Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced revisions to its policies regarding the recognition of foreign university degrees.
Under the new regulations, the ministry will grant conditional recognition to degrees obtained through distance learning, open education, online education, and correspondence education, provided they meet specific criteria set by a dedicated ministerial committee.
Additionally, the ministry has clarified that vocational certificates, training programme certificates, and degrees obtained through specialised programmes catering to specific student demographics will not be recognised.
A statement released by the ministry emphasised the importance of compliance with these new regulations for students who have obtained their degrees through non-traditional study modes.
Degree verification
To streamline the recognition process, the ministry has appointed two external agencies—Dataflow and QuadraBay—as authorised partners for degree verification and equivalency certification. These agencies, recognised by the UAE’s educational authorities, play a crucial role in verifying qualifications before they undergo the official recognition process.
The recognition process consists of two stages:
- Verification of degree authenticity: Applicants must first verify their qualifications through one of the ministry’s authorised verification partners, Dataflow or QuadraBay. These agencies will authenticate the documents and confirm their legitimacy.
- Official recognition by the Ministry: Once the degree is verified, applicants can proceed to obtain an official recognition report from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The ministry highlighted that the recognition service is fully online, with no fixed application deadlines. The process typically takes 30 working days, while applicants wishing to appeal a recognition decision have a three-month window to request a review.
Recognition criteria
In response to inquiries regarding the recognition of foreign university degrees earned through non-traditional study formats, the ministry confirmed that each case is assessed individually. The key requirement is that the awarding institution must be accredited by the academic accreditation authorities in its home country. Furthermore, students must adhere to the study methods officially approved by their respective universities.
The ministry reiterated that the recognition committee does not consider applications for:
- Vocational certificates that do not involve formal academic study
- Certificates obtained through short-term training programs
- Academic documents that are merely part of a broader study program
- Degrees granted through programs designed exclusively for specific student groups (such as international student-only programs)
- Any other cases that do not meet the ministry’s established criteria
Fees for degree recognition
The ministry has outlined the following fee structure for degree recognition:
- Dh100 for a bachelor’s degree
- Dh150 for a postgraduate degree
- Dh200 for a doctoral degree
The costs for initial degree verification vary depending on the country of study and the fees imposed by the awarding institution. Payments for recognition services can be made electronically via e-Dirham or postpaid cards.
Five conditions for recognition
The ministry has also set five primary conditions for recognising specialised professional qualifications such as diplomas, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees issued by universities outside the UAE.
To qualify for recognition, applicants must:
- Follow the study programme as outlined by their university.
- Comply with the ministry’s recognition requirements.
- Ensure that any university they transfer credits to is licensed and accredited in its home country.
- If studying online, ensure that the university is recognized by the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education for distance learning programs. The number of online study hours must not exceed 18 credit hours per semester (or the equivalent in similar academic systems).
- For medical and engineering degrees, master’s and doctoral applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in the same field.
