Top 20 Tips: What To Look For When Choosing a UAE University

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Top 20 Tips What To Look For When Choosing a UAE
University
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Recognition and accreditation

• Examine the accreditation and recognition. The
  UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
  Research (MOHESR) has accredited a number of
  institutions. Some institutions choose not to
  apply for MOHESR accreditation but may be
  accredited by other bodies or organisations. If
  you intend to work for the UAE government, you
  should enroll in a MOHESR-accredited institution.
  Private companies in the UAE do not typically
  seek MOHESR accreditation, but if you intend to
  pursue a postgraduate degree at a MOHESR
  accredited university, you must also ensure that
  your bachelor's degree is from a MOHESR
  accredited university.

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Campus size/Location/Facilities

• Check that the university's location is
  convenient for you in terms of transportation and
  timing. In Dubai, for example, some universities
  are in Knowledge Village, while others are in
  Dubai International Academic City. Others can be
  found throughout the city. Check out the campus
  size and facilities as well. Websites may use
  words like "vast," "sophisticated," "modern,"
  "updated," and so on, only to reveal that the
  institution is housed on one floor of a building.
  So, when visiting universities, make sure the
  location and size are to your liking, and then
  look at the facilities they have. Insist on
  visiting classrooms, computer labs, libraries,
  and other facilities.

4
Transportation/Accommodation/Visa Requirements

• You may end up selecting a university in another
  emirate or far away from where you live. In this
  case, if you don't have your own transportation
  and public transportation isn't an option, see if
  the university offers transportation. Buses serve
  specific areas at many universities. If you are
  visiting from another emirate or country, inquire
  about lodging options. Even if the university
  does not have its own hostel, it may have
  arrangements with other institutions to share
  accommodation or assist you in finding something
  suitable nearby. A pertinent question would be
  one concerning visas. Most UAE universities
  should be able to process a student visa. Inquire
  again about the required documentation, the cost,
  and the time involved in obtaining a student
  visa.

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Look into the university's age.

• The longer a university has been in operation in
  the UAE, the better. Although new universities
  may be appealing in terms of course variety or
  facilities, it is preferable to choose a
  university with a research tradition. Actively
  conducting research and contributing to academic
  publications would undoubtedly contribute to the
  high standards of teaching and learning in any
  institution.

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Who are the members of the faculty?

• Check out the faculty members for whatever course
  you're interested in. Examine their educational
  backgrounds and previous work experiences. If a
  university's website does not make this
  information easily accessible, you should
  reconsider. Information on faculties should be
  easily accessible.

7
Course variety

• Examine the course offerings at any university.
  Large universities (with over 3000 students) may
  provide a wide range of courses to choose from.
  Be wary of smaller institutions (around 500
  students) that offer an excessive number of
  courses. This has occasionally resulted in a
  course/module not being offered in a given
  semester due to a lack of enrollment. Find out
  this information before enrolling in any course.
  Inquire about schedules specifically because you
  might find out later that your classes are at
  night!

8
Examine the annual enrollment figures.

• It is critical to double-check enrollment
  figures. For example, if you see that the
  university had 1500 students enrolled in 2010,
  cross-reference to see how many of those
  graduated in 2013 or 2014. If the number of
  graduates is significantly lower, it may indicate
  that the university has a high dropout rate.
  Examine the student population because the UAE is
  multi-cultural. Some students may prefer to
  attend a university with a similar ethnic makeup,
  whereas others may prefer a more multicultural
  environment.

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Examine university websites.

• Is there current information on fees, extra
  costs, entry requirements, course/module content,
  credit transfer, and so on? A comprehensive and
  informative website strongly suggests an
  efficient and 'transparent' application system,
  which should make the application and enrollment
  process easier for you.

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Time to respond to inquiries.

• Use the pop-up window on the website to ask
  questions. If no pop-up window appears, send an
  email to the university's general email address
  and wait for a response. A prompt response
  indicates efficient staff and systems, which will
  aid in making your application and period of
  study as stress-free as possible.

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Alumni organisation

• Check to see if the university has an active
  alumni association. Discover how and in what
  capacity alumni members contribute to the
  university. Alumni who are active and involved
  suggest a university that cares about its
  'community,' and vice versa.

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Internships and work experience are also
acceptable

• Companies nowadays place a high value on
  internships and work experience. Check to see if
  your university offers internships during your
  studies. Which companies is the university
  working with on this? Are there any job
  opportunities on campus? Is there a career and
  guidance counsellor at the university?

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Scholarships

• Investigate whether the university provides
  scholarships. Sometimes websites claim to offer
  scholarships, but they may only be for 20 off
  tuition. Investigate the various types of
  scholarships, the application process, the
  required documents, and references. Be wary of
  institutions that require you to enrol and pay
  upfront before applying for a scholarship. If you
  are denied a scholarship, you will be forced to
  pay out of your own pocket. In terms of
  scholarships, larger/well-known institutions are
  safer bets.

14
Same/different branch campuses

• There are several institutions here that are
  branch campuses of well-known universities from
  the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United
  States. Do not assume that a branch campus has
  the same standards as its parent institution.
  Even if they claim to offer the same courses and
  teaching and learning standards, you should still
  visit branch campuses. Some branch campuses have
  lower entry requirements than their parent
  universities locally hired faculty with no prior
  experience at the parent institution different
  grading systems very different completion
  requirements and limited access to parent
  university resources/databases.

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Fundamental/general studies

• Many institutions in the Philippines have adopted
  the American model of Foundation/General studies.
  Even if you have excellent grades in Mathematics
  and English, you may be forced to take a
  Foundation course because it is required of all
  students. You could waste up to two semesters
  studying subjects that are unimportant to you.
  Some universities 'persuade' students to drop out
  of high school after grade 11 and enrol in a
  Foundation year. Be aware that if you do this,
  you may face consequences later on if you want to
  pursue a postgraduate degree in the west. You may
  be required to demonstrate that you have
  completed 12 years of schooling.

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Academic assistance/writing centre

• This is something that many new undergraduate
  students and parents overlook. Investigate the
  level of assistance provided by the university to
  new students. Are there workshops on academic
  skills, library usage, time management, and so
  on? Is the university home to a writing centre?
  Who is in charge? A writing centre with peer
  tutoring usually indicates that the institution
  has a history of assisting students throughout
  their academic careers. Examine the layout,
  location, and arrangement of the Writing Centre.

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Policy collaboration

• Is the student handbook and specific policies on
  academic honesty, for example, readily available
  on the university website, in addition to
  admission requirements and course information?
  Transparent policies strongly suggest that
  student management systems are efficient. For
  example, finding out if the university has a
  minimum attendance policy, changing courses, or
  requesting assignment extensions may be
  beneficial. Although student policies may appear
  insignificant, they are effective in protecting
  the rights of individual students.

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Social media activities on Facebook and
Twitter, university events

• Examine any university's Facebook or Twitter
  page. It is critical to determine whether the
  institution is keeping up with current social
  media trends. An institution with a Facebook page
  that only contains graduation photos from two
  years ago suggests that it is understaffed or has
  a limited marketing or public relations budget.
  This may not affect course quality, but for some
  students, it is important to attend a well-known
  university rather than one they have never heard
  of. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if
  there is a 'conversation' between students and
  staff and what the topic of this conversation is!

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Management

• This may appear trivial, but it is critical to
  know who the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor,
  Registrar/Bursar, and Deans are because this
  information reflects the institution's leadership
  quality. High staff turnover at the management
  level could indicate serious leadership issues,
  which could impact the general learning
  environment and, as a result, students. Because
  most people in the UAE are on contracts, you must
  ensure that you are not in an institution where
  lecturers/professors leave mid-semester to join
  another institution or return to their home
  countries.

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The rate of employment

• Most universities in the UAE are proud of their
  graduates' employment rates and use that data to
  market programmes on their respective websites.
  Check to see which courses/programs' graduates
  are employed, with which companies, and at what
  levels. Sometimes universities simply provide
  statistical information, such as an employment
  rate of 80, but if no other information is
  available, proceed with caution. This percentage
  may include graduates who were already employed
  when they enrolled in university because they
  could have been working and studying!

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Technology/online education

• Again, many students only bother to find out
  after they've enrolled. It is critical to
  determine which learning management system the
  university employs and in what capacity. Are
  there any online courses? Is it possible to
  submit and grade assignments online? Is the
  university equipped with an online learning
  support unit? Without a proper support unit, no
  staff will be readily available to assist you if
  you encounter problems with the learning
  management system, which may have an impact on
  your grades.
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Contact Us
Mohamed Bin Zayed University for
Humanities Address Al Muroor Street, Signal 23,
Abu Dhabi United Arab
Emirates. Phone [phone]Email
info_at_mbzuh.ac.ae Website https//www.mbzuh.ac.ae
/