Undergraduate Admissions

KU is no longer entertaining a Foundation Year, and hence, there will be no conditional acceptances starting Fall 2023.

In accordance with the latest MOE declaration related to high school averages and EmSAT tests, KU has updated its admission requirements as follows:

• High School Certificate:
  • Applicants should have graduated from high school no later than two years prior to the current year (not before 2021).
  •  Applicants must hold a UAE High School Certificate with the following minimum averages of:
    • 75% Elite Track
    • 80% Advanced Track
    • 90% General Track
    • 75%, or its equivalent, from all other curricula
    • Applied Stream applicants are not eligible for admission

• A minimum score of achievement in each of the following EMSAT subjects (Validity of EmSAT scores: 18 months), or, the below indicated new EmSAT alternatives/replacements:
  • EmSAT English 1400
    • OR, IELTS (Academic): 6.0 OR TOEFL iBT: 79 (Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two calendar years only and should be taken from an approved testing center. (TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language| IELTS – International English Language Testing System)
  • EmSAT Math 1250
  • EmSAT Physics 1000
  • EmSAT Computer Science (Java, C++, or, Python) 1000
  • One EmSAT elective:
    • EmSAT Chemistry 1000 OR EmSAT Biology 1000
  •  EmSAT Arabic 700 (For non-Arabic speakers, EmSAT Arabic can be waived)
  •  For more information on the EmSAT exam, please click here. 

New EmSAT Alternatives/Replacements:

• Satisfactory entrance interview

  All students must participate in a personal interview conducted by a Khalifa University admissions committee.

  During the interview, students will be assessed on:

  • Ability to communicate in English
  • Familiarity with the relevant profession
  • Commitment to pursue a professional degree program
  • Reasons for applying to attend Khalifa University
  • Potential leadership capabilities

Students interested to transfer from another university to KU, have to apply through the KU admission website/portal, and, meet the following minimum requirements:

• Should be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.5 or greater.
• Should be eligible to continue their enrollment at the institution from which they wish to transfer.
• Should be transferring from a reputable and lawfully accredited university.
• Should have graduated from High School no later than two years prior to the current year.
• A minimum score of achievement in each of the following EMSAT subjects (Validity of EmSAT scores: 18 months), or, the below indicated new EmSAT alternatives/replacements:
  • EmSAT English 1400
    • OR, IELTS (Academic): 6.0 OR TOEFL iBT: 79 (Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two calendar years only and should be taken from an approved testing center. (TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language| IELTS – International English Language Testing System)
  • EmSAT Math 1250
  • EmSAT Physics 1000
  • EmSAT Computer Science (Java, C++, or, Python) 1000
  • One EmSAT elective:
    • EmSAT Chemistry 1000 OR EmSAT Biology 1000
  •  EmSAT Arabic 700 (For non-Arabic speakers, EmSAT Arabic can be waived)
  •  For more information on the EmSAT exam, please click here. 

New EmSAT Alternatives/Replacements:

Note: Not all the courses taken at the initial University will be transferred to KU. Make sure to provide a copy of the syllabi of all courses taken to be able to be considered for course transfers.

Khalifa University may award advanced standing credit for certain academic work completed prior to enrollment at the University.  This includes sufficiently high scores on some national/international secondary school examinations such as the College Board Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advance “A” Level GCE (General Certificate of Education).  This may make it possible for a student to complete the Bachelor’s degree in less than the normal duration or take other courses.

Advanced Standing Credit may only be granted after the student has been fully admitted as a freshman to Khalifa University.  All students who would like to be considered for advanced standing credit must complete the Advanced Standing Credit Evaluation form at the Office of Admissions and provide either the original score certificate or an official copy from the appropriate examining agency.  Each student will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.   All students must submit their request for advanced standing credit evaluations within the first semester of their freshman year at Khalifa University.  Credits earned through “Advanced Standing” are considered “transfer credits” (non-residence credits) for degree requirement purposes. 

For more information regarding “Advanced Standing Credit and Credit by Examination Policies and Procedures,” please visit: https://www.ku.ac.ae/advanced-standing-credit-and-credit-by-examination-policies-and-procedures/. 

COLLEGE BOARD ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

Khalifa University grants credit for a score of 4 or 5 on certain College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The University does not grant credit for secondary school courses teaching AP curricula, or partial credit for lower scores. If the AP exam is taken more than once, the higher score will be counted.

All official AP scores should be sent directly to KU registration department by using our college code 7860.

Details of credit for various exams appear below:

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

Khalifa University grants credit for a score of 5 or higher on certain Higher Level (HL) International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. The University does not grant credit for secondary school courses teaching IB curricula, or partial credit for lower scores. If the IB exam is taken more than once, the higher score will be counted.

Details of credit for various exams appear below:

ADVANCE “A” LEVEL GCE (GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION).

Khalifa University grants credit for a grade of B or higher on certain A-level exams. The University does not grant partial credit for lower grades. If the A-level exam is taken more than once, the higher grade will be counted.

Details of credit for various exams appear below:

*Examination Policies and Procedures

The following documents are required as part of the undergraduate admissions process:

• A completed Khalifa University online application form
• An attested copy of High School certificate.
  • Government high school students should submit a copy of their grade 12 first term certificate if the final certificate is not yet issued.
  • Private high school students should submit a copy of their final grade 10 and 11 certificates, in addition to a copy of their Grade 12 first term certificate, if the final certificate is not yet issued.
  • British System high school students should submit certificates of their O level, AS and A levels. If final certificates are yet to be issued, a letter from the school stating predicted grades is required.
• TOEFL or IELTS certificates (original, plus an extra copy) if any.
• Good Conduct Certificate
• Passport
  • For UAE Nationals: front page and unified number page
  • For UAE Residents: Copy of passport name page and visa permit page
  • For International students outside the UAE: Copy of passport name page
• Passport size photograph
• For UAE Nationals and UAE Residents: Emirates ID (Front and Back)
• For UAE Nationals Only: A complete copy of Khulasat Al Qaid (UAE National Family Book)

IMPORTANT NOTES: Please provide the school’s grading scale equivalency where required. All foreign and private school certificates must be equated and attested by the Ministry of Education in UAE. Applications with missing documents will not be accepted.

• Applicants who hold an undergraduate or graduate degree from universities outside the UAE must present Certificate of Equivalency for their graduation certificates from the UAE Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division.
• Applicants who earned their degrees from universities inside the UAE may be required to present Certificate of Equivalency for their graduation certificates from the UAE Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division. If this is required, Khalifa University’s Graduate Admissions Office will notify the applicants.
• Please note that Khalifa University is not involved in the equivalency process. The UAE Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division is fully responsible for issuing the Certificate Equivalency. 

• To request a Certificate of Equivalency, you must register online by going to this link.
• You can also access the MOE website by going to moe.gov.ae/en, select “E-Services – Service Catalog”, then select the “Certificate Equivalency – Higher Education” option.  You will be asked to create an online account and log in, fill in the e-application, submit and upload the required documents, and pay the applicable fees. For a detailed list of the requirements and documents, visit the Certificate Equivalency section on www.moe.gov.ae/en , or contact 80051115, or email equ.corr@moe.gov.ae
• Applicants have to prepare and attest all the required university and high school certificates and transcripts from the country in which they graduated.
• Equivalency applications have to be submitted in person in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Applications should be submitted at least one month prior to the first day of class.
• Applicants who have applied for Certificate of Equivalency but have not concluded the Equivalency process by the time of registration would be given the chance to register for the first semester as long as they sign the Graduate Admission Contract.

All students must participate in a personal interview conducted by a Khalifa University admissions committee.

During the interview, students will be assessed on:

• Ability to communicate in English
• Familiarity with the relevant profession
• Commitment to pursue a professional degree program
• Reasons for wanting to attend Khalifa University
• Potential leadership capabilities in the UAE