New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a highly selective liberal arts and research university on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, and one of the three degree-granting portal campuses of New York University's global network, alongside New York and Shanghai. Opened in 2010, NYUAD awards the New York University degree, a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, and is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Education and accredited through NYU by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Students come from more than 115 countries into a fully residential campus community with an average class size of about 14. The academic experience combines a signature Core Curriculum, a required senior Capstone project, and the chance to study away across NYU's worldwide network of campuses and academic centres. Admission is need-blind and the university meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted students through grants rather than loans. Alongside its undergraduate majors across the arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences and engineering, NYUAD offers selected master's programmes, fully funded PhD study through NYU's Global PhD Student Fellowship, and MBA and Executive MBA study through Stern at NYUAD.
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
4 years · Undergraduate
Published 2026-27 undergraduate tuition is USD 68,574 per year (approximately AED 251,800). The full cost of attendance also includes health insurance (USD 2,424), housing (about USD 6,000), food (about USD 5,800) and books (about USD 1,730). Crucially, admission is need-blind for all applicants and NYU Abu Dhabi meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted students through grants rather than loans, so many students pay significantly less than the published price.
Need-blind admission for all applicants, including international students; aid is awarded as grants, not loans, and meets full demonstrated financial need. Apply via the CSS Profile (NYU code 2785).
Covers tuition, housing, meals, health insurance, books and study travel. Awarded to all admitted UAE nationals and children of an Emirati mother or father, on a merit basis via admission, for all four years.
A need-based personal-support award for UAE nationals; requires filing the CSS Profile.
NYU Abu Dhabi is one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting undergraduates once a year for September entry through a holistic, two-step process. Applications are made through the Common Application and are reviewed for academic excellence, meaningful extracurricular involvement, character, and a commitment to a global, interconnected community. The most competitive applicants are then invited to Candidate Weekend, the final stage of selection. Admission is need-blind for all applicants, including international students.
Apply through commonapp.org and pay the USD 85 application fee (fee waivers are available). NYU Abu Dhabi is one of NYU's three portal campuses on the Common App.
Your school submits the Common App School Report and transcripts. Provide one letter of recommendation (it does not have to be from a teacher) and complete the Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS).
Standardized testing is optional. Applicants whose native language is not English submit English proficiency results, unless they have studied in an English-only curriculum for three years.
To be considered for need-based aid, submit the CSS Profile (NYU code 2785) by the financial-aid deadline for your decision plan.
The most competitive applicants are invited to Candidate Weekend, the second and final step of selection, experiencing student life on the Saadiyat Island campus before final decisions.
NYU Abu Dhabi arranges and sponsors the UAE entry permit and student residence visa for enrolled students. The process begins after you accept your offer; for students residing outside the UAE the entry-permit step begins within about 60 days of arrival, and admitted students receive visa information in May.
NYU Abu Dhabi is a fully residential university on Saadiyat Island, where students from more than 115 countries live and learn together. Every undergraduate is guaranteed and required to live on campus for all four years, in residential colleges that combine living and learning. Campus life spans athletics and recreation, the arts, dozens of student-run groups, and access to NYU's global network, all supported by a dedicated health and wellness centre and student affairs team.
Living on campus is an integral part of the NYU Abu Dhabi experience: on-campus housing is guaranteed and required for all four undergraduate years. Students live in residential colleges, each led by a Residential College Director with a trained Resident Assistant on every floor.
The Career Development Center supports students from their first year through graduation with individualised advising, professional mentorship, employer networking, and guidance on prestigious global awards and fellowships. The average NYU Abu Dhabi student completes at least three work experiences before graduating.
NYU Abu Dhabi occupies a purpose-built, roughly 40-acre pedestrian campus on Saadiyat Island, designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects and opened in 2014. It is a fully residential, walkable campus that brings academic buildings, research facilities, the Arts Center, athletics venues and student residences together in one place.
The central research library, with print and digital collections, special collections and archives, subject-specialist librarians, and access to NYU's global library network.
A performing-arts complex housing the 685-seat Red Theater, the flexible Black Box, and the 150-seat Blue Hall, plus rehearsal and film studios.
A professionally equipped exhibition space at the campus entrance for experimental and traditional work across all media.
Twelve shared, research-grade facilities, from sequencing and biomedical imaging to advanced manufacturing and microscopy, serving every discipline.
A makerspace-style shared lab for design, robotics, AI and automation, for prototyping and experimentation.
A full fitness centre with cardio, resistance and free weights, plus a separate women's gym.
A competition-length swimming pool at the centre of campus.
A three-court performance gym for basketball, badminton, volleyball, futsal and netball, plus a show-court arena.
Two natural-grass soccer fields (Falcon Field and a practice pitch), a 400-metre eight-lane track, and tennis and multipurpose courts.
A 10-metre climbing wall, three squash courts, a 200-metre indoor jogging track, and combat, yoga and cycling studios.
An accredited on-campus clinic with physicians, nurses, psychologists and a pharmacy, paired with the 24/7 Wellness Exchange.
Career advising, internships, employer networking and graduate-outcomes support.
Living-learning residence halls where all undergraduates live, each led by a Residential College Director with Resident Assistants.
Interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive
Interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of NYU Abu Dhabi since 2024. A professor of biology, he previously served as NYU Abu Dhabi Provost from 2010 to 2020.
Provost
Dean of Arts and Humanities
Dean of Social Science
Dean of Engineering
Interim Dean of Science
Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
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New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
