Why Khalifa University
Why Khalifa University?

Khalifa University offers a challenging and rewarding experience where students will develop new skills while working on real-world problems under the mentorship of internationally recognized faculty and alongside of a diverse group of students.

We bring together the best in science, engineering and medicine in the UAE, to offer specialized degrees that can take promising high school graduates all the way to top-rated doctorate degree holders.

We are an internationally ranked University, #1 in the UAE and top 200 globally, thanks to our commitment to conducting specialized research and offering academic programs designed to meet the world’s growing job needs.

  • We ranked 183rd in the QS 2021 World University Ranking;
  • We ranked 129th in Engineering in the US News & Reports ranking; and
  • We ranked among the top 200 global universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021 by Subject: Engineering and Technology.



Accredited Major Degree Programs

KU’s Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD programs are designed to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge that are highly sought-after in today’s job market.

All our programs are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates. We offer some of the highest quality engineering programs in the region, and our accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is a clear evidence of that. 


Scholarships

Qualified students can benefit from full scholarships that cover all necessary educational expenses and may also offer recipients the potential to earn an attractive monthly stipend. The full range of scholarships available can be found at the following links:



One-on-One Attention

Our student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1 and our average class size is 15, which allows students to learn and engage with each other in a close-knit setting with one-on-one attention.

We are proud to provide our students with a more personalized approach to our educational and extracurricular offerings.


Develop your research and leadership skills

Work directly with KU’s international faculty members, who have extensive research pedigrees and years of teaching experience in some of the world’s leading universities, on real-world research problems.

Create your own learning opportunities through student-centered research projects. Read about our latest research news here.

Join the KU student council and over 15 other student clubs where you can inspire change.


Learn in a beautiful and safe environment

Khalifa University is located in the world’s safest city – Abu Dhabi.

In 2021, global data website Numbeo’s Quality of Life Index 2021 ranked Abu Dhabi the safest city in the world.

Khalifa University prides itself on its inclusive, multicultural campus and welcomes international students. KU is a truly international university – with students hailing from 53 different countries and faculty from over 40.


Get Real-World Experience

Studying at KU means learning research with real-world applications.

Students at KU benefit from the university’s active relationships and strategic partnerships with international universities, industry and government organizations. Through these partnerships, KU students can explore student exchange opportunities, internships and joint research programs.



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International Student Cost of Living
International Student Cost of Living

KU International Student Cost of Living

Total Estimated Cost of Living Breakdown

On Campus –housing, transportation, food, leisure and (incl. tuition)

Level

Undergraduate

Masters

Postgraduate

Monthly Budget

6250AED (17,500AED incl. tuition)

6500AED (21,250AED incl. tuition)

6,500AED (26,300 AED incl. tuition)

Semester Budget

25,000AED (70,000AED incl. tuition)

25,500AED (85,000 AED incl. tuition)

26,000AED (105,000AED incl. tuition)

Yearly Budget

50,000AED (140,000 AED incl. tuition)

51,000 (171,000AED incl. tuition)

52,000AED (210,000AED incl. tuition)

 

Off Campus housing, transportation, food, leisure, utilities, internet and (incl. tuition)

Level

Undergraduate

Masters

Postgraduate

Monthly Budget

7100AED (18,350AED incl. tuition)

7100AED (22,100AED incl. tuition)

7100AED (22,100 AED incl. tuition)

Semester Budget

28,400AED (73,400AED incl. tuition)

28,400AED (88,000AED incl. tuition)

28,400AED (107,600 AED incl. tuition)

Yearly Budget

56,000AED (146,800 AED incl. tuition)

56,000AED (176,800AED incl. tuition)

56,000AED (215,200 AED incl. tuition)

https://www.ku.ac.ae/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/tuition-fees

Cost Breakdown

1.       Housing Costs:

  • On-campus housing options and their respective costs.
  • Average cost of off-campus housing in the surrounding area.
  • Utilities and other related expenses

On-campus: 8,000-20,000AED (dep. on location)

UG Double occupancy- 10,000 AED/semester

UG Single occupancy- 20,000/semester

PG- Masdar- 3000/month

PG- Umm Lulu or ADNOC- 2000/month

Off-campus: Studio- 3200AED/month

Security deposit: 3200 AED up front (refundable)

Utilities: Approx. 300 AED/month (1000AED deposit)

Internet: 300-600 AED/month

Total monthly budget: (approx. 4000AED)

2.       Meal Expenses:

  • Cost of university meal plans, if available.
  • Average cost of groceries and dining out.

On-campus service: 50-100 AED/day

 

Groceries: 550 AED/month

 

Delivery: Talabat, Deliveroo, Noon (Prices vary)

3.       Transportation:

  • Public transportation costs and options.
  • Parking fees, if applicable.
  • Average cost of owning a car or using rideshare services.

Public bus: 2 AED/trip; Rechargeable Hafilat card: 10 AED minimum

Taxi: Basic fee: Charge starts at 5 AED with 12 AED min. trip then 1.82 AED/km.

Car rental: 1049-1579 AED/month; petrol is extra

Public Parking: Standard- 2 AED/hour; Premium- 3 AED/hour (Fines: 200 AED/violation)

4.       Healthcare:

  • Health insurance requirements and associated costs.
  • Availability and cost of medical services on campus or in the local area.

Health Insurance: ADNIC Plans: Alternative medicine- 1500-7500 AED

Medical Services: Routine medical checkup or annual health screening- 750-1000 AED.

Availability: Private, public and alternative health care is available.

https://adnic.ae/medical-insurance

5.       Academic Expenses (Refer to KU website):

  • Tuition and other academic fees.
  • Cost of textbooks and other course materials.
  • Fees for additional academic services.

Tuition Fees: Undergraduate-2500AED/ credit hour (45,000 AED/semester)

Postgraduate: 5000-6600/credit hour

Books: Textbooks and e-books are provided by KU. (Approx. 2000 AED/semester

Additional Expenses: personal technology and electronics subscriptions, etc.

5,000

https://www.ku.ac.ae/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/tuition-fees

6.       Personal and Leisure Expenses:

  • Miscellaneous personal expenses, such as clothing, toiletries, and personal care items.
  • Costs associated with leisure activities and entertainment.

Sports: All KU students can access all on-campus exercise facilities for free.

Gym memberships: 300-1000 AED/month

Shopping: There are many shopping malls across Abu Dhabi accessible by public transportation.

Entertainment: https://www.abudhabi.com/v/entertainment/

7.       Exchange Rates and Banking:

  • Information on exchange rates and currency conversion.
  • Guidance on banking services and associated fees for international students.

Bank accounts: https://www.centralbank.ae/en/

consumer/Emirates ID, passport, visa,

NOC from your visa sponsor (KU)

Currency conversion: https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?

(1 USD = 3.67250 AED)

Transfers: https://www.westernunion.com/ae/en/receive-money.html

8.       Work Opportunities:

  • Information about on-campus job opportunities for international students.
  • Guidelines on work permits and regulations for international students.

On-campus employment: Available to full-time degree-seeking students only

Work permits: You can work in the UAE with a student visa only if you also obtain a UAE Work Permit. In addition, you cannot work full-time: you may only work up to four consecutive hours.

Government regulations: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/work-permits

9.       Taxes:

  • Explanation of any applicable taxes and how they might affect international students.

Value added Tax (VAT): 5% levied on purchases on behalf of the UAE government.

Income tax: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/finance-and-investment/taxation

Violations: Unpaid fees in the UAE could result in fines between 2%/day to a maximum of 300%

10.   Mobile Services

 

  • SIM card: 125AED
  • Monthly pre-paid: 35AED/month
  • Monthly post-paid: 50-150AED/month