Going to the UAE can be an amazing educational experience. Fortunately, there are some excellent IT universities located throughout the city where you can complete your Bachelor's or Master's degree. For a foreign student, there is a lot to learn about the history, culture, and politics that make the UAE a unique destination.

Why Study in Dubai?

International Universities Looking to Set Campuses in Dubai in 2024

At the moment, Dubai has the highest concentration of university branch campuses in the world, with a total of 34 including London Business School.

So we find it a very good environment to set up education and to participate in the winds of change for Dubai, for the UAE and the region, says Dean of London Business School, Francois Ortalo-Mangé.

Many international universities from countries such as the UK, India, Canada, Pakistan, and Australia have established branches in Dubai's Knowledge Park. This has made Dubai an attractive location for universities looking to expand their global reach.

The Emirates Expand as Research and Education Hub

The UAE has a high literacy rate, almost 90%, and has invested a lot in improving its science and technology institutes. To further its research and training efforts, the UAE has collaborated with major companies worldwide to establish the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) group. This has helped them to focus on developing nanotechnology, biotechnology, and a major supercomputing center in South Asia.

English as a Second Unofficial Language

The Emirates is a great place for international students to study as there are many English-taught degrees. Despite initial concerns about communication barriers, the country has a high level of English proficiency, which is largely due to the influence of the finance and tourism sectors.

Leading Tech Universities in Dubai

1. University of Birmingham Dubai

The University of Birmingham is an institution with a long history of academic excellence, located in the heart of England. It was established in 1900 and has become a renowned hub for teaching, research, and innovation. The University is proud of its distinguished alumni and its contribution to the global academic community. It started as England's first civic university and has grown to become a respected institution of higher learning.

In May 2017, the University of Birmingham went global, Dubai campus announced. The University of Birmingham announced it would be opening a campus in Dubai, becoming the first Russell Group University to establish a campus in this rapidly developing international education hub.

Why Study at the University of Birmingham Dubai?

The University of Birmingham Dubai is a dynamic, progressive hub for innovative students. It’s

• A top 100 world university (QS, 2020)
• Part of the prestigious Russell Group
• Accredited by the UAE’s Ministry of Education

International students receive an educational experience where they are trained by leading academic experts. They have access to state-of-the-art learning spaces, extensive library, wellbeing support, and recreational areas. Eleven of the university’s former staff and students are Nobel Prize winners. Students join this cutting-edge community of exceptional minds who work to improve society.

Degrees are awarded in the same way as in the UK, in academic areas including:

• Computer science
• Engineering
• Business
• Education
• Psychology
• Law

If you are interested in the tech field, you can study Computer Science & IT with specializations in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Science, and Health Data Science.

Dubai Campus

Since 2018, students have had the opportunity to study in Dubai. However, in 2022, they moved into a brand-new, state-of-the-art, sustainable, and smart campus that offers a unique student experience, unlike any other in Dubai. The University of Birmingham was the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in this quickly developing international education hub in Dubai.

The campus brings together a rich community of 3,000 university students, a community for Birmingham alumni in the region, and a hub for engagement activities with local businesses. It continues the legacy of connecting the brightest students from across the globe in a university renowned for its research and teaching.

Facilities of Dubai Campus

• Smart Campus - use of IoT technology through research projects, consultancy opportunities, and student internships.
• Central to collaboration, reflecting real-world working practices.
• Offers exceptional working spaces, from large lecture theatres to small seminar rooms.
• Adaptable spaces for various purposes, including seating and lighting.
• Siemens Innovation Lounge for collaboration and learning.

TECOM Group is one of the main drivers of the UAE’s knowledge economy and a key supporter of home-grown talent. To this end, we are committed to consolidating Dubai’s position as a destination of choice for world-class academic institutions. Our partnership with Birmingham on the development of this campus is a testament to our continued support to our partners to create an ecosystem that enables growth and makes a positive impact in the region, states Malek Al Malek, CEO of TECOM Group.

University of Birmingham Ranking

The University of Birmingham is placed 84 in the QS World University Rankings by Top Universities in 2024. 

University of Birmingham Dubai Recruitment Process

The University of Birmingham Dubai offers opportunities for businesses to engage with their high-calibre students. The university has a tradition of developing highly employable graduates and has been ranked first in the UK in the High Fliers Graduate Market report 2023-2024 for 'universities targeted by the largest number of top employers'.

2. Heriot-Watt University Dubai 

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus is a branch of Heriot-Watt University located in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It was opened in 2005 and was one of the first overseas universities to establish a campus in Dubai International Academic City. 

Providing top-quality education for over 180 years in the UK, Heriot-Watt University was invited to Dubai to offer specialized programs in the fields of management, engineering, built environment, food science, and fashion.

With a history dating back to 1821, Heriot-Watt University is renowned for its excellence in teaching and research. As one of the top UK universities for business and industry, the university has consistently been ranked among the top providers of higher education. Its reputation for world-class teaching, research performance, student satisfaction, graduate employability, and teaching quality has been confirmed by several independent bodies.

Why Study at Heriot-Watt University Dubai?

Heriot-Watt University opened a new campus in Dubai Knowledge Park in 2021, to enhance the student experience and deliver high-quality education and research in the region. The modern campus supports various programs, including data science, computing, AI, business, accounting, finance, psychology, architecture, design, construction, and engineering. 

It features a dedicated student hub, a central student services center, an enhanced library, social learning spaces, and digitally enhanced classrooms, seminar rooms, studios, and laboratories. In-house recording studios also allow for the creation of digital materials for an interactive learning experience.

Dubai Knowledge Park, located near Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City, houses over 500 businesses and is a hub for higher education and professional development. It offers students direct business and industry engagement, offering unique learning experiences for graduates.

Worldwide Ranking of Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University is one of the top public universities in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It is ranked #235 in QS World University Rankings, 2024.

Accolades of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai 

Since its establishment, Heriot-Watt University Dubai has won several awards: 

Heriot-Watt University became one of the first Universities in the UAE which lit up the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building in Dubai, in 2019. The event celebrated the university's achievements, including receiving five stars from KHDA and winning the 'Best University' award at the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards. The event reflected the university's academic excellence in engineering, business, construction, design, and computer science.

Top Quality British Education

Heriot-Watt University, a leading institution in British education in Dubai, offers degree programs according to local business and industry demands, promoting future leaders, managers, and innovators. 

• Degrees are accredited and approved by Royal Charter in the UK.
• Option to transfer and undertake part of your degree at home campus in Scotland. 
• Heriot-Watt graduates are highly sought after by employers worldwide. There are  77,000 alumni in key positions worldwide.
• Supportive campus environment with a range of support services and friendly staff. 
• Guaranteed tuition fee packages and opportunities for scholarships are available.

3. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Dubai

BITS Pilani is a private technical research university and a constituent college of Dubai International Academic City. It is an Indian university that established its international campus in the year 2000. 

The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in engineering and business management domains under 10 academic departments. It hosts about 1,400 students every year, mostly from India, UAE, Oman, Qatar and other GCC countries.

Why Choose BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus?

With over 2 decades of experience, the institution has produced more than 6000 successful graduates who are holding leading positions around the world. The institution's creative industry solutions have led to more than 50 start-ups in the last 5 years, with some of them becoming unicorns. Additionally, more than 30% of the graduates go to the West every year to pursue higher education.

Also, BITS Pilani Dubai offers a range of undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programs. At the undergraduate level, the institute offers 4-year integrated bachelor of engineering programs and 5-year dual bachelor's degrees in two major fields. 

The course structure is flexible and allows students to enroll in general science, engineering, mathematics, management, humanities, and other interdisciplinary courses. Minor degrees in fields like Aeronautics, Data Science, Finance, Material Science, Robotics, Philosophy, Economics and Politics are also awarded. 

At the graduate level, the institute offers Master of Engineering degrees in various fields and Master of Business Administration programs to working professionals and graduates in the fields of Engineering and Technology Management and IT Enabled Services Management. Eligibility criteria for selection into these programs include a minimum of 60% in the qualifying undergraduate degree, aptitude test and interview.

BITS Pilani Dubai Recruitment Process

Every campus has always had a very good placement rate, with most university students having their career paths established well before graduation.

• Nearly 600 students from the Pilani campus sit for placements every semester, with an almost 100% success rate.
• Around 300 reputed companies visited the campuses in the previous placement season.
• BITS Pilani is a preferred recruitment ground for most corporates, both big and small. 
• Most of the companies that recruit from BITS Pilani do campus placements here every year, while new companies are added each year.
• BITS has many well-known recruiters from all over the world.

BITS Pilani Dubai Campus is a great place for affordable and quality education. Great infrastructure and experienced teachers are the biggest assets for them, along with the legacy of BITS Pilani India campus. ME Electrical course is structured in a way to cover the latest technologies in this field and class timings are very convenient for the working professionals, says MR.JISMIN POULOSE (M.E. ELECTRICA) - Product Manager, SIEMENS.

4. Middlesex University Dubai

Middlesex was established as a University in 1992. It is now widely regarded as an excellent international provider of higher education with an outstanding academic credential and highly employable and successful graduates.

Nearly two decades later, Middlesex Polytechnic was granted university status by royal assent to become the world-class institution it's known as today - with campuses in Dubai, Malta and Mauritius and trusted academic partnerships stretching across the globe. 

Why Study at Middlesex University Dubai?

At Middlesex University Dubai, you'll be part of a diverse community of over 5,000 students from more than 120 countries with a global community of over 10,000 alumni. The university opened its first campus in Dubai Knowledge Park in 2005 and has since become the largest university in Dubai, according to KHDA Open Data released in May 2023. 

Moreover, the university DKP campus features: 

• State-of-the-art classrooms for hybrid learning 
• Labs for Graphic Design, Robotics, Engineering, VR, Cybersecurity, and Fashion Design
• Student recreation centre MDX Social Hub with Dance Studio, Gaming Room, and more.

Also, Middlesex University Dubai is the first UK university in the UAE, which has two campuses in each of Dubai's higher education hubs. The DIAC campus has a Student Zone, state-of-the-art classrooms, and Innovation and Business Hubs. It opened for a new cohort of international students in September 2021.

Professional Learning and Corporate Engagement

Middlesex University offers professional development and workforce investment programmes for businesses. They provide customized training and development programmes, as well as specialist Master's programmes. The university values corporate engagement and offers benefits for its partners, including tuition fee grants, free masterclasses, and participation in the Middlesex Research Series.

Such as MDXcelerator which is a program designed to support Middlesex University Dubai students and recent graduates in understanding entrepreneurship and the world of start-ups. It provides flexible and accessible support throughout the academic journey, offering guidance in developing and launching business ideas and helping to break entry barriers for those held back by a lack of resources. 

The program offers a year-long service, including events, pitching challenges, training, and seed funding opportunities. Additionally, 1:1 support and online resources are available to aid in the entrepreneurial journey. 

In this MDXcelerator students will have: 

• Access to a shared workspace for a year to work on your idea 
• Access to mentors across diverse fields to develop a comprehensive approach to your business 
• Specific consultation and advice for your business needs 
• Workshops to develop and refine your business ideas and model 
• Skill development activities to effectively operate in today's business environment

Students receive the skills they need to fulfill their goals.

Middlesex University Dubai Industry Connections and Partnerships

Middlesex University Dubai has a wide range of industry connections across various sectors globally, such as Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and others. These university-industry partnerships provide students with access to advanced networks, real-life projects, and practical learning opportunities through short internships or work placements.

At Middlesex, our goal is to drive positive change through knowledge and learning and make a positive impact on the world around us, says Dr. Cedwyn Fernandes, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Director

5. Murdoch University in Dubai

Murdoch University Dubai is a branch campus of Murdoch University, one of the country’s research-intensive universities based in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 2008 in Dubai International Academic City, it moved to the heart of the impressive Dubai Knowledge Park in May 2020.

Why study at Murdoch University Dubai?

If you want to study at Murdoch University, here are some things to know.

The university's home campus in Perth, Western Australia, has over 23,000 students and 2,500 staff from almost 100 different countries. It offers over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate courses across a comprehensive range of disciplines and professions. 

The university has gained an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research over the past 50 years. The flexible learning options enable students to design their course of study according to their personal needs, and the double major option allows them to combine two different disciplines into one degree.

Murdoch University Dubai Accreditation and Rankings

Accreditations

Murdoch University Dubai offers internationally recognised Australian degrees that are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator of the higher education sector in Australia. 

The university is also licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), that is responsible for license and quality assurance across the entire education and human development continuum covering schools and higher education institutions in the Emirate of Dubai.

KHDA Rankings

Murdoch University Dubai has been awarded a 5-Star rating in the 2022 KHDA Higher Education Classification developed in partnership with QS™. The institution scored five stars across Employability, Internationalisation, Program Strength, Facilities, Happiness and Wellbeing, and Inclusiveness. Due to these ratings, graduates are highly sought after by employers, and they meet pre-requisites in teaching, research, employability, and overall student satisfaction.

International Rankings

Murdoch University has the following international ranking and achievements: 

• Ranked #431 in the QS World University Rankings 2024. 
• Ranked 84th per The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2023.
• Achieved a QS Stars five-star rating, putting the university amongst some of the leading universities in the world. Murdoch achieved five stars in teaching, employability, research, internationalisation, innovation, and inclusiveness, and an overall rating of five stars.

Murdoch University Dubai Partnerships

Murdoch University Dubai has a global network of partner agents and representatives to assist foreign students as they begin their studies at the university. These partnerships contribute to student learning by providing guest lectures and panels, promoting student employability, and improving the overall student experience. 

In addition, students have access to brand partnerships that offer free memberships, training, events, discounts, and mentorship programs.

They have over 3,500 partner agents in over 100 countries to ensure students who require assistance with their application process can receive the help they need. Partner agents are available to help with subject selection, visa applications, and other aspects of the enrolment process.

Murdoch University Dubai partnerships include, but are not limited to:

• Amazon Web Services
• Public Relations Chartered Association 
• Project Management Institute
• ACCA

Bottom Line

In conclusion, education is a crucial factor for the IT sector, as it encourages creativity among students, exposes them to recent developments, and sparks their interests in different sectors that require innovativeness and creativity. 

This is particularly important in Dubai, where the IT sector is growing rapidly, with numerous top IT services companies, such as WebOrigo Magyarország Zrt., DigiTrends, DeviceBee Technologies, iDigitalise - Digital Marketing Agency, offering a wide range of services, including web development, cloud consulting, graphic design, and other services.