Center for Education Abroad

Khalifa University of Science and Technology
Abu Dhabi, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

 University Info   |   College of Engineering Info   |   Exchange Student Info

Fast Facts

• Khalifa University is ranked 1st in the UAE, and is the fastest rising “young” university in the world, being the first in the UAE to be placed among the top 200 in the world.
• The University has two purpose-built campuses; one on Abu Dhabi Island, called the Main Campus, where the central administration for the University is located and all general education courses are taught; and a second in Sas Al Nakhl, near the Maqta Bridge. KU’s modern campuses have some of the most advanced research facilities to be found in the entire region, home to 18 specialized research centers
• KU is a truly international university – with students hailing from 53 different countries and faculty from over 40.
• Students at KU benefit from one-on-one attention through small class size, with our student to faculty ratio of 9:1.
• KU is located in one of the world’s most dynamic international cities – Abu Dhabi – which was ranked the world’s second most popular city for work, rest, and play by the Ipsos Top Cities Index in 2017, just behind New York, and according to CEOWORLD magazine, Abu Dhabi was named the safest city in the world in 2019 for the third year in a row.

Introduction

Khalifa University of Science and Technology can trace its origins back to 1989, when Etisalat University College was established by the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation, the UAE’s telecommunications and phone provider, in Sharjah, UAE, to develop a pipeline of human capital in the fields of engineering and applied sciences.

Eleven years later, the Petroleum Institute was established as a leading international educational and research center for the oil and gas industry. Funded by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its international partners, the Petroleum Institute graduated its first group of engineers in summer 2006 and witnessed the enrolment of the first female students in the fall of the same year.

In 2007, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) was established by Presidential decree to offer a broader range of engineering programs to the nation’s budding engineers. The same year, Etisalat University College was acquired by KUSTAR. Also in 2007, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology was established by Presidential decree, as the region’s first research-intensive, graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies.

In 2017, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued a decree to merge KUSTAR, Masdar Institute and Petroleum Institute under one university called the Khalifa University of Science and Technology.

Khalifa University is now a comprehensive research-intensive university with three colleges, three research institutes, 18 research centers, and 17 departments covering a broad range of disciplines in science, engineering, and medicine. It will continue to evolve with the UAE’s rapidly developing national goals and needs and nurture the innovation ecosystem required for the country’s targeted knowledge economy transformation.

Terms of Exchange

Study Level

• Undergraduate students: Accepted
• Graduate students: Accepted
• Computer Science majors: Accepted

Eligibility Requirements

• Students should have the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA grade scale. Borderline students may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Students must be in their Sophomore or Junior year of study during the exchange period. 

English Proficiency Requirements

• Minimum TOEFL iBT score –  79 overall
• Minimum IELTS score – 6.0 overall

Study Period

Fall, Spring, or Academic Year

Academic Calendar   |   Semester Dates (including exam period)

• Fall: end of August to end of December
• Spring: mid-January to end of May

Academic Information

Disciplines Available

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Infrastructure and Environment Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering

Restricted Disciplines and Courses

• Courses from the College of Medicine are restricted, or may not be taken at all.

Course Contents

Course Descriptions

• Aerospace Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Infrastructure and Environment Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering

Enrollment Requirements

Students must take at least 50% of their courses in the College of Engineering.

Workload per Semester

If you are an undergraduate student at your home institution, you must register for a minimum of 12 credits and a maximum of 19 credits.
If you are a graduate student at your home institution, you must register for a minimum of 8 credits to a maximum of 12 credits.

Additional Application Materials

• Study Abroad Application Form
• Current transcript with grade demonstrating the equivalent of a 3.0/4.0 GPA grade scale TOEFL
• Passport copy of photo and signature pages
• Passport size photo (white background, JPG format, 51 x 51 mm , resolution of 300 pixels per inch) 
• English proficiency requirements for non-native speakers, if they have studied in the US for less than a year: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.0
• Proof of financial support
• Recommendation letter from a professor or academic staff
• KU ID Form
• Health History Form

Recommendation letter from a professor or academic staff:

• Required

Admission decision will be confirmed within one month of receipt of application, and students should receive the admissions documents 6-8 weeks after the application is received. Please note that certain decisions such as visa processing are made by Governmental agencies and therefore this might impact the final decision timeline.

Housing

On-campus housing at KU’s residences might be an option for incoming exchange students. On-campus housing is in demand and cannot be guaranteed. Students should be prepared to live off-campus given the limited availability of University Housing accommodations.

More information regarding housing at Khalifa University can be found here.?

Estimated Cost of Living

Cost of Living

Estimated Cost of Living: AED 1000/Month
Food/meals: AED 500/Month
Housing: AED 2000/Month (Housing fees are waived if your university has a reciprocal agreement with Khalifa University)
Tuition: AED 3333/Credit Hour (Tuition fees are waived if your university has a bilateral student exchange agreement with Khalifa University)

All students must have a valid medical insurance while studying at Khalifa University. Medical insurance is not required if you hold private health insurance which is valid for a minimum of 6 months and has UAE coverage. In such case, a copy of the card and contract need to be provided when submitting the visa application form.

Contact

Office Responsible for International Exchange Students

Study Abroad – Student Success: https://www.ku.ac.ae/study-abroad
Contact email address: studyabroad@ku.ac.ae

City Info

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE and is the largest of the country’s emirates. The UAE’s population is estimated around 9.5 million with approximately 2.9 million in Abu Dhabi. The official language is Arabic while English is widely used, as the international community is made up of over 180 nationalities.

The capital is a modern cosmopolitan city with towering skyscrapers, gleaming beaches, five-star entertainment, resplendent public parks, a budding art scene and modern health and educational sectors.

The coastal country has a dramatic landscape, featuring rolling sand dunes, punctuated by the occasional mountain range, providing residents with many terrains to experience. 

The emirate is home to many entertainment and cultural venues. Its Yas Island hosts the Yas Marina Circuit for the international F1 and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as well as the theme parks Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Nearby, Saadiyat Island is home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat art and culture center. The spectacular Corniche beachfront hosts the season-opener of the Red Bull World Championship Air Race.

Abu Dhabi also boasts the splendid Sheikh Zayed Mosque, one of the largest and most spectacular mosques in the world. The city is also home to international hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Sidewalk cafes, bistros, and restaurants with cuisine from around the world are enjoyed by the residents and visitors to Abu Dhabi.

The climate of the UAE is hot and dry, with clear skies throughout the year. The months of June through September are particularly hot and humid, with intermittent sandstorms. The weather is cooler from November to March. This period also sees dense fog on some days.

For more info on the city: https://visitabudhabi.ae/en