Ras Al Khaimah is the northernmost of the seven emirates, and this is where the University of Bolton teaches its UK degrees in the Gulf. Students study business, engineering and management here and graduate with the same award as the campus in Greater Manchester. Fees and rent run well below Dubai, which is about an hour's drive south.
Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Official website: bolton.ac.ae
University of Bolton, UK
Overseas centre of a UK public university
Ras Al Khaimah, about an hour from Dubai
AED 40,000 – AED 60,000
International students, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
AED 30,000 – AED 45,000
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 bolton.ac.ae before you apply.
BA (Hons) Business Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 72
BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 72
BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 72
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MSc Engineering Management
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
A British degree without moving to Britain.
Engineering and business taught in smaller classes than most Dubai campuses.
Lower living costs than Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Graduates work in engineering, construction and management roles across the northern emirates and Dubai.
Many MBA students study while working, which keeps them close to UAE employers.
The Bolton degree is also recognised if you later move to the UK or elsewhere.
Undergrad
Main UG intake
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Selected programmes
Postgrad
Rolling
RAK is quieter than Dubai. Weekends here mean the Corniche, the beaches north of the city and the drive up Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the UAE.
Rent is noticeably cheaper than in Dubai, and a car or shared taxi is the usual way around. Dubai's airports are within reach for flights home.
Offer letter from University of Bolton RAK
Proof of tuition fee payment
Student residence visa sponsored by institution
UAE medical fitness test
Emirates ID registration
Passport valid at least six months
The centre takes applications on a rolling basis. Apply at least two months before your chosen start so there's time for the residence visa and Emirates ID.
The main intake is September, and many programmes also start in January. Check with admissions whether your course runs in both.
University of Bolton RAK sponsors your student residence visa after enrolment. The rest is local paperwork: a medical test and your Emirates ID.
Business management, mechanical and electrical engineering, the MBA and engineering management draw the most students. Bachelor's entry needs completed secondary school and IELTS 6.0; master's applicants need a relevant degree and IELTS 6.5.
The centre has offered early-payment discounts and merit reductions in past years. Ask admissions what is available for your intake.
