Zayed University
جامعة زايد
A UAE federal university with campuses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, free for funded Emirati students and open to internationals.
- Students
- 7,520
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 13.7:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- AED 70,000
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1998
About ZU
Zayed University was founded in 1998 and named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates. It began as a university for Emirati women and opened admission to men in 2008. Today it has two campuses: a Dubai campus in Al Ruwayyah near Academic City, and a 77-hectare Abu Dhabi campus in Zayed City designed by architect Hadi Teherani and completed in 2011.
Undergraduate teaching is organised in six degree-granting colleges: Arts and Creative Enterprises; Business; Communication and Media Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Natural and Health Sciences; and Technological Innovation, plus a College of Interdisciplinary Studies. Programmes range from architecture, graphic and interior design to accounting, finance, international studies, psychology, public health and nutrition, environmental science, information technology and intelligent systems engineering.
Emirati students on the government scholarship study free for up to five years and apply through the Ministry of Higher Education; international students apply directly and pay AED 2,500 per credit hour. ZU suits students who want a smaller public university in the UAE with a strong focus on media, business, design and technology.
Why students choose ZU
Full government tuition funding for up to five years for UAE nationals admitted to funded places.
Campuses in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the latter a 77-hectare campus designed by Hadi Teherani.
Distinctive programmes such as Communication and Media Sciences (with tracks in media production, strategic communications, and tourism and cultural communications) and Intelligent Systems Engineering.
Clear, published entry rules, including an IB Diploma minimum of 24 points and two A-levels at grade C or above.
Admissions
2026-27 admission requirements (fall 2027 entry follows the same process; application dates to be confirmed)
Selectivity
Zayed University does not publish an acceptance rate. It states that admission is competitive, with priority given to applicants with higher grades and more recent school graduation, based on each programme's capacity; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Typical entry requirements
| UAE Ministry of Education curriculum | No minimum overall average; programme subject requirements (e.g. 80% in Grade 12 English, and 80% in Mathematics for business, IT and architecture) |
|---|---|
| American curriculum | No minimum overall average; subject requirements apply (English 80% or TOEFL iBT 72; Mathematics 80% or SAT Math 530 where required) |
| A-levels | At least 2 A-levels at grade C or higher (excluding Arabic and Islamic Studies) |
| International Baccalaureate | IB Diploma with at least 24 points, or IB Certificate with at least 21 points including 2 programme-related subjects at grade 5 |
| BTEC Level 3 Diploma | Minimum of 2 Merits |
| English language | TOEFL iBT 72 80% in Grade 12 English or TOEFL iBT 72 for most programmes (79 for Intelligent Systems Engineering). Only TOEFL iBT taken at an authorised test centre is accepted. International applicants may submit IELTS or TOEFL iBT certificates; no IELTS minimum is published on the criteria page. |
Deadlines
Zayed University lists application dates for the next intake as 'to be confirmed'. Admission decisions for Emirati applicants are released in the final admission period: August for fall and December for spring semesters.
How to apply
Emirati students (current Grade 12, national service, previous-year graduates and transfers) apply through the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research website, and decisions are released in August for fall and December for spring. International students apply through Zayed University's e-services form, with passport, residency visa and Emirates ID if applicable, photo, Grade 10-12 report cards, attested Grade 12 certificate (plus Ministry of Education equivalency for foreign curricula), English proficiency certificate and SAT Math certificate; the application fee is AED 250 plus VAT.
What admissions looks for
- Higher academic results: priority goes to stronger grades within each programme's capacity.
- Recent school graduation, which the university explicitly prioritises.
- Programme-specific English and Mathematics levels, such as 80% in Grade 12 English or TOEFL iBT 72.
- For science and engineering programmes, strong Grade 12 science results (e.g. 80% in Physics for Intelligent Systems Engineering).
Tips for applying to ZU
- 1 Take the TOEFL iBT at a test centre if your Grade 12 English is below 80%: ZU does not accept the Home Edition.
- 2 For business, IT, architecture or environmental science, secure 80% in Grade 12 Mathematics or an SAT Math score of 530+.
- 3 If you studied outside the UAE, start attestation early: certificates need stamps from your country's foreign ministry and the UAE embassy, plus a Ministry of Education equivalency.
- 4 Budget for a full-time load of 14-19 credit hours per semester at AED 2,500 each; instalment plans (50/25/25%) are available.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in AED
UAE nationals admitted to funded places receive full tuition funding for up to five academic years, after which they pay fees. Zayed University's Student Support Unit offers financial aid to students whose finances might otherwise stop them continuing their studies, subject to strict guidelines and available resources. Fees can be paid in instalments of 50%, 25% and 25% during the fall and spring semesters.
- AED 2,500
- Tuition per credit hour (self-funded and international students)
- Up to five academic years
- Government-funded tuition for UAE nationals
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall, spring and summer)
Bachelor of Science in Communication and Media Sciences
Concentrations in Media Production and Storytelling, Integrated Strategic Communications, and Tourism and Cultural Communications; requires 80% in Grade 12 Arabic.
Bachelor of Science in Intelligent Systems Engineering
ZU's most demanding entry: 85% in English and Mathematics plus 80% in Physics and another science.
Bachelor of Architecture
Offered by the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises; needs 80% in Grade 12 Mathematics or SAT Math 530.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design
Artist Maisoon Al Saleh is a graduate of ZU's interior design programme.
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Concentrations in International Relations and in Political Economy and Development.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Nutrition
Taught in the College of Natural and Health Sciences alongside Psychology and Environmental Science and Sustainability.
Research
- The Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) publishes books, reports and working papers.
- In 2026 ZU announced a new initiative with KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and an applied-research MoU with SPARX Industries.
- ZU runs a Center for Educational Innovation and offers research funding opportunities for students.
Schools & faculties
- College of Arts and Creative Enterprises
- College of Business
- College of Communication and Media Sciences
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Interdisciplinary Studies
- College of Natural and Health Sciences
- College of Technological Innovation
Student life
Student life is run through Student Affairs, with a Student Leadership Department, a counselling centre, accessibility services, health services, a careers and alumni department and a Library and Learning Commons. The student body is overwhelmingly Emirati, with international students a small minority (about 2% in THE data), and ZU operates an International Student Residence. Full-time students carry 14-19 credit hours a semester, and the university publishes an events calendar across its Dubai and Abu Dhabi campuses.
- Two campuses, in Dubai (Al Ruwayyah, near Academic City) and Abu Dhabi (Zayed City).
- Student Leadership Department and Student Counseling Center.
- International Student Residence for students from outside the UAE.
- Student Careers and Alumni Department.
Housing. Zayed University operates an International Student Residence for students from outside the UAE; check its residence page for current availability and costs.
Location
The Dubai campus is in Al Ruwayyah, near Dubai Academic City, and the Abu Dhabi campus is in Zayed City. Both are modern, purpose-built campuses, and the Abu Dhabi campus was completed in 2011 to accommodate the university's growing student population.
Nearest airport: Dubai International Airport (DXB); Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Notable alumni
- SL Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al MaktoumChairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Bachelor's in marketing and Executive MBA from ZU
- HB Hala BadriDirector General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; MBA from ZU
- MA Maisoon Al SalehEmirati surrealist painter; interior design degree from ZU (2010)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Zayed University cost for international students?
AED 2,500 per credit hour. At the required full-time load of 14-19 credit hours per semester, that is about AED 70,000-95,000 a year, plus an AED 250 application fee (plus VAT).
Is Zayed University free for Emiratis?
UAE nationals admitted under the government scholarship scheme get full tuition funding for up to five academic years; those admitted without a funded seat may be self-funded.
What are the admission requirements for Zayed University?
It depends on the programme: most require 80% in Grade 12 English or TOEFL iBT 72, and many require 80% in Mathematics or SAT Math 530. A-level applicants need at least 2 A-levels at C or above; IB Diploma applicants need 24 points.
How do international students apply to Zayed University?
Through the university's e-services application form, with attested Grade 12 certificates, Grade 10-12 report cards, passport and visa copies, an English proficiency certificate and an SAT Math certificate.
Does Zayed University admit men?
Yes. Zayed University was founded for Emirati women in 1998 and opened admission to male students in 2008.
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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