Undergraduate Admission Requirements

Undergraduate admission to Khalifa University is highly competitive. To qualify for admission, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria.

Eligible to Apply:

Applicants must have graduated from high school no later than two years before the current year (i.e., not before 2023 for Fall 2025, not before 2024 for Fall 2026).

General Secondary School:

Applicants should have successfully completed Grade 12.
- Applicants must submit an attested certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Ministry of Education and ATS Curricula:

Applicants should have successfully completed Grade 12.

Applicants must complete Two Science subjects in Grade 12 Mathematics, and one additional Science subject. There is a minimum score of 80 for Elite/ Advanced tracks and 90 for the General track.

American Curriculum or its equivalent:

Applicants should have successfully completed Grade 12.

Applicants must complete Two Science subjects in Grade 12 [Minimum score of 80 or its equivalent]: Mathematics, and one additional Science subject.
The certificate must be recognized, and applicants must submit an equivalency certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

SABIS and CBSE Curricula

Applicants should have successfully completed Grade 12.
Applicants must complete Two Science subjects in Grade 12 [Minimum score of 75 or its equivalent]: Mathematics, and one additional Science subject.
The certificate must be recognized, and applicants must submit an equivalency certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

British Curriculum (IGCSE, GCSE, GCE):

Applicants should have successfully completed grade 12 (year 13). To demonstrate successful completion of grade 12 (year 13), must provide:

Advanced Level or Advanced Subsidiary Level certificate
Complete a total of Three subjects from AS or A-levels, which can be any combination of Three AS or Three A-levels, or a mix of both. The subjects must include Math, and one additional Science subject.
The subjects must not be repeated, with each subject passed with a minimum grade of C or higher
GCSE/IGCSE (O-Level) certificate

Complete five approved GCSE or IGCSE subjects with a minimum grade of C or better
Arabic and Islamic Studies are not included in the approved subjects

The certificate must be recognized, and applicants must submit an equivalency certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB):

Applicants should have successfully completed grade 12 by completing the IB Diploma. To demonstrate successful completion of the IB Diploma, students must:

Complete six HL/SL subjects with a minimum grade of 4 in each subject and an overall grade of no less than 24.
These subjects should include English Language, Mathematics, and one additional Science subject, and cannot include Islamic Studies. All subjects must be within the approved lists of the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Provide their IB Diploma transcript

The certificate must be recognized, and applicants must submit an equivalency certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Program Requirements

Degree Program	English	Mathematics	High School Science Subjects
Degree Program	English	Mathematics	Physics	Chemistry	Biology
Aerospace Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Biomedical Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Chemical Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Civil Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Computer Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Electrical Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Energy Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Mechanical Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Petroleum Engineering	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Earth and Planetary Sciences	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Physics	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Engineering Systems and Management	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Applied Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science	✔	✔	✔	X	X
Chemistry	✔	✔	X	✔	X
Cell and Molecular Biology	✔	✔	X	O	O
Computer Science*	✔	✔	O	O	O
✔Required subject X Not Required * One of the science subjects marked with (O)

Submission of Program Requirements

The above program requirements can be submitted according to the following:

Subject Tests	Curriculum/Test	Required Minimum Score/Grade
English	IELTS	6.0
	EmSAT	1400
	TOEFL iBT	79
Math	High School	Elite/Advanced 80%, General 90%
	AP	2
	EmSAT	1250
	A-Level	C
	IB	4
	SAT	625
Physics, Chemistry, Biology	High School	Elite/Advanced 80%, General 90%
	AP	2
	EmSAT	1000
	A-Level	C
	IB	4

KU Entrance Tests:

Shortlisted applicants will be required to take KU Entrance Tests.
Applicants with outstanding academic performance may be eligible for an exemption from KU’s internal placement tests.

Khalifa University Admission Test (KUAT)

Overview

The Khalifa University Admission Test (KUAT) is designed to assess students’ knowledge and readiness in core subjects required for university-level studies. Below are the subjects, their respective topics, formula sheets, and sample tests that applicants should prepare for.

Subjects & Topics

Mathematics
The Mathematics test assesses students’ proficiency in Algebra, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus to ensure they are prepared for university-level math courses.

Main Topics Covered
- Algebra
  - Algebraic Expressions, Linear Equations, and Inequalities
  - Polynomials and Quadratic Functions
  - Exponents, Radicals, and Rational Expressions
- Pre-Calculus
  - Rational and Radical Functions
  - Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
  - Functions and their Graphs
  - Trigonometry
- Calculus
  - Limits and their Properties
  - Differentiation
  - Integration
- Math Equation Sheet (For review only – not provided during the test)
- Sample Test [available on the website]
Physics
The Physics test evaluates students’ understanding of fundamental principles in Mechanics, Waves & Optics, and Electricity & Magnetism.

Main Topics Covered
- Mechanics
  - Translational Motion – 1D & 2D motion, Newton’s laws, energy, momentum, and collisions
  - Rotational Motion – Torque, moment of inertia, angular energy, and momentum conservation
  - Fluids Mechanics – Fluid statics, dynamics, and applications of Bernoulli’s principle
- Waves & Optics
  - Oscillations and Waves – Mechanical and electromagnetic waves
  - Wave Nature of Light – Interference, diffraction, and polarization
  - Geometric Optics & Optical Systems – Reflection, refraction, mirrors, lenses, and optical instruments
- Electricity & Magnetism
  - Static Electricity – Electric charge, electrostatic force, electric field, flux, and potential
  - Current Electricity – Electric current, DC and AC circuits, capacitance, and dielectrics
  - Magnetism – Magnetic fields, forces, flux, and electromagnetism
  - Electromagnetic Induction – Induction laws, transformers, generators, and inductors
- Physics Equation Sheet (provided during the test)
- Sample Test [available on the website]
Chemistry
The Chemistry test evaluates foundational principles across different branches of chemistry, including inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry.

Main Topics Covered
- Chemical Foundation
  - Measurements
  - Scientific Method
- Inorganic Chemistry
  - Acids and Bases
  - Atomic Structure
  - Chemical Bonding
  - Matter
  - Stoichiometry
  - The Periodic Table
- Physical Chemistry
  - Chemical Equilibrium
  - Chemical Kinetics
  - Electrochemistry
  - Gases
  - Solutions
  - Thermodynamics
- Organic Chemistry
  - Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  - Hydrocarbon Derivatives
  - Introduction to Organic Chemistry
  - Saturated and Unsaturated Hydrocarbons
- Analytical Chemistry
  - Chemical Hazards
  - Criteria of Purity
  - Instrumental Techniques
  - Qualitative Analysis
- Chemistry Equation Sheet (provided during the test)
- Sample Test [available on the website]

Important Notes

The test will be computer-based and conducted on campus.
The test consists of multiple-choice questions.
The test duration for each subject is 90 minutes.
A non-graphical calculator is permitted.

Personal Interview

All students are required to submit a video recording as part of the application documents, replacing the traditional in-person interview. The video recording will be carefully reviewed by the Khalifa University admissions committee. During this assessment, students will be evaluated based on:

Proficiency in English communication
Familiarity with the relevant profession
Commitment to pursue a professional degree program
Reasons for choosing Khalifa University
Evaluation of potential leadership capabilities.

The video recording, serving as an integral part of the application, ensures a comprehensive evaluation of each candidate’s suitability for admission.

Required Documents that need to be submitted when applying online

The following documents are required as part of the undergraduate admissions process:

A completed Khalifa University online application form
An attested copy of High School certificate.

Government high school students should submit a copy of their grade 12 first term certificate if the final certificate is not yet issued.
British System high school students should submit certificates of their O level, AS and A levels. If final certificates are yet to be issued, a letter from the school stating predicted grades is required.

TOEFL or IELTS certificates (original, plus an extra copy) if any.
Passport

For UAE Nationals: front page and unified number page
For UAE Residents: Copy of passport name page and visa permit page
For International students outside the UAE: Copy of passport name page

Passport size photograph
For UAE Nationals and UAE Residents: Emirates ID (Front and Back)
For UAE Nationals Only: A complete copy of Khulasat Al Qaid (UAE National Family Book) or the new updated Family Data

IMPORTANT NOTES: Please provide the school’s grading scale equivalent where required. All foreign and private school certificates must be equated and attested by the Ministry of Education in UAE. Applications with missing documents will not be accepted.

Undergraduate Admissions Procedures

To guarantee the quality of the student body, the following application procedure is applied whereby the application passes through the following main 5 stages:

Online Application
Application Screening
Admission documents, video interview, and assessments
Application Evaluation
Final Decision

Online Application
UAE National Students who are graduates of the current year, need to apply through the MOE NAPO website and portal.

Expats coming from high schools inside the UAE, International Students coming from high schools outside the UAE, in addition to graduate from previous years (maximum 2 years before current entry year) and transfer applicants, are to apply through Khalifa University website and portal. Only complete online applications that include the grades of at least the first term of Grade 12, and the required EmSAT scores, will be considered.
Application Screening
All complete applications are screened thoroughly against Khalifa University admission requirements. All rejected applicants are notified.
Admission documents and assessments
All eligible applicants must provide supporting admission documents and submit the interview video.
Application Evaluation
The admissions Office will make recommendations regarding the qualified applicants through an internal process based on the admission assessments results, high school grades and interview. The duration of this process will vary from one applicant to another based on different factors.
Final Decision
The Undergraduate Admissions Committee will announce the admission decisions in an adequate time prior to the start of the semester. Each accepted applicant will be sent an official admission offer and undertaking (contract) to sign within a period of five working days. Rejected candidates will also be notified.