Students from the UAE | Learn about applying to study in the UK

If you’re from the UAE and interested in studying in the UK, the University of Portsmouth is a great place to fulfil your ambitions. And if you’re ready to take the next step, we’re ready to help you get here.

On this page, you'll find information about where you can meet us in your region, what you need to do to apply for a course with us and contact details for our people in your area.

Entry requirements for students from the UAE

If you're joining us from the UAE, the entry requirements you need to meet will depend on the course you want to study.

We consider all applications we receive. However, to make sure you get the most out of your time studying with us and have the best chance of applying successfully, we recommend the following minimum qualifications:

Foundation courses

If you have the Secondary School certificate, you'll usually need to do a foundation year before doing an undergraduate course such as a Bachelor's degree.

We recommend you take a foundation course at our associated college International College Portsmouth (ICP).

Undergraduate courses

Once you have completed a foundation course, we'll consider you for admission onto an undergraduate course such as a Bachelor's degree.

You can apply with:

A levels

Please check your specific course page to find the exact number of points needed. Your A level grades should equal or exceed the total points required. You can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out your total points.
Some courses will require you to have studied specific subjects at A level. For example, to study a science course you will usually need to have achieved passing grades in scientific subjects at A level.
A level points: A* = 56 A = 48 B = 40 C = 32 D = 24.

International Baccalaureate

Most courses will require between 24 and 31 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB), depending on the degree you apply for.

You must have studied relevant subjects and achieved strong grades.

If you have a High National Diploma (HND) or Higher Diploma you can apply for advanced entry onto a relevant undergraduate programme.

If you have achieved an average GPA of 2.7 from year 1 (depending on the subject you have applied for) from a recognised university, you may be considered for year 1 entry.

You may be able to join an undergraduate course with other qualifications. We do consider qualifications from a range of sources. Contact us to find out more.

Postgraduate courses

For entry to our postgraduate Master's programmes, you'll usually need to have a Bachelor's degree from a recognised Higher Education institution. We usually require a minimum GPA of 2.5/Good, depending on your chosen course.

Many of our other postgraduate courses will ask for relevant work experience, and some will require you to have studied relevant subjects. Please see our courses for more details.

If you don't meet the postgraduate entry requirements, you can do a pre-Master's programme at International College Portsmouth (ICP) for many of our courses.

PhDs

We'll consider you for a PhD if you have a good Master’s degree and submit a research proposal.

Find a PhD

English language requirements

When you join us, it’s important that you can speak and understand English to the level that your course requires. The specific English language requirements will be on your chosen course page.

We accept IELTS, IGCSE and several other certificates, but don’t worry if you're currently short of the standard required – we offer English Language Programmes that will get you to the necessary level.

What to do next

Ready to start your adventure with us? Whether you know which degree course you want to do or not, get in touch with us now or meet us at an event near you to discuss your next steps.

Our Global Officers are experts in helping students from the United Arab Emirates, like you, to apply to join us. Whatever you want to know, just ask.