INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS

Types of higher education institutions:

University

Higher College of Technology

College

School leaving and higher education credentials:

Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma

Diploma

Higher Diploma

Bachelor's Degree

Medical Doctor

Master's Degree

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education:

Duration of compulsory education:

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 12

Structure of school system:

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary School

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 6 to: 12

Preparatory

Type of school providing this education: Preparatory School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 12 to: 15

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: General Secondary School

Length of program in years: 3

Age level from: 15 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate)

Technical

Type of school providing this education: Technical, Agricultural & Commercial Secondary School

Length of program in years: 6

Age level from: 12 to: 18

Certificate/diploma awarded: Technical Secondary Diploma

School education:

Primary education is compulsory and lasts for six years. It is followed by three years' preparatory education which qualifies students for general or technical secondary education. General Secondary education lasts for three years. It consists of a common first year followed by specialization in Science or Arts. At the end of the twelfth year, students take the examination for the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate). The Institute of Applied Technology is a separate educational institution for academically talented males in grades 9-12. Secondary education is also offered in religious institutions. Courses lead to the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma.

Higher education:

Higher education is offered in public and private universities and Higher Colleges of Technology. The national higher education system consists of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Zayed University (ZU), and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT). The Chancellor of the System is the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Private universities are licensed and accredited by the Ministry's Commission for Academic Accreditation. At present, there are 34 licensed, accredited private institutions operating in the UAE.

Main laws/decrees governing higher education:

Decree: Federal Law no 4 Year: 1992

Concerns: Autonomy of the University

Decree: Federal Law no 4 Year: 1976

Concerns: University of the United Arab Emirates

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep to: Jun

Long vacation from: 15 Jun to: Aug

Languages of instruction: Arabic, English

Stages of studies:

Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type):

Non-university level:

Higher technical and vocational studies are offered by a dozen Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah. They are operated by the national government through the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. They only accept UAE nationals, although in some cases exceptions may be granted. The Colleges are intended  to produce skilled para-professionals in the fields of Engineering, Business, Health and Communication Technology, etc. The language of instruction is English. To be admitted, students must have obtained at least 60% at the Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma. Many students are required to take a foundation year. The colleges offer a two-year programme leading to a Diploma and a three-year programme leading to a Higher Diploma. In recent years, programmes have been organized leading to the four-year Bachelor's Degree in some fields including education, business, IT, health sciences, communications and engineering. There is also a medical college for girls, a banking training institute, a college of engineering and an aviation college, as well as schools of nursing and private colleges.

University level studies:

University level first stage: Bachelor's Degree:

Studies leading to the Bachelor's Degree at the national universities normally last for four years and require between 132 and 136 credit hours. The exceptions are Sharia (150 credit hours) and Engineering (five years and 172 credit hours). In Sharia, the degree conferred is that of Licence. In Medical Sciences, six years and one year's residence after graduation are required to obtain the Medical Doctor Degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).  The primary language of instruction is English, with the exception of studies in Sharia law which is in Arabic.

University level second stage: Master's Degree:

A Master's Degree is conferred after one year's further study beyond the Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Engineering and Environmental Sciences and a Postgraduate Diploma is offered by the College of Education of the University.

Teacher education:

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Primary school teachers receive pre-service training offered by the Ministry of Education. There are also two Teacher Training Institutes.

Training of secondary school teachers

Secondary school teachers are trained at the Faculty of Education of the United Arab Emirates University which confers a Bachelor of Education degree and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, as well as through in-service training offered by the Ministry of Education. Zayed University and some campuses of the Higher Colleges of Technology also offer a Bachelor of Education Degree.

Training of higher education teachers

Teachers at higher education institutions must hold at least a PhD Degree. External faculty applicants should possess at least a Master's Degree and nationals applying for a teaching assistant position must possess at least a BA Degree as well as a PhD obtained abroad through scholarships from the University.

Non-traditional studies:

Distance higher education

Open university institutions, which are an extension of the UAE University, offer external tutorial studies.

NATIONAL BODIES

Administration & co-ordination:

Responsible authorities:

Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Head: Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister

Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

WWW: http://www.moe.gov.ae/

ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Admission to non university higher education studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma

Minimum score/requirement: 60%

For entry to: Higher Colleges of Technology

Other admission requirements:

Foundation year in some cases

Admission to university-level studies

Name of secondary school credential required: Shahadat Al-Thanawiya Al-Amma

For entry to: universities

Other admission requirements: Foundation year in most cases to develop skills in Arabic,English and Maths. All students must satisfy basic university admission requirements.

Foreign students admission

Admission requirements: Students should hold a General Secondary School Certificate.

Entry regulations: Students should hold a visa.

Language requirements: Proficiency in Arabic is requested for all courses and in English for Engineering and Medicine.

Multilateral agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies

Name of agreement: Convention On the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher Education in the Arab States

Year of signature: 1978

References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies

Title: Homepage http://www.hct.ac.ae

Author: Higher Colleges of Technology

Title: Homepage http://www.uaeu.ac.ae

Author: United Arab Emirates University

Title: Homepage http://www.zu.ac.ae

Author: Zayed University

STUDENT LIFE

Student expenses and financial aid

Student costs:

Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (UAE Dirham)

Publications on student services and financial aid:

Title: Study Abroad 2005-2006

Author: UNESCO

Year of publication: 2005

GRADING SYSTEM

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description: 0-100%: 90-100%: A; 85-89%: B+; 80-84%: B; 75-79%: C+; 70-74%: C; 65-69%: D+; 60-64%: D; 0-59%: E

Highest on scale: 100%

Pass/fail level: 60-69%

Lowest on scale: 0%

Other main grading systems

Also 4.0-0 with 3.6 and above: excellent; 3.0-3.5: very good; 2.5-2.9: good; 2.0-2.4: pass; below 2: fail

NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM

Data for academic year: 2005-2006

Source: IAU from Office of Higher Education Policy and Planning, Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi, 2006