Mastering education for the future

As universities open up admissions for the new academic year, choose from an array of best-in-class undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programmes

Selecting a university is an extremely important decision in one's life. Many students and their parents feel overwhelmed by choice when trying to decide where to spend the next four (or more) years of their lives. There's no need to look overseas; the UAE provides internationally-acclaimed education at affordable fees. Murdoch University Dubai has recently revised its fee structure for its May and September 2021 intakes in response to the ongoing financial burden of the Covid-19 pandemic on many of their students and families, while delivering high-quality education.

As the country pursues a knowledge-based economy, the Ministry of Education has been working hard to set perfect global standards of education for the students. Education is one of the prime sectors in the UAE that has witnessed a significant transformation, mainly because of the internationalisation of higher education along with countries reforming the industry so that it is on par with global trends and best practices.

The UAE is a dynamic country driven by the ambition to become one of the top-ranking nations in the world. One of the pillars that will aid this vision is the development of a world-class education supported by global teaching curriculum.

In accordance with this, there is a wide range of programmes and courses offered by universities in the country. Chances are that whatever subject you wish to study, there is a university that offers it. The University of Manchester Middle East Centre has opened admissions for all five of its part-time master's programmes. Its portfolio of programmes consists of two MBA programmes alongside a range of specialist master's courses focusing on real estate, and education, and a new programme on financial management.

If a degree in hospitality is on your mind, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), recognised as the best hospitality school in the region, is the way to go. Its programmes include a three-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in International Hospitality Management with Honours and a one-year plus dissertation Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Hospitality Management.

For high school graduates, universities offer preparation programmes to start them off on the right foot. Middlesex University Dubai delivers one of the leading British International Foundation programmes that provide students with the opportunity to fast track their entry and prepare them for the academic future they will enter after the one-year preparation programme.

Besides academics, all-round development is crucial for every student. The American University of Sharjah provides students numerous extra- and co-curricular programmes that focus on the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for success in the 21st century. At present, there are 74 clubs and organisations students can join to develop their cultural and community interests.

The campus, where students spend the majority of their time, should provide students with an encouraging environment to learn and grow. The University of Birmingham will welcome its September 2021 intake at its new state-of-the-art campus, committed to providing excellent education and a safe student experience, with a variety of programmes in business, bioinformatics, engineering, computer science, and more.

Research and analytics have also become very important as the world digitises more every day. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi recently launched a new research section highlighting its diverse research offerings and activities in line with the UAE's national development plan. Projects are mainly developed within specific focal areas such as artificial intelligence, Gulf studies and heritage studies.

With such world-class education institutions across the UAE, it is evident why the quality of UAE's higher education ranks among the top 20 globally.

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