costs using the schedule for their exact degree rather than treating any university-wide figure as representative. Additional admissions, reservation, competition, and administrative charges may apply. Housing is priced separately from tuition. The 2026/2027 housing page distinguishes undergraduate accommodation from accommodation for master’s and doctoral students and offers semester and annual pricing structures. It also states that a 20% housing-fee increase took effect in 2025/2026, divided between housing and housekeeping-related charges. Students should check room type, contract duration, deposits, meal costs, transportation, and refund rules before building a budget. The undergraduate admissions material describes discounts for strong school results, academic achievement, siblings, and selected programs, along with financial-aid information and sponsorship opportunities. These options have their own conditions and should not be assumed in advance. Career support includes advising, practical-training coordination, career fairs, employability workshops, and student employment. No verified salary, placement-rate, or employer-outcome data was found, so these services indicate available preparation rather than a quantified employment result.