Looking for a good place to study nursing? The United Arab Emirates is a strong place to start. The country offers a diverse learning environment, with international students, expatriates, and residents living in major cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE also has a well-developed higher education sector and a growing healthcare industry.
Several UAE universities offer nursing-related programs at different levels, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. If you wish to learn more about how to study nursing in the United Arab Emirates, continue reading this article.
Steps on How to Apply for a Nursing Program in UAE
Step 1. Research the Prerequisites of Becoming a Nursing in UAE
To become a registered nurse in the United Arab Emirates, you will generally need to complete an approved nursing qualification and meet the relevant licensing requirements. UAE professional qualification requirements list a Bachelor Degree in Nursing as the main qualification for the Registered Nurse title, with other specific routes and conditions applying in limited cases.
If you earned your nursing degree in another country, you should check the current licensing process with the relevant UAE health authority. The Ministry of Health and Prevention provides a health professional evaluation service that verifies qualifications and, when required, the applicant’s level of knowledge through examinations. After evaluation, licensing is completed through the relevant authority and sponsoring facility. Once you complete a BSN program and obtain a local license, you can work as a registered nurse in hospitals, clinics, community settings, or pursue an advanced career as an educator, specialist, manager, and more.
Several schools offer nursing programs in the UAE. For instance, you can complete a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Gulf Medical University. At RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, current nursing-related offerings include the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, Master of Science in Nursing, Post Graduate Diploma in Nursing, and PhD in Nursing.
Step 2. Learn about UAE’s Nursing Programs
Researching is usually straightforward because many university websites in the UAE provide program details in English. First, consider where you want to stay and study nursing in the UAE. The UAE comprises seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah.
Depending on where you want to study, you can narrow down your search among your preferred emirates. Many international students first compare options in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. You should also consider the cost of living and tuition fees in each location.
Another thing to consider is the nursing school’s accreditation, clinical training opportunities, graduate outcomes, and whether its program is recognized for licensing purposes. You want to be trained by a reputable school that can help prepare you for future practice.
Although many schools have similar requirements, you should still research each nursing school’s prerequisites to check whether you are eligible to study nursing in the United Arab Emirates. You can also read university pages, official admissions guides, and student forums to better understand which school could be the right fit for you.
Step 3. Get Proficient in English
Although Arabic is the official language of the UAE, many higher education programs, including the nursing programs discussed in this article, require English proficiency. You should have a strong grasp of English before studying nursing in the UAE. Many schools require proof of English proficiency through school grades or standardized tests such as TOEFL or IELTS.
For example, Gulf Medical University currently states that BSN applicants must meet English language requirements through one of the listed options. These include a minimum 80% in English in Grade 12 for students in the UAE education system, minimum 80% in English in Grade 11 or 12 for students who completed high school in English-medium instruction, or, for international students who completed high school in their national language, TOEFL CBT 173 or iBT 61, or IELTS Academic 5.0.
Step 4. Meet the Cost of Tuition Fees
Studying nursing in the UAE requires financial preparation. Tuition varies by university, emirate, degree level, and program structure. You should also budget for application or evaluation fees, exam fees, lab and library fees, visa costs, health insurance, housing, transportation, and study materials.
For example, Gulf Medical University currently lists the Bachelor of Science in Nursing tuition at AED 44,400 per year, or about USD 12,090. RAK Medical and Health Sciences University lists the Bachelor of Science in Nursing tuition at AED 19,500 per semester, with other annual fees also applying; its approximate total cost of studying for the BSN program is AED 184,300, or about USD 50,190. At the University of Wollongong in Dubai, the current Master of Nursing Leadership is listed at AED 9,415.35 per subject, or about USD 2,564 per subject, for 10 subjects.
Step 5. Prepare Your Application
Once you have chosen your desired nursing school, you can start preparing your documents for submission. It is commonly required to complete at least 12 years of school education and meet English language requirements. For instance, Gulf Medical University currently requires BSN applicants to have completed a minimum of 12 years of school education.
For GMU’s BSN program, applicants must also meet the university’s English language requirements, secure the required Grade 12 aggregate score, and, for non-UAE educational systems, submit an equivalency certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education. Applicants should have passed three science subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics in Grade 11 or 12; otherwise, they may need to take a non-credit remedial course. The university also evaluates applicants for cognitive and non-cognitive traits related to their chosen field of study.
Step 6. Apply to Study Nursing in the United Arab Emirates
If you meet the minimum entry requirements, you can submit your application to your desired nursing schools. Your application will be reviewed to determine whether you are competitive and suitable for the program. For a general example of how a UAE university application process works, you can review the University of Wollongong in Dubai application page.
Typically, you will choose your desired program, complete the online application, and submit the required documents. UOWD currently lists documents such as academic transcripts, a completion certificate, passport copy, and Emirates ID if you are a UAE resident, depending on the level of study. If accepted, the university may also help with student visa sponsorship after you complete the required visa and tuition fee steps.
Step 7. Once You Get Accepted, Prepare for Student Visa
The last step in your study abroad journey is getting a student visa. A student residence visa is needed for international students who wish to study nursing in the UAE and are not already sponsored in the country. A student may be sponsored by a UAE-resident parent or by an accredited university or college.
Visa costs vary by institution and whether the student is applying from inside or outside the UAE. For example, the University of Wollongong in Dubai currently lists its one-year student visa cost as AED 8,237 for applicants outside the UAE and AED 9,917 for applicants inside the UAE. These fees include several visa-related costs, including health insurance, medical examination, Emirates ID application, and visa maintenance charges.
Students aged 18 and above must complete a medical fitness test for UAE residence procedures. Depending on your case, requirements may vary, and you should follow the instructions from your university and the relevant UAE immigration authority.
If you have a visa sponsor such as a university, additional documents are needed. For example, applying for a sponsored visa at the University of Wollongong in Dubai requires a clear color passport copy with at least six months’ validity, a passport-format photo, proof of payment of visa and tuition fees, a copy of your current visa if you are inside the UAE, and a copy of your admission offer letter if you are a new student.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the total cost of your student visa. UOWD states that the entry permit is usually received within 10 to 15 business days, while the new visa application process normally takes 7 to 14 working days and may take one month or more in some cases. After medical testing and biometrics, students on a university-sponsored visa must also obtain an Emirates ID card.
Step 8. Prepare to Leave!
Once you get your student visa, you are ready to study nursing in the UAE. Pack your bags, gather your essential materials, and prepare to leave your country. If you have come this far, you have done it!
We hope that this article on how to study nursing in the UAE was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
