Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Cost of LivingAED 46,716
- Tuition Fee FromAED 68,686
- Country Rank-
- Batch Strength-
- Global Diversity-
- Gender Ratio-
Overview
About
Heriot-Watt University Dubai is the satellite campus (also known as a branch campus or regional campus) located in the United Arab Emirates of the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The campus opened in 2005 and was the first overseas university campus set up in Dubai International Academic City. Although the campus relocated to Dubai Knowledge Park in 2021. The university is highly popular and a renowned institution of higher education in the country.
In 2005, the university built a five-year time frame during which it planned to increase its student population from 120 to 1500 students. The university has had a flourishing expansion through the years and surpassed its goal by 500 students housing & 2,000 students by 2010. The university campus currently houses over 3700 students hailing from over 90 different countries across the globe. The admission policy at the Dubai campus is relatively elective with the Heriot-Watt University Dubai acceptance rate being 24%. Among the main perks of studying at this campus is exposing oneself to a global environment surrounded by multi-national peers and cultures. The university’s Dubai campus was awarded the “Best University” at the Forbes Middles East Higher Education Awards in 2019.
The Dubai campus is recognised by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai and the degrees are accredited by the Royal Charter in the United Kingdom. Courses offered on the campus are in the areas of engineering, management, business, and information technology at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate levels. The campus is divided into six schools under which these courses are taught. They are listed as follows:
- The School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure, and Society
- The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
- The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- The School of Textiles and Design
- The School of Social Sciences
- The Edinburgh Business School
Under the umbrella of the university campus’ research wing falls the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction which is affiliated with Alpin, B3G Engineering Services, Bluehaus Group, The International Council for Research and Innovation in Building Construction (CIB), Concerted Solutions (CS), Dubai Carbon Centre for Excellence (DCCE), CARES, Edify, Falcon Robotics, Fluentgrid, Hyperion Robotics, IdeatoLife, Soluis Group, Saifety.ai, Smart Navigation Systems (SNS), Society of Engineers - UAE, Unknown, and WakeCap.The university is known for fostering a research-led educational environment with research being the focal point for all its academic programmes.
Ranking
The university delivers on its promise of excellence in teaching and research. The Heriot-Watt University Dubai rankings prove that it is a world-class educational institution providing a truly global approach to education. In 2019, the Dubai campus was awarded the “Best University” by the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards. The campus was also awarded a 5-star rating by KHDA, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority. The Research Excellence Framework regarded the university’s research endeavours as world-leading or internationally excellent. The university is also regarded highly in terms of overall satisfaction with the Dubai campus ranking 35th in the United Kingdom and 8th in Scotland.
Year
QS Ranks
US News Ranks
2025
#256
-
2023
-
-
Facilities
Located around 20 minutes from the city’s business district, the Dubai campus is located in the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). The Heriot-Watt University Dubai facilities are summarised below. The campus is divided into 2 phases. Phase 1 is a three-floor building comprising:
- Classrooms
- IT Lab facilities
- Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical, Electronic, and Civil Engineering labs
- Library
- Fashion Design Studio
- Interior Design Studio
- Outdoor Sports facilities including volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts
Phase 2 comprises:
- 700-seat auditorium
- Indoor games room
- Gymnasium
- Food Court
- Convenience Store
- Study area
- On-site student accommodation for both, male and female students
There is a presence of support services on campus which help students navigate the turbulent environment of university life. Professionals and counsellors help students steer financial, course-related, mental and physical health and other issues that might arise at university.
Events, shows, and programmes are a mainstay at the Dubai campus flush with a wide variety of student activities for the student crowd to immerse themselves in. Some of them are Watt Fest, International Days, Scottish Highland Games, Charity drives, and picnics among others. There are a large number of clubs and societies for students to partake in and also serves as a great meeting ground for students from all across campus. There is also a Student Council headed by the Student President who is elected annually by the students of the Dubai campus.
Notable Alumni
Courses
Admission
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Entry Requirements
Like any educational institution, there are entry requirements to enrol at the Dubai campus. As part of the Heriot-Watt Dubai entry requirements, the candidate has to furnish all previous certificates and documents as a testament to previous academic records. With a relatively lower acceptance rate and a stringent admissions policy, there are strict entry requirements in place. The university campus also has English language proficiency requirements as their courses are taught in English. Some of the basal eligibility criteria to apply to the university’s Dubai campus are listed below.
- A minimum GPA of 3 is required for admission but further depends on what course an applicant is looking to pursue at the university.
- The English language test requires positive results of any of the following; IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, Cambridge, Trinity ISE. Further grade entry requirements depend on the course and at what level (i.e. undergraduate or postgraduate) the candidate is looking to pursue the said course.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Fees
A variety of factors determines tuition fees at university. For starters, whether the student is a home or international student shall determine what fees they will pay. Secondly, the fees vary from course to course and lastly, at what level the applicant is looking to pursue the course (i.e; undergraduate, postgraduate or doctorate) shall determine the final fee amount. The Heriot-Watt University Dubai fees also have several other components attached to their fee structure including student housing expenses, books and supplies, meals, and other personal expenses. The fees at the Dubai campus are listed as follows:
- Undergraduate tuition fees for a year range from AED 60,000 to AED 70,000
- Postgraduate tuition fees for a year are approximately AED 60,000
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Placement
Heriot-Watt University Dubai placements house the Careers and Graduate Futures Service at the campus that helps place students in the right job after graduating from the university. Their strategic partnerships with organisations in the country as well as with multinationals across the globe give its graduates a fantastic opportunity to visualise a strong future for themselves. The university provides a range of internships and graduate opportunities for students and helps them match with corporations and roles based on their aptitude. The services team also conducts Insights Events and Careers Fairs which gives its students a chance to engage with employers across different sectors and industries.
Scholarship
Regardless of the programme you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by Heriot-Watt University Dubai as well as other organisations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can greatly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the university through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:
- Merit-based scholarships
- Need-based scholarships
- Country-specific scholarships
- College-specific scholarships
- Student-specific scholarships
Finances
Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds in order to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at Heriot-Watt University Dubai. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!
Accommodation
There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend Heriot-Watt University Dubai. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or in a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.
UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.
Cost of Living
Dubai has become the modern world dream for many all across the world. It promises a life with a perfect infusion of modernism and traditionalism. For students, it promises world-class education with a globalised approach. But this means a daily high cost of living in Dubai. The city is touted as among the world’s most expensive cities to call home more so for students. It is always tricky to learn to keep track of finances while at university. Below mentioned are the average costs a student might incur while studying at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
|
Particulars |
Expenses (per month) |
|
Off-campus accommodation |
AED 1175 |
|
On-campus accommodation |
AED 1500 |
|
Transportation |
AED 367 |
|
Food |
AED 2640 |
|
Utility |
AED 536 |
|
Entertainment |
AED 201 |
|
Groceries |
AED 536 |
|
Clothes |
AED 241 |
|
Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation |
AED 5329 |
|
Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation |
AED 5654 |