3 Things to Look For When Choosing a University in the UAE
We’ve often heard people say that their university years were the best years of their lives. To have a good university experience, however, you also need to pick the right place study. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a university in the UAE.
Campus Location & Facilities
University campuses and the facilities available at them are perhaps the biggest
attractions for eager students. After all, who wouldn’t want to study at a
university with a huge cafeteria, a triple story library, state of the art
gymnasium, and “modern” classrooms and computer labs? As easy as it is to get blown
away by the different facilities offered, however, you might also want to check out
the campus location and size.
For instance, if your university has six different buildings that are scattered all
around the city, then commuting from one department to another would be a bit of an
issue. Similarly, a university’s website may state that it offers certain types of
amenities, but these may only be accessible to specific groups of students. Try to
visit the university you’re interested in before finalizing the decision.
Variety of Courses Offered
Another important factor to consider is the range of courses offered at the
university of your choice. This is especially important if you’re considering
attending a smaller university that has an extensive course list laid out. While the
institute may have the resources to offer all the courses listed, you might find
that they’re only offered during certain semesters, and that too only if enough
students enroll for it. Thus, your dream of studying a particular course may never
materialize because there simply weren’t enough students for it to be
offered.
Regardless of the size of the university, however, you should research the courses
and programs being offered and compare these with other universities. It’s also a
good idea to contact the faculty and discuss course outlines directly with them.
University Accreditation
Finally, check out the accreditation and recognition status of the universities you
narrow down. Most institutions typically have accreditation from the UAE Ministry of
Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR). However, there are quite a few
institutions that don’t have MOHESR accreditation but are instead recognized by
other organizations or regulatory bodies overseas.
So, why does it matter where your chosen institute is accredited from? Well, if you
wish to pursue a career in the UAE government in the future, then it’s recommended
that you opt for a MOHESR accredited university. On the other hand, if you want to
work in the private sector, this may not be necessary as many private companies
don’t typically require MOHESR accreditation. Moreover, in order to apply for a
postgraduate program at a MOHESR accredited university, you must also have a
bachelor’s degree from an institution with the same accreditation.
Make sure you get all your relevant documents attested before you start school in
UAE. Benchmark Attestation Services is an attestation agency in Dubai that provides document attestation services, including birth certificate and education certificate attestation.