Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students can greatly alleviate the financial burden on students seeking undergraduate degrees in the UAE from the British university. Heriot-Watt University Dubai (HWUD) was founded in Dubai in 2005 and offers engineering programs, business and computing programs, architecture, psychology and construction related programs in Dubai Knowledge Park. The Dubai campus is part of Heriot-Watt University’s worldwide network and functions as a normal UK campus. Applications for scholarships should be based on the same criteria as applications for tuition including academic qualifications, English language competency, accommodation, and visa costs.Â
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Why Study at Heriot-Watt University Dubai?
Heriot-Watt is a UK university with campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia. Students can study towards a Heriot-Watt degree and have the opportunity to be exposed to Dubai’s leading technology and business centre.
British university degree
Graduates earn a prestigious UK degree fully accredited by Royal Charter and recognized worldwide. Students receive the exact same academic certificate as those studying at the main campus in Scotland. This opening provides a major competitive edge in the global job market without the cost of moving to Europe.
Strong engineering and technology programs
The university is globally renowned for its cutting-edge science, computing, and engineering curricula. Students learn within advanced robotics labs, specialized tech spaces, and a dedicated Bloomberg Trading Room. These modern facilities ensure that technical graduates possess the practical skills required by today's industries.
Business and management options
Through the respected Edinburgh Business School, the campus offers premier business and finance programs. The curriculum blends rigorous academic theory with real-world case studies to build modern leadership skills. This thorough approach prepares ambitious students to step confidently into fast-paced corporate environments.
Scholarship opportunities
A wide variety of financial awards, corporate discounts, and merit-based grants are available each year. These funding options make a premium British education much more accessible to talented local and global students. The university actively rewards high academic achievers and fosters diverse talent across all departments.
For students wishing to find out more about facilities and student life, they can read through our Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus Guide, and applicants who are interested in comparing individual courses can read our Heriot-Watt University Dubai Courses.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Ranking
It is not appropriate to discuss the Heriot Watt University Dubai ranking as a stand-alone ranking of the Dubai campus, but rather as a ranking of the parent university.
Heriot-Watt University is in #325 position in the world university rankings 2027. Program rankings should also be taken into account along with program quality, accreditation, costs, facility, scholarships and career relevance.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Fees ​​
The Heriot Watt University Dubai fees depend on the undergraduate program. The fee is not based on any one standard fee but is published on each individual course page by Heriot-Watt. For instance, the Dubai undergraduate fees for BA (Hons) Communication Design (including VAT) are currently AED 82,264.
Fees & Other Expenses at Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Fees
Accommodation
Food & groceries
Transportation
Applicants requiring university-sponsored visas can generally pay tuition in full or through four equal installments.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Application Fee
The current heriot watt university dubai application fee is: AED 300
This processing fee is non-refundable.
When accepting an offer, students also need to pay:
- First instalment equal to 10% of first-year tuition
- Refundable security deposit of AED 1,000
These payments secure the student’s place on the program.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships and Financial Aid
The Undergraduate Merit Scholarship is the high achieving undergraduate option for the principal Scholarships for International Students offered by Heriot-Watt University Dubai. The current level of scholarship for CBSE Grade 12 students and IB applicants are as follows:Â
| CBSE Grade 12 Result | Scholarship |
|---|---|
|
80% – 84.9%
|
30% |
|
85% – 89.9%
|
November 2026 |
|
90% and above
|
50% |
| IB Result | Scholarship |
|---|---|
|
28 – 32 |
30% |
|
33 – 36
|
40% |
|
37+
|
50% |
A-Level applicants currently qualify from BBB for 30%, ABB for 40%, and AAB for 50%. The scholarship is based on the net first-year tuition fee after eligible discounts and is distributed across annual instalments over the course of study. Students looking specifically for funding opportunities can also use Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships as an internal link to a dedicated scholarship resource.
Scholarship Renewal
Students awarded Direct Entry Merit Scholarships will receive the scholarships on a year by year basis and are required to maintain at least an overall grade C on each academic year to continue receiving their scholarships. Academic performance therefore remains important after admission.
Other Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships and Financial Aid
Heriot-Watt Dubai currently lists several additional awards and discounts, including:
Academic Merit Scholarships
Future Made for Success Scholarship
GCC and UAE Regional Student Gran
Heriot-Watt Dubai currently lists several additional awards and discounts, including:
- Future Made for Success Scholarship
- GCC and UAE Regional Student Grant
- Global College Scholarship
- Undergraduate Engineering Merit Scholarship
- Design Scholars Award
- Family Scholarship
- Sports and Community Engagement opportunities
- Full Advance Fee Payment Discount
Future Made for Success Scholarship
The Future Made for Success Scholarship currently provides up to AED 5,000 for eligible students joining Heriot-Watt University Dubai. For the present cycle, applications close on 12 September 2026. Applicants must hold an offer and submit the required tuition deposit within the specified period. For later intakes, scholarships and deadlines may be subject to change.
How to Improve Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships Eligibility
Students are not guaranteed an award, but by being well prepared, they can avoid errors.
Applicants should:
- Maintain strong school grades
- Check their curriculum-specific scholarship threshold
- Meet course-specific subject requirements
- Complete English testing early
- Submit accurate documents
- Review scholarship combination rules
- Pay the required tuition deposit on time
- Monitor scholarship closing dates
Since the major undergraduate merit scheme is based directly on academic results, strong Grade 12 performance is particularly important.
Application and Scholarship Deadlines
September is the principal intake for many undergraduate programs, although selected courses and pathways may offer alternative start dates. There is no single scholarship deadline applying to every funding scheme.
For example, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students under the current Future Made for Success scheme have a closing date of 12 September 2026.
The GCC and UAE Regional Student Grant will also be open through September 12, 2026, but only for the students attending school in the UAE or GCC. Students are thus advised to keep different track of deadlines for admissions and scholarships.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai Acceptance Rate
The students often ask about Heriot Watt University Dubai acceptance rates as there is no overall undergraduate acceptance rate for Heriot-Watt University Dubai. Therefore, unofficial percentages from third-party websites should not be presented as verified statistics but it is approx. 60%.
Admission is more accurately determined by:
- School-leaving qualification
- Academic grades
- Required subjects
- English-language proficiency
- Program-specific prerequisites
- Portfolio requirements where applicable
Students with strong academic results may also have greater access to Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students, because the main merit scholarship is directly linked to qualification results.
Undergraduate Application Deadlines
HEC Paris utilizes multiple application rounds for its undergraduate admissions. Key points:
- Admission windows open months ahead of the term.Â
- Early rounds enhance scholarship opportunities.
- Check official announcements for exact HEC Paris application deadlines.
| Application Round | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
|
Round 1 |
October 2026 |
|
Round 2 |
November 2026 |
|
Round 3 |
February 2027 |
|
Round 4 |
April 2027 |
It is always better to finish early in order to have more time to process the visa and to secure accommodation.
English Proficiency Test Requirements
For standard undergraduate entry, Heriot-Watt Dubai currently lists:
| Tests | Score |
|---|---|
|
IELTS Academic |
More than 6.0 overall |
|
No individual IELTS component |
Below 5.5 |
|
PTE Academic |
50–57, with at least 51 in each component
|
|
TOEFL iBT: |
72 for tests taken before January 21 |
Usually the basic English requirements for foundation entry are less than those for undergraduate entry and can be as low as IELTS 5.5 with a minimum score of 5.0 in each component. As a point of interest, it is important to remember that Heriot-Watt do accept IELTS Academic Online, but not IELTS Indicator or General Training.Â
SAT and ACT Requirements
SAT and ACT are not required for all international undergraduate applicants. Their relevance will be based on the student’s school curriculum and course chosen. Applications with an American High School Diploma in Communication Design will need a score of 1000 (English 500, Mathematics 500) on the SAT exam.
This means that Indian CBSE applicants are not automatically required to submit SAT or ACT scores, but are more likely to be assessed based on their Grade 12 results. Students are thus advised to abide by the published requirements of the qualification specific to their intended course.Â
Heriot-Watt University Application Requirements
International applicants should generally prepare:
- Online application
- High-school transcripts
- Final or predicted examination results
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence where required
- Program-specific documents
- Portfolio where applicable
- Application processing fee
Requirements vary between courses, especially for those in engineering, architecture and design. Providing all and correct paperwork helps you to prevent unnecessary delays.Â
UniRely: Support for Heriot-Watt Dubai Applicants
There are many things to coordinate when applying internationally such as course selection, academic eligibility, scholarships, documents, finances, visas and deadlines. UniRely supports students for shortlisting universities, assessing their profile, planning their applications, reviewing their SOP/Essay writing, providing them information on scholarships, preparing them for the interview process, and helping them before they leave for the university. It also provides the mentoring model for practical knowledge regarding academics, accommodation and university life.Â
UniRely’s digital tools encompass a University List Calculator, a Profile Evaluator, an Application Tracker, an Essay Library, and a personalised dashboard, offering applicants the tools to organise their admissions journey. Prospective applicants for Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students can use early profile evaluation to streamline admission processes and set up scholarship criteria and deadlines before the applications are due. Scholarship and admission to Heriot-Watt University are at the discretion of the University.
Conclusion
Undergraduate tuition can be significantly reduced for those who are academically strong through Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students.For CBSE Grade 12 students, the current merit structure awards 30% for 80–84.9%, 40% for 85–89.9%, and 50% for 90% or above. In addition to the AED 300 application processing fee, applicants should also allow for their accommodation, visa, insurance, transportation and living costs.
Not all university courses will have an overall acceptance rate on the University website, rather applicants should check academic and English-language requirements for courses rather than unofficial acceptance rates. By planning ahead and utilizing the application support offered by UniRely, the student can be better prepared to draw their HWU Dubai admissions, scholarship and financing decisions.Â
Need Help with Your Application?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are the tuition fees at Heriot-Watt University Dubai
Tuition fees vary by course. The Dubai education regulator KHDA lists bachelor's degree fees ranging from approximately AED 63,000 to AED 85,500, depending on the program. Heriot-Watt's published fee for BSc (Hons) Computer Science for January 2027 is AED 82,264.
How can international students apply for scholarships at Heriot-Watt Dubai?
Students should apply for their chosen degree, provide academic documents, and complete any additional scholarship application requirements. For the Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, applicants must complete their program application and submit the required tuition deposit.
What is the application fee for Heriot-Watt University Dubai?
The university charges a non-refundable application processing fee of AED 525, including VAT. Students accepting an offer must also pay an initial tuition instalment and a refundable security deposit, according to the university's payment policy
Is Heriot-Watt University Dubai difficult to get into?
Admission competitiveness varies by course. Applicants who meet the university's minimum academic and English-language requirements may be considered for admission, but meeting these requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
How can UniRely help international students apply to Heriot-Watt University Dubai?
UniRely helps students assess admission eligibility, select suitable undergraduate or postgraduate courses, identify scholarship opportunities, prepare academic documents, complete applications, and plan student visa requirements. Its guidance can also help students compare tuition fees and scholarship eligibility before applying.