Dubai has quietly assembled one of the strongest university line-ups in the region: branch campuses of ranked UK and Australian institutions, established Indian universities, and homegrown names, most of them clustered in Dubai International Academic City and Knowledge Park. For students staying in the UAE, the pitch is a recognised degree, often the same certificate as the home campus, without relocation costs.
Here are the universities in Dubai listed on Talem, with annual tuition ranges across their programmes, world rankings where held, and the next intake. All ten are accepting applications for September 2026.
| University | Ranking | Levels | Annual tuition (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murdoch University Dubai | #422 QS World 2026 | Foundation to Master's | 25,000 - 89,000 |
| University of Wollongong in Dubai | #184 QS World 2026 | Foundation to PhD | 31,385 - 68,909 |
| Amity University Dubai | QS 5-Star Rated | Foundation to Master's | 36,300 - 77,000 |
| University of Birmingham Dubai | #76 QS World 2025 | Foundation to PhD | 41,136 - 174,509 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education | KHDA 5-Star Rated | Foundation to PhD | 42,525 - 57,750 |
| Middlesex University Dubai | #851-900 QS World 2025 | Foundation to PhD | 50,301 - 117,548 |
| BITS Pilani Dubai | KHDA 5-Star Rated | Bachelor's to Doctoral | from 55,500 |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | #251 QS World 2025 | Foundation to PhD | 56,280 - 172,484 |
| SP Jain School of Global Management | EMBA #29 worldwide (QS 2026) | UG + PG | 66,300 - 154,700 |
| American University in Dubai | #620 QS World 2027 | Bachelor's + Master's | 72,450 - 106,050 |
Tuition ranges span each university's programmes, from foundation years at the bottom to specialist master's degrees at the top; the fee for a specific course sits on its programme page.
How to choose between them
If ranking matters most: the University of Birmingham Dubai is the highest-ranked institution in the city at QS #76, awarding the same degree as the UK campus. Wollongong (#184) and Heriot-Watt (#251) follow, both long established in Dubai.
If budget leads: Murdoch and Wollongong start lowest, and the Indian institutions, Manipal, Amity, and BITS Pilani, offer strong engineering and business programmes in the middle band. Scholarships move these numbers meaningfully; most universities here publish merit awards worth 10 to 50 per cent of tuition.
If a specific field leads: engineering students should read our guide to the best engineering universities in the UAE; business-focused applicants will find SP Jain's globally ranked EMBA and the American University in Dubai's AACSB-accredited school worth a close look.
Every profile lists entry requirements, intakes, and per-programme fees, and you can enquire directly from any page. Browse the full set in the Universities in Dubai collection.
Frequently asked questions
How much does university cost in Dubai?
Annual tuition runs from about AED 25,000 for foundation and entry-level programmes to over AED 170,000 for specialist postgraduate degrees. A typical undergraduate year at a ranked branch campus lands between AED 45,000 and 75,000.
Which is the highest-ranked university in Dubai?
The University of Birmingham Dubai, at #76 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The University of Wollongong in Dubai (#184) and Heriot-Watt University Dubai (#251) are the next highest on this list.
Do Dubai branch campuses award the same degree as the home campus?
The UK and Australian branch campuses on this list award the same degree certificate as their home institutions. Check each university's profile for accreditation details and how its awards are recognised.
When is the next intake?
All ten universities listed here have a September 2026 intake, and several also run January and May entry windows for selected programmes. Application deadlines and required documents are on each profile's admissions tab.