Abu Dhabi, UAE
The UAE's dedicated STEM and research university, formed from a merger of three specialist institutions.
Khalifa University was formed in 2017 by merging three existing UAE institutions (the Petroleum Institute, Masdar Institute and Khalifa University of Science and Technology) into a single dedicated STEM and research-focused university. It's particularly strong in Engineering and has close ties to Abu Dhabi's energy and aerospace sectors.
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AAB (A Level) · IB 34
High tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.
AED 60,000–AED 100,000/yr
high tier for UAE — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.
English
campus campus, Abu Dhabi
Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or Khalifa's financial aid office.
UAE scholarship access varies sharply by institution type: some private universities have genuinely need-blind, full-need-met admission for all students regardless of nationality, while federal universities' funding is largely reserved for Emirati citizens (see the citizenship/PR fee note above).
Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.
Engineering
⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year
Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics
Computer Science
⏱️ Typical duration: 4 years
Typical entry: Requires Mathematics
Medicine
⏱️ Typical duration: 5–6 years where entered straight from school (UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong); typically a 4-year postgraduate MD entered after a Bachelor's (US, Canada)
Typical entry: Requires Chemistry + Biology
Aerospace Engineering
⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year
Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics
Petroleum Engineering
⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year
Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics
Durations are typical for UAE — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.
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IELTS: 6.0–6.5 overall
Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.
Enter your grades and budget in the free UAE University Shortlist Builder to see whether Khalifa is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UAE university that matches.
Build my UAE shortlist →Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to Khalifa as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.
As a typical benchmark for international entry, Khalifa expects around AAB at A Level or 34 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for Khalifa's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on Khalifa's own admissions page before applying.
International tuition at Khalifa typically falls in the AED 60,000–AED 100,000/yr range (high tier for UAE). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not Khalifa's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.
Khalifa follows UAE's typical intake calendar: September, January, with applications generally due rolling — apply at least 2–3 months before your intended intake. Always verify the exact date on Khalifa's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.
UAE universities, including Khalifa, typically ask international applicants for 6.0–6.5 overall. Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.
The UAE's dedicated STEM and research university, formed from a merger of three specialist institutions. Khalifa University was formed in 2017 by merging three existing UAE institutions (the Petroleum Institute, Masdar Institute and Khalifa University of Science and Technology) into a single dedicated STEM and research-focused university. It's particularly strong in Engineering and has close ties to Abu Dhabi's energy and aerospace sectors.
Yes — Khalifa accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UAE University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against Khalifa and every other UAE university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.
Need help applying to Khalifa? Get free application support.