The UAE Ministry of Higher Education has launched a new service to help Emirati students verify the accreditation of academic programmes and universities abroad. Aimed at both scholarship and self-funded students, the initiative ensures all overseas education meets official standards, guiding students toward globally ranked, high-quality institutions.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has launched a new service aimed at helping Emirati students verify academic programmes and institutions abroad before commencing their studies. Announced via the Ministry’s official website, the initiative is designed to support UAE nationals at all academic levels—diploma, higher diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, and equivalent professional qualifications—by ensuring the quality and accreditation of their chosen programmes.
The service provides Emirati students with an official document issued by the Ministry, confirming the accreditation status of both the academic programme and the university upon completion of a thorough review. This step reinforces the government’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the academic and professional interests of UAE nationals, particularly in light of the growing number of students pursuing higher education outside the country.
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The newly implemented regulations apply universally to Emirati students pursuing education abroad, whether they are studying through government-funded scholarships or financing their studies independently. The Ministry has mandated that all federal and local scholarship authorities comply with the new standards when nominating students for overseas study. This ensures that every student—regardless of funding source—receives a consistent and high-quality educational experience aligned with UAE academic standards.
According to the Ministry, this initiative is intended to assist students in making informed, strategic academic decisions based on clear and standardised criteria. It also enhances the likelihood of their qualifications being recognised and valued both within the UAE and internationally.
By offering a structured system for reviewing and verifying educational institutions and programmes, the service minimises the risk of students enrolling in low-quality or unaccredited institutions—a situation that can later jeopardise employment, academic progression, or access to public-sector benefits tied to academic credentials.
The Ministry emphasized that all students—whether sponsored or self-funded—must ensure their chosen academic institution appears in the official rankings approved by the Ministry. These rankings serve as the basis for determining whether a student’s selected university meets the UAE’s eligibility standards.
This approach reflects the Ministry’s wider strategy to guide students toward institutions that are globally recognised for excellence, innovation, and academic integrity. It aligns with the UAE’s national agenda to elevate its human capital by fostering world-class talent equipped with globally relevant skills and qualifications.
As part of the initiative, the Ministry’s Council for Higher Education has introduced rigorous eligibility standards that universities must meet for their programmes to be recognised. These criteria differ based on the country in which the student plans to study, with specific benchmarks outlined for institutions in English-speaking and non-English-speaking nations.
The eligibility guidelines are as follows:
These strict eligibility standards are designed to ensure that UAE students graduate with credentials that are both internationally competitive and fully recognised within the UAE’s job market and higher education system.
The Ministry stressed that adherence to these standards is crucial for ensuring that foreign-earned qualifications are valid for official use in the UAE. Students who fail to meet the new requirements may face challenges in obtaining recognition for their degrees—especially when applying for government employment, seeking promotions, requesting study or exam leave, defending a thesis, or accessing any benefit linked to academic qualifications in the federal sector.
The move comes as part of a broader effort to raise academic standards, improve the employability of Emirati graduates, and align educational outcomes with the strategic needs of the UAE economy. The Ministry believes that clear guidance on approved universities and programmes will not only improve the student experience but also protect public investment in overseas education and contribute to the development of a highly skilled national workforce.
Through this new service, the Ministry hopes to empower Emirati students to plan their academic journeys with confidence, knowing that their educational decisions meet government standards for quality and relevance. Students can now verify the status of their prospective academic programmes in advance, reducing uncertainty and ensuring that their efforts abroad translate into valued qualifications back home.
By formalising the selection process and tying it to internationally recognised university rankings, the UAE government is taking a proactive approach to ensuring educational excellence—one that places student wellbeing, academic quality, and future readiness at the forefront of its higher education agenda.
