Set up in 2006 to bring a Canadian-style curriculum to the Gulf, Canadian University Dubai now teaches on a campus in City Walk, between Downtown Dubai and Jumeirah. Programmes run from architecture and interior design to engineering, business, communication and health sciences. Some degrees have transfer routes to partner universities in Canada.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Official website: cud.ac.ae
2006
UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
City Walk, Dubai
Canadian-style
AED 60,000 – AED 90,000
All students, bachelor's and master's programmes
AED 45,000 – AED 70,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cud.ac.ae before you apply.
Bachelor of Architecture
Bachelors DegreeDuration
60 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Bachelor of Interior Design
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 70
BSc Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 70
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Architecture and interior design studios in central Dubai.
Transfer and pathway links with Canadian universities.
A City Walk campus close to Downtown and Jumeirah.
Architecture and design graduates join consultancies working on Dubai's constant building projects.
Business graduates find roles in the UAE's banks, retail groups and free-zone companies.
Some students complete their degree at a partner university in Canada.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
City Walk is a low-rise district of shops and cafes near Al Wasl Road. Most students get around by Metro, bus and taxi.
Rent is the big cost in Dubai, but there is no income tax. Summers are fiercely hot, so from June most of life moves indoors.
Offer letter from Canadian University Dubai
Proof of tuition fee payment
Student residence visa sponsored by institution
UAE medical fitness test
Emirates ID registration
Passport valid at least six months
CUD admits students on a rolling basis for each semester. Apply at least two months before the start so the university has time to arrange your residence visa.
The fall semester starts in September and the spring semester in January. A shorter summer term also runs.
A UAE student residence visa, which Canadian University Dubai sponsors once you've accepted and paid. After you land there's a medical fitness test and Emirates ID registration.
Architecture, interior design, business administration, computer science and the MBA are popular. Undergraduates need a recognised school certificate and IELTS 5.5-6.0 or equivalent; the MBA asks for a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
CUD offers merit scholarships based on school or university grades, along with some other discounts. Awards are usually reviewed each semester, so keeping your grades up matters.
