This Dubai university now offers three-year bachelor degrees

The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) announced this month that its bachelor degrees will now be reduced to three years, from the existing four-year programme.

However, the university added that eligibility for the three-year bachelor degrees depends on the student’s high school curriculum, grades achieved and proficiency in English.

The opportunity to complete the bachelor degrees in three years is available to all students who have excelled academically in curricula such as CBSE, British GCE (A level), IB Diploma, and American High School Diploma for all UOWD bachelor degrees excluding the Bachelor of Engineering, which will remain a four-year honours programme.

To be eligible for direct admission into the three-year programme, CBSE students require a score of 65 per cent and above, British GCE (A level) students require a minimum grade of “CCD” in A levels, American High School Diploma students require an overall SAT score of 1,100, and International Baccalaureate Diploma students need to achieve 25 points overall.

The move to offer three-year degrees will reportedly align the Dubai university with the academic structure offered at its home campus, the University of Wollongong (UOW) Australia.

All UOWD bachelor degrees are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education through the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). The CAA accreditation offers assurance to prospective students, and future employers, that the programmes meet the standards of quality consistent with international practice, and is universally recognised for credit transfer and further education abroad.

UOWD offers over 40 degrees spanning 10 industry sectors, and boasts a 77 per cent placement rate of its graduates finding employment within six months of receiving their degree certificates.

“This important restructuring of our Bachelor Degrees recognises the differences between needs of students from different secondary education systems allowing, thus, many UOWD future students to graduate faster and at a lower cost,” said Professor Mohamed Salem, president of UOWD.

“To achieve greater flexibility, the bachelor degrees curriculum was structured to allow either a direct entry to standard Australian 3-year bachelor degree or indirectly through an additional bespoke University Freshman Year. Doing so allows students more time to prepare to enter the workforce and plan their future career paths, giving them a head start in the world of work. Furthermore, to ensure a competitive edge, all UOWD students will all receive an international, world-class degree from UOW Australia that is accredited both locally and globally,” added Salem.

The University Freshman Year allows prospective students who do not directly qualify for a three-year programme, to enrol in any UOWD bachelor’s degree by providing them with strong foundational knowledge to help them in their preferred area of specialisation.

Information on the eligibility requirements for the three-year bachelor degrees can be found here