The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a constitutional federation of seven emirates. The country has a national strategy to strengthen the nursing and midwifery profession, including education, professional development, effective regulation, and quality care.
The UAE is home to universities that offer nursing programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including English-taught programs in its universities.
Let us take a look at some of the best nursing institutions in the United Arab Emirates.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in the UAE
1. University of Wollongong – Dubai Campus
Established in 1993, the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is the first international Australian university in the UAE and is part of a global network with locations in Australia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. UOWD offers a Master of Nursing. Classes are taught in English, and applicants must meet the university’s English-language requirements.
The Master of Nursing takes 18–24 months and costs AED 9,415.35 / USD 2,565 per subject, inclusive of 5% VAT. UOWD’s live program information is inconsistent about the total number of subjects: the program summary currently lists 10 subjects, while its detailed program structure and master’s fees page list nine. Applicants should confirm the current curriculum directly with UOWD. Students receive a UOW Australia degree upon graduation.
2. University of Sharjah
The University of Sharjah offers nursing programs through its College of Health Sciences. Its Department of Nursing, founded in 1999, offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Adult Critical Care Nursing. The university also publishes requirements for a nursing bridging program for diploma holders.
The BSN is a full-time, English-taught program that takes four years and requires 137 credit hours. For students admitted from academic year 2022–2023, the official tuition schedule lists AED 62,500 per year or AED 2,604 per credit hour. The English-taught master’s program requires 36 credit hours and can be completed full-time or part-time over two to four years. Its official tuition schedule lists AED 3,200 per credit hour for students admitted from academic year 2022–2023.
3. Gulf Medical University
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Postgraduate diploma, Master’s
Gulf Medical University (GMU), located in Ajman, was founded in 1998 and began as Gulf Medical College. Its College of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Its undergraduate catalog for academic year 2025–2026 also includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses (RN-BSN). GMU lists nursing postgraduate diplomas and master’s programs, including neonatal critical care nursing, renal and dialysis nursing, and adult critical care nursing. Learn more about medical schools in the UAE.
GMU’s undergraduate catalog for academic year 2025–2026 lists BSN tuition of AED 44,400 in each of the first three years and AED 47,000 in the fourth year. RN-BSN tuition is listed as AED 38,000 per year for two years. These amounts include 5% VAT, but additional service fees apply. Applicants should review GMU’s latest fee schedule and confirm the current availability of the RN-BSN program before applying.
4. RAK Medical and Health Sciences University
- Study Program
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Postgraduate diploma, Master’s, PhD
RAK Medical and Health Sciences University lists nursing and midwifery programs through RAK College of Nursing, including a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, a Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a PhD in Nursing.
The MSN study plan takes two years and requires 36 credit hours. Its concentrations include adult health and gerontology nursing, pediatric nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, community health nursing, and maternal newborn health nursing. For academic year 2026–2027, BSN tuition is AED 19,500 per semester with AED 4,200 in annual other fees. MSN tuition is AED 26,000 per semester with AED 3,520 in annual other fees.
5. Fatima College of Health Sciences
Fatima College of Health Sciences (FCHS) was founded in 2006. Its official historical materials state that the college began offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007 and that the nursing curriculum was based on a curriculum from Griffith University in Australia. These materials also describe a partnership with Monash University for several health sciences programs. FCHS is led from its Abu Dhabi campus and has additional campuses in Al Ain, Al Dhafra, and Ajman.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing requires 127 credit hours. For non-UAE nationals, FCHS currently lists a nonrefundable AED 1,000 admission fee and tuition of AED 2,500 per credit hour. Older FCHS materials describe a nursing bridging route for diploma-holding practitioner nurses, but applicants should confirm its current availability and requirements directly with the college.
The UAE offers nursing education from undergraduate to postgraduate levels. Some institutions also list postgraduate diplomas or routes for nursing professionals. Program availability, fees, and admissions policies can change, so review each institution’s official page before applying.
We hope this article on nursing schools in the UAE was helpful. Make sure to check out the Study in UAE and Available Programs for International Students pages to learn more about studying abroad.
