UAE announces new policy for recognition of foreign university degrees
Verification through Dataflow and QuadraBay now mandatory for all applicants
ABU DHABI: The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has announced a new policy regarding the recognition of foreign university degrees, outlining updated requirements, verification procedures, and associated fees.
The move aims to ensure that degrees obtained outside the UAE meet the country’s educational standards.
As part of the revised policy, degrees earned through non-traditional study formats – such as distance learning, open education, online education, and correspondence courses – will now be considered for conditional recognition. However, this approval is subject to stringent criteria set by a ministerial committee.
In contrast, vocational certificates, training programme certificates, and degrees from specialised programmes catering exclusively to specific student demographics will not be recognised. The ministry has urged students to carefully review the new criteria before applying for recognition.
Mandatory verification through authorised agencies
To standardise the verification process, the ministry has appointed Dataflow and QuadraBay as its official verification partners. These agencies will authenticate degrees before they proceed to the final recognition stage.
The recognition process consists of two key stages:
- Degree Verification: Applicants must first submit their academic qualifications to either Dataflow or QuadraBay for validation. These agencies will confirm the authenticity of the documents.
- Official Recognition: Once the verification is complete, applicants can apply for an official recognition report from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The ministry has confirmed that the entire recognition process is conducted online, with applications processed within 30 working days. Additionally, applicants who receive a rejection have up to three months to appeal the decision.
Recognition criteria and exclusions
The ministry has reiterated that all applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. However, a crucial requirement is that the awarding institution must be accredited by its home country’s official academic accreditation authorities. Moreover, students must adhere to the study methods officially recognised by their universities.
The ministry will not consider recognition requests for:
- Vocational certificates that do not involve formal academic study.
- Short-term training programmes that do not qualify as full academic degrees.
- Academic records that form only part of a broader study programme.
- Degrees from international student-only programmes, which do not meet the ministry’s recognition standards.
- Any other qualifications that fail to meet the established academic requirements.
Fee structure for degree recognition
The ministry has set the following fees for recognising foreign degrees:
- Dh100 for a bachelor’s degree
- Dh150 for a postgraduate degree
- Dh200 for a doctoral degree
The costs for the initial degree verification process vary depending on the applicant’s country of study and the associated fees imposed by the awarding institution. Payments can be made electronically via e-Dirham or postpaid cards.
Five conditions for degree recognition
To ensure that degrees meet UAE academic standards, the ministry has introduced five key conditions for recognition. Applicants must:
- Follow the official study programme as outlined by their university.
- Comply with the ministry’s recognition guidelines.
- Ensure that any transfer credits are earned from a licensed and accredited university.
- If studying online, verify that the university is recognised for distance learning programmes by the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education. Additionally, the number of online study hours must not exceed 18 credit hours per semester (or its equivalent in other academic systems).
- For medical and engineering degrees, postgraduate applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in the same field.
The ministry has reinforced that recognition decisions are final and based on strict academic evaluation. Applicants who do not meet the outlined criteria will not be eligible for official recognition.
Also, the ministry has assured that the recognition service is entirely digital, allowing students to apply at any time, without specific deadlines.