Khalifa University of Science and Technology is a public research university in Abu Dhabi that focuses on engineering, computing, science and medicine. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it rose 30 places to 147th in the world. That made it the first UAE university to reach the global top 150 and the highest-ranked university in the country.
Khalifa isn’t taking new undergraduates for spring 2027, and applications for fall 2027 haven’t opened yet, so now is a good time to prepare. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on Khalifa University’s own guidance and official UAE government information.
1. Choose your programme and check its subjects
Khalifa’s bachelor’s degrees are mainly in engineering, including aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering, along with computer science and other computing and science degrees. All are taught in English. Each programme lists the high school subjects it needs. Maths is always required, along with physics, chemistry or biology depending on the degree, so check the programme requirements table before you apply.
2. Watch for the fall 2027 application window
Khalifa says undergraduate admission isn’t offered for spring 2027 and that applications for fall 2027 will open soon. For fall 2026, applications ran from 17 November 2025 to 2 March 2026, and late applications weren’t considered, so expect a similar timetable. International students, whether inside or outside the UAE, apply through Khalifa’s online application. You need at least your first-term grade 12 results to apply. Khalifa University: undergraduate admissions.
3. Meet the grade requirements
You must have finished high school within the last two years, which for this cycle means not before 2024. If you take the CBSE, an Indian or Pakistani board or an American diploma, you need at least 80 per cent in grade 12 maths and in your required science. For the IB, you need the full diploma with at least 4 in each of six subjects and 24 points overall. With British qualifications, you need five IGCSE or GCSE subjects at grade C or above, plus three AS or A Levels at grade C or above that include maths and at least one science. Arabic and Islamic Studies don’t count. Meeting these minimums doesn’t guarantee a place, because admission is competitive and depends on the seats in each programme.
4. Get your certificates attested and equated
Khalifa requires an equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education for all foreign and private school certificates, and your high school certificate must be attested. You also need your grade 10 and grade 11 certificates, a passport copy and a photo. If your final results aren’t out yet, send your first-term grade 12 results or a letter from your school confirming your predicted grades. Applications with missing documents aren’t accepted, so start the attestation process early.
5. Meet the English requirement
You must have IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79. Upload your score with your application. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and PTE practice tests.
6. Add SAT or AP scores if you can
The SAT isn’t required, but a Math SAT score of 700, or AP scores of 3 or more in Calculus, Physics C, Chemistry or Biology, strengthen your application. Only the AP subjects Khalifa lists count. You can send AP scores to Khalifa using College Board code 7860, and IB results are sent by your school’s IB coordinator.
7. Prepare for the admission test and video interview
Shortlisted applicants take the Khalifa University Admission Test (KUAT) in person, depending on the programme. You’re invited at least 10 days before the test, and if you miss it without notice, your application is rejected. The maths test lasts 90 minutes and has 40 multiple-choice questions on algebra, precalculus and geometry, and there are also physics and chemistry tests. Khalifa publishes the topics and sample questions. Applicants with outstanding grades may be exempt. Instead of an in-person interview, every applicant records a video in the application portal. It’s assessed on your English, your knowledge of your chosen profession, your commitment, your reasons for choosing Khalifa and your leadership potential.
8. Understand the fees and scholarships
Undergraduate tuition is AED 2,500 per credit hour, which Khalifa estimates at about AED 81,250 a year. On-campus housing costs AED 10,000 a semester for a double room or AED 20,000 for a single room. Khalifa offers merit scholarships to both UAE nationals and international students. Depending on the award, they can cover full or partial tuition, textbooks and accommodation. You don’t need to apply separately, because any scholarship is stated in your admission offer. Khalifa University: undergraduate scholarships.
9. Get your student residence visa through Khalifa University
If you aren’t a UAE or GCC national and don’t already live in the UAE, Khalifa University sponsors your student residence visa once you’ve accepted your place. The university first gets you an entry permit, which you use to travel to the UAE. After you arrive, you have a medical fitness test and register for your Emirates ID, and your residence visa is then issued. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. Don’t enter the UAE on a tourist visa while your permit is being processed, because changing your status later costs extra and causes delays. If your parents live in the UAE, they can sponsor you instead. You must study full-time to keep a university-sponsored visa, and health insurance is compulsory. UAE Government portal: residence visa for studying in the UAE.
10. Plan for work during and after your studies
Working while you study is tightly controlled in the UAE. Because your visa is sponsored by Khalifa University, you need its permission before you take any job, and the main options are paid on-campus roles and internships approved by the university. A private employer can only hire you with a student training and employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), which lasts three months. Khalifa’s Campus Life Office offers paid on-campus jobs, from office support to research assistance. The UAE has no general post-study work visa, so after you graduate you’ll usually need an employer to sponsor a work visa. Recent graduates of universities in the world’s top 500 can get a single-entry jobseeker visit visa of 60, 90 or 120 days to look for work without a sponsor. Top graduates of UAE universities can apply for a 10-year Golden Visa within two years of graduating if their cumulative GPA is at least 3.5 at a university in the Ministry of Education’s Category A, or 3.8 at a Category B university. MOHRE: student training and employment permit, UAE Government portal: jobseeker visit visa and ICP: Golden Residency guide.
Applying for a master’s or PhD at Khalifa?
Khalifa’s master’s and PhD programmes have a separate application portal. Master’s applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0, and IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 91. Direct PhD applicants without a master’s need a CGPA of 3.5 and at least 150 in GRE Quantitative. You also write a statement of purpose. See our 50 sample SOPs and free GRE practice tests.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
Khalifa is the UAE’s highest-ranked university and admission is competitive, so apply to other options too. Read our guides to United Arab Emirates University, American University of Sharjah, University of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi University. Our guide to studying in the UAE explains how the system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from Khalifa University’s official undergraduate and postgraduate admissions, scholarship and work-study pages, the UAE Government portal, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and immigration rules can change, so always confirm the details on Khalifa University’s admissions website before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with Khalifa University.