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Obtaining Equivalency

Dubai campus

All applicants to Heriot-Watt University Dubai are required to obtain equivalency certification for their previous qualifications from the UAE government.

The Ministry of Education provides a service to recognise school qualifications , whilst the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research provides the service to recognise previous higher education qualifications.

This process of recognition of prior qualifications (school or university) must happen prior to students joining the University.

  • High school (secondary) certificates must be recognised for entry to undergraduate programmes
  • Bachelor’s degrees must be recognised for entry to postgraduate taught programmes
  • Master’s degrees must be recognised for entry to postgraduate research programmes

The recognition process varies depending on whether you completed your previous studies within the UAE or outside the UAE.

While students are granted one semester to secure their equivalency, it is strongly recommended that this is completed prior to enrolment to avoid any disruption to your studies. The University reserves the right to withdraw your enrolment if equivalency is not obtained within the required timeframe, and it remains the student’s responsibility to ensure compliance.

Applicants who have completed secondary schooling or a previous degree within the UAE
  • All applicants for admission who have completed the Thanaweya Al-Amma must get their certificates attested by the UAE Ministry of Education.
  • Applicants from all other school curriculums, who have completed their high school education within the UAE (from international schools), are required to obtain equivalency of their high school qualifications from the UAE Ministry of Education.
  • Applicants for admission who have completed their previous degree in the UAE must get their certificates recognised by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

You can apply for equivalency of documents from within UAE directly on the Ministry of Education website:

MOE Attestation: https://www.moe.gov.ae/En/EServices/ServiceCard/pages/SchoolCertificate-MOE.aspx

MOE Equivalency: https://www.moe.gov.ae/en/EServices/ServiceCard/pages/CertEquivalent.aspx

MOHESR Attestation: https://www.mohesr.gov.ae/En/EServices/ServiceCard/pages/AttestationReggraduate.aspx

If you have already obtained the equivalency certificate when applying for or accepting your offer, please upload it to your applicant portal using the specified document file.

If you have not yet received the equivalency certificate at the time of your acceptance, you can submit the attestation after starting your studies. You must upload the equivalency certificates to the portal no later than the end of your first semester.

In such cases, provisional admission will be granted, allowing you to begin your first semester. However, this is conditional upon obtaining the required attestation or equivalency by the end of the semester.

The university reserves the right to take necessary action, which may include terminating your enrolment, if the equivalency certificate is not secured within this timeframe.

  • Students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree at a CAA-licensed University in the UAE are not required to do this.
  • Students who are applying for Heriot-Watt University Foundation programmes, or progressing from a Foundation programme, whether at Heriot-Watt University or another institution, are not required to complete this process.
  • Students applying for Heriot-Watt University Foundation programmes, are not required to Heriot-Watt Go-Global Transfer Students and Study Abroad Student are also not required to do this.
Applicants who have completed secondary schooling or a degree outside of the UAE

Step 1
You must have your high school records and/or certificates of completion certified by:

  1. The issuing Board of Secondary Education or a recognised authority for secondary education in the country where you completed your education;
  2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the host country;
  3. The UAE Embassy in that host country or the Embassy of the host country in the UAE must attest the authenticity of the documents and attestations and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In exceptional cases where meeting conditions (2) and (3) is not possible, certificates may be verified by Embassies in the UAE and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under these circumstances, you will receive provisional admission and be allowed to begin your first semester of study.

If you are unable to obtain the required attestations, you will need to submit a written agreement confirming your commitment to secure the attestations. You will be allowed to start your studies but must provide the equivalency within one semester.

The University reserves the right to take necessary action, which may include terminating your enrolment, if the documentation is not secured within this timeframe.

Step 2

 

If you are a University Graduate or an Executive applying to study Master’s Degree at Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Please follow the steps outlined here Recognition of university certificates issued from outside the UAE

Step 1
Before applying for Qualification Recognition, your degree must first be verified by one of the Ministry’s authorised partners.

https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/study/apply/uae-mohesr-institutional-license/obtaining-equivalency

Step 2
After receiving the verification document, you can apply for Qualification Recognition with the Ministry

https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/study/apply/uae-mohesr-institutional-license/obtaining-equivalency

Reach out to us for more information

Prospective students

If you are a prospective student, please contact our Admissions team on dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk.

Existing students

If you are an existing student, please log an enquiry via AskHWU.