Exams to Study in UAE

While planning to study in UAE, there are few other things to consider apart from the visa application process. To get admission to UAE universities, you are required to take certain exams to demonstrate your English proficiency like TOEFL/IELTS/PTE at the UG and PG level. All these exams are standard parameters to assess applicants belonging to diverse educational backgrounds.

For those seeking admission to the postgraduate courses in UAE, tests like GRE and GMAT are important. While GRE is optional, GMAT is mandatory for MBA applicants. However, submitting GRE scores is a plus point for those seeking admission at the Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.

Although about 70% of the institutes filter the students according to their UG scores, an average IELTS score of 6.5 is required by popular names like the American University of Sharjah and Khalifa University. For those eyeing SP Jain, Hult International, etc, the minimum eligible GMAT score is 560. This figure is approximately 72.14% less than the USA GMAT cutoff of 730 for Ivy League schools like Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton.

Eligibility to Study in UAE

Apart from submitting the scores for standard exams, Indian applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

• Candidate must complete 12 years of schooling
• Applicants from CBSE/ISC board must secure a minimum of 50%-60%

In addition to the previous points, candidates seeking PG admissions must abide by the following:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree that is considered worldwide.
• Those aspiring to pursue MBA must have work experience of 2-4 years along with scores of TOEFL/IELTS and GMAT/GRE.

Exams to Study in UAE for English Language

All international students must demonstrate their English proficiency by submitting any one of the below-mentioned test scores.

IELTS Requirement to Study in UAE

IELTS is the most renowned English language proficiency test in the world. For Indian students, it costs 14,000 rupees to take the whole exam. It tests the English language skills of the candidate on 4 different levels: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Prominent UAE universities ask for an IELTS score of 6.5 out of 9.

TOEFL Requirement to Study in UAE

Another popular English proficiency exam is the TOEFL. Unlike IELTS, TOEFL is marked on a score range of 0-120, with 30 marks each for 4 different sections. Although minimum scores depend upon the various institutes, TOEFL score of 60-80 is considered eligible for UAE institutes.

Explore IELTS vs TOEFL if you are confused as to which test would be easier for you.

PTE Requirement to study in UAE

Apart from the popular ones like IELTS and TOEFL, PTE is another English proficiency exam which is offered by Pearson. The test is made up of three different sections and test-takers need to pay 13,700 INR as the application fee. Although most institutes prefer IELTS and TOEFL, Middlesex University, University of Birmingham, etc look for an overall PTE score of 51.

English Proficiency Exams to Study in UAE

We’ve been digging and tabulated the minimum scores required for some of the popular universities:

Exams to Study in UAE at PG Level

For those who wish to pursue PG courses with UAE universities, some exams like GRE, GMAT, etc are a mandatory part of your applications. Given below are some of the details you should be aware of when applying for PG courses in UAE universities.

GRE Requirements to Study in UAE

GRE is accepted worldwide as a standard test for PG courses and UAE is no different. For Indian students it costs INR15,800. Top UAE universities require a GRE score of 130-170.

GMAT Requirements to Study in UAE

Those students who wish to pursue MBA in the Arab Emirates, have to sit for the GMAT exam. GMAT fee for Indian applicants is $250(18, 360 INR).

CAT Requirements to study in UAE

If you wish to pursue MBA from Indian universities like SP Jain School of Global Management, CAT scores are also considered apart from GMAT and GRE. Every year CAT exam is conducted by one of the IIMs. SP Jain requires a minimum of >80 percentile in CAT.

In a nutshell, to study in UAE, English language proficiency exams are a must for all UG applicants if they fail to score 70% in English. For PG candidates TOEFL/IELTS is a must along with GRE/GMAT, as per the course they wish to pursue. Other requirements include LOR from previous employers or institutes and SOPs.

Most of the universities admit students for PG courses on the basis of their UG scores. While standard exams like GRE are optional, GMAT is mandatory for business schools.

One must note, that the foreign universities in UAE usually seek for credentials similar to those in their country. For instance, Hult International Business School in the UK seeks for a 3.2 GPA (80-86%) as the minimum eligibility. For admission to the UAE branch, an Indian applicant also needs to possess the same, in addition to GMAT scores.

Here are a few additional points you need to keep in mind while applying to UAE universities:

• Although students can choose from a wide array of options, popular programs in UAE include Business, finance, and hospitality courses. So make your choice and prepare for the relevant exams accordingly.
• Unlike the USA's Common Application that caters to all of its colleges, UAE does not have any common application portal. Individual universities have their own processes. So ensure that you remain updated with all of them and the specific exam requirements.
• Emirati institutes accept applications for the Spring and Autumn terms. For Spring, the general deadline is usually February end, and for Autumn it is October-August end.

Secure Your Path to Study in UAE

Apart from faring well in all the necessary exams, there are additional preparations which you may undertake to make sure you qualify for your preferred university. For instance, try for a pre-Law or pre-MBA or any other foundational course that suits your course. These preparatory programs give you an extra educational boost for your profile.

For those seeking to pursue degree programs in UAE, it is important to work on your English. Ensure that your language speaking skills are excellent so that you have the confidence to participate in group discussions.

Thus, if you’ve never thought about settling in the UAE for academics, now is the time for it. Add the gorgeous beaches and year-round sunshine to the global exposure that you would receive there. Also, this place ranks at 59 for its affordability as per QS Rankings. So go on, fill your applications. Rankings, affordability, pleasant weather- UAE got it all!