About the university
Zayed University is a public university in the UAE, with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It was founded in 1998 as a university for women, and women still make up most of its students (81% in THE's 2027 data). It teaches in English except for a few Arabic-taught programmes.
Its colleges cover business, technological innovation, communication and media, arts and creative enterprises, humanities and social sciences, and natural and health sciences. It is ranked =588 in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 501–600 in THE's 2027 table.
International students are admitted 'as space and resources permit', and only about 2–4% of students are international, so ZU is a less common choice for Indian students than Dubai's private branch campuses. Its appeal is a UAE public university degree at a moderate fee. At master's level, two technology programmes run on the Dubai campus: Information Systems Management and IT (Cyber Security).
ZU's admission rules are strict: it says it does not grant exemptions to admission requirements or make conditional undergraduate offers, so check every subject mark before you apply.
- Founded
- 1998, as a higher education institution for women (THE profile)
- Type
- Public university of the UAE
- Campuses
- Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- Students
- 6,875 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- International students
- 4% (THE 2027 data); QS lists 2%
- Student–staff ratio
- 13 to 1 (THE 2027 data)
- Undergraduate tuition (non-UAE nationals)
- AED 2,500 per credit hour; a bachelor's is 120 credit hours
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=588 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
501–550 in the world
THE subject rankings: Business and Economics 2026
301–400 in the world
THE subject rankings: Computer Science 2026
401–500 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc in Information Technology (Cyber Security)
- Fee / year
- AED 96,000
- Duration
- 30 credit hours (length in years not stated)
- Intakes
- Spring; Fall
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79 or EmSAT 1400 (conditional: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 71, EmSAT 1250)
- Postgraduate
MSc in Information Systems Management
- Fee / year
- AED 79,980
- Duration
- 30 credit hours (length in years not stated)
- Intakes
- Spring; Fall
- English
- IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79 or EmSAT 1400 (conditional: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 71, EmSAT 1250)
- Undergraduate
BSc Information Technology (Security and Network Technologies)
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT English 1250
- Undergraduate
BSc Information Technology (Web and Mobile Application Development)
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT English 1250
- Undergraduate
BSc Information Systems and Technology Management (Business Intelligence)
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT English 1250
- Undergraduate
BSc Computational Systems (Blended)
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- High school English 90% or TOEFL iBT 90, plus SAT 590
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT English 1250
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- AED 75,000
- Duration
- 4 years (120 credit hours)
- Intakes
- Fall; Spring (application dates to be confirmed by ZU)
- English
- IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT English 1250
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (AED) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc in Information Technology (Cyber Security) | 30 credit hours (length in years not stated) | AED 96,000 | ≈ ₹24 lakh |
| MSc in Information Systems Management | 30 credit hours (length in years not stated) | AED 79,980 | ≈ ₹20 lakh |
| BSc Information Technology (Security and Network Technologies) | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
| BSc Information Technology (Web and Mobile Application Development) | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
| BSc Information Systems and Technology Management (Business Intelligence) | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
| BSc Computational Systems (Blended) | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
| BSc Accounting | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
| BSc Finance | 4 years (120 credit hours) | AED 75,000 | ≈ ₹18.8 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Zayed University - Dubai Campus with similar universities in Dubai (UAE).
Scholarships
- Master's
Graduate merit scholarship
Value: 10%, 25% or 40% off tuition
Eligibility: Based on your bachelor's CGPA: about 3.20–3.59 (10%), 3.60–3.79 (25%) or 3.80 and above (40%) on a 4.0 scale. International applicants with complete documents by the deadline are considered automatically; awards are capped each year.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's
Sponsored student discount
Value: Up to 20% off tuition
Eligibility: Students sponsored by an organisation that has a written agreement with Zayed University.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor's
Undergraduate financial aid
Value: Amount not published
Eligibility: Need-based support for students whose finances may stop them continuing their studies; apply through the Student Support Unit.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- International applicants are admitted 'as space and resources permit'.
- An Indian Class 12 certificate needs a UAE Ministry of Education equivalency. The minimum for UAE-equivalent curricula is 75% (80% for the College of Technological Innovation).
- Many majors also need 80% in high school Mathematics, and science majors need 80% in one or two science subjects.
- English: EmSAT 1250, IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 (higher for some majors). ZU does not make conditional undergraduate offers.
- Application fee AED 250 plus VAT.
Postgraduate
- A relevant bachelor's degree from a university recognised by the UAE Ministry of Education, with a UAE equivalency letter for foreign degrees.
- Minimum CGPA 3.0 out of 4.0 (2.5 for conditional admission); some programmes set higher standards.
- No recommendation letters needed; some programmes hold an interview.
- Application fee AED 420 (non-refundable) and a AED 1,000 registration fee before you register.
Documents
- Passport data page and passport-size photo
- Attested Class 10, 11 and 12 report cards and UAE equivalency of Class 12 (undergraduate)
- Certified bachelor's transcript and degree certificate, with UAE Ministry of Education equivalency letter (master's)
- CV in English (master's)
- Official EmSAT, IELTS or TOEFL result
- Proof of application fee payment
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 for bachelor's programmes; 6.0 for master's (5.5 for conditional master's entry) |
| TOEFL iBT | 71 for most bachelor's programmes (79 for Psychology, 90 for Computational Systems); 79 for master's |
| EmSAT English | 1250 for bachelor's programmes; 1400 for master's |
| High school English route | Some bachelor's majors accept 80% in high school English instead of TOEFL |
Accommodation and living costs
The Zayed University pages we could open do not publish housing prices for international students, so ask the university about housing before you accept an offer. ZU does publish student visa costs for graduate students, shown below.
| Item | In AED | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Student visa, paid inside the UAE (graduate students)AED 5,104.04 total, including mandatory health insurance of about AED 2,363 | AED 5,104per 2-year visa | ≈ ₹1.3 lakh |
| Student visa, applying from outside the UAE (graduate students)AED 3,878.39 total | AED 3,878per 2-year visa | ≈ ₹96,950 |
| Graduate registration feePaid before you register | AED 1,000one-off | ≈ ₹25,000 |
Campus and location
Zayed University has two campuses, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Most students are UAE nationals and most are women.
- Teaching is in English for almost all programmes.
- Two master's programmes, Information Systems Management and IT (Cyber Security), run on the Dubai campus.
- Graduate students on a ZU student visa cannot work part-time or full-time, apart from assistantships, the ONCE programme and internships.
- Holders of a ZU student visa cannot sponsor dependants.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Zayed University's pages that we opened do not publish graduate employment figures. Note that ZU's student visa does not allow part-time work. Working in the UAE after graduating needs an employer-sponsored work visa; see our UAE guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Dubai (UAE)
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Dubai (UAE). Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much does a bachelor's degree at Zayed University cost?
Non-UAE nationals pay AED 2,500 per credit hour. A bachelor's is 120 credit hours, so tuition is about AED 300,000 in total, or roughly AED 75,000 a year.
Which master's can I study at the Dubai campus?
The MSc in Information Systems Management (about AED 79,980 in total) and the MSc in IT (Cyber Security) (about AED 96,000 in total). Other master's run in Abu Dhabi.
What English score do I need?
For a bachelor's: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 71 or EmSAT 1250 (higher for some majors). For a master's: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79 or EmSAT 1400.
Are there scholarships for international students?
At master's level, yes: merit scholarships of 10%, 25% or 40% off tuition based on your bachelor's CGPA. ZU does not list undergraduate merit scholarships for international students.
Can I work part-time while studying?
Not on a ZU student visa, according to the graduate admissions page, except for assistantships and internships. See our UAE guide for general rules.
Sources
- Zayed University: undergraduate tuition fee and scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- Zayed University: admission requirements for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Zayed University: undergraduate admission criteria and majors (opens in a new tab)
- Zayed University: application process for international graduate students (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings: Zayed University (opens in a new tab)
- Times Higher Education: Zayed University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.zu.ac.ae (opens in a new tab)
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