UAE clarifies new student admission policy after EmSAT canceled – News

After UAE authorities announced the cancellation of the EmSAT entrance exam In early November, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research allowed universities to establish admission policies, minimum guidelines and programs to assist students.

In return, it has established evaluation criteria for the results that universities must achieve at the end of a student’s journey, regulating the quality of education and outcomes.

The main goal of this approach is to give universities flexibility. Ahmad Ibrahim Alsaadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Operations, said: “Universities know better. They are on the ground and understand the students, allowing them to develop their admissions criteria.”

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By removing EmSAT as an admission requirement, universities are given flexible options, allowing students to enter through bridging programs or other preparatory courses.

As previously reported by Khaleej Times, Dr. Yousef M. Al Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai, said: “The new admission criteria will largely reflect our current approach. We will continue with our own placement tests in Physics, Mathematics and English, in addition to the standard IELTS and TOEFL requirements.”

Nahid Afshan, Head of Admissions, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus said: “Our admission criteria will be based on the total aggregate obtained by the student in the high school examination with a minimum grade requirement in relevant subjects, based on the desired specialization. For English proficiency, we will in the absence of EmSAT, look at alternative exams such as IELTS.”

Average grade not important

To streamline university admissions, specific subjects are tailored to different specializations, emphasizing that high grades in these relevant subjects are more important than the overall average. “We are only going to look at the specializations of the required subjects for that major,” Alsaadi further explained, ensuring that students are assessed based on their strengths in their chosen field.

For those interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programs, achieving high grades such as an A in Chemistry, Biology or Physics is now a requirement for admission.

To ensure transparency, all data regarding eligibility criteria will be publicly available. “Students are encouraged to contact universities directly to inquire about available bridge programs and whether they qualify for a preferred course of study,” he added.

Unlimited number of applications allowed

In addition, NAPO 2.0 is an updated admission service from the Ministry, designed to make application and acceptance more flexible and provide all the necessary information for student registration all year round.