Three-Year Bachelor's Degree
UOWD now offers Three Year Bachelor's Degrees
University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) is aligning all degrees with the UOW Australia campus, implementing a truly global university degree. This new alignment offers prospective students who have excelled academically at school and meet UOW direct entry requirements, by allowing students to finish their bachelor degrees in three years, instead of the existing four-year programs.
Graduates will be issued an international degree from UOW Australia, which is recognised internationally and accredited by the UAE's Ministry of Education.
Students who have excelled academically in certain high school curricula such as CBSE, GCE A level, IB Diploma, American high school diploma and other recognised international curricula, can qualify for a three-year bachelor's degree.
The three-year direct entry admission requirements are applicable to all UOWD bachelor degrees excluding Bachelor of Engineering degrees, which are four-year honours degrees.
In alignment with our home campus in Australia, any prospective student that does not directly qualify for a three-year program, is still able to enroll in any bachelor’s degree, through our regular one-year integrated Freshman Year. For example, if you are a student from the UAE Thanaweya Amma curriculum, or a CBSE student who scores below 65%, then your degree will span over four years.
UOWD’s Freshman Year is a year-long program, designed to provide students with strong foundational preparation for success in bachelor degrees.
The three-year degree is applicable for all UOWD bachelor degrees excluding Bachelor of Engineering degrees. The eligibility depends on the high school curriculum, grades achieved, English proficiency and SAT score*.
- If you are a CBSE high school student, you need a score of 10.5 - calculated from the positional grades in English or Hindi, plus the best four remaining externally examined subjects (A1 = 4, A2 = 3.5, B1 = 3, B2 = 2.5, C1 = 2, C2 = 1.5, D1 = 1, D2 = 0.5) and above to be eligible for a three-year degree.
- If you are a British GCE (A level) student, you need a minimum grade of “CCD” in A levels to be eligible for a three-year degree.
- If you are an American High School Diploma student, you will need an overall average grade of C (70% or 2.5/4.0) and a SAT score of 1,100 to be eligible for the three-year degree.
- If you are an International Baccalaureate Diploma student, you will need 25 points to be eligible for a three-year degree.
If you have obtained any of the above scores, you will be able to take a three-year bachelor degree.
A full list of school curricula and their entry criteria are listed below.
*A SAT score of 1,100 is only applicable for students who have completed an American high school diploma.
Previously, students had the option to receive a degree from University of Wollongong in Dubai or University of Wollongong Australia.
All UOWD graduates will now be issued a single degree from UOW Australia, which is recognised internationally and attested by the UAE's Ministry of Education.
In alignment with our home campus in Australia, any prospective student that does not directly qualify for a three-year program, is still able to enroll in any bachelor’s degree, through our regular one-year integrated Freshman Year. For example, if you are a student from the UAE Thanaweya Amma curriculum, or a CBSE student who scores below 65%, then your degree will span over four years.
Once students successfully complete the Freshman Year, they will receive a direct entry to a three-year bachelor degree.
- Students are able to complete their degree in three years, instead of the current four-year degrees
- Since the number of subjects required to complete your degree are reduced, fees are lower than the four-year degrees.
- Alignment of academic offerings to our home campus in UOW Australia, implementing a truly global university degree.
The minimum academic entry requirements and admission criteria for UOWD depend upon the type of high school curriculum you have followed. The minimum requirements based on the most common high school systems are outlined below:
| School System | Bachelor Degree Advanced Entry (3 Years) |
Bachelor Degree Direct Entry (4 Years) |
|---|---|---|
| UAE Al-Thanawiyya Al-Aama |
N/A | Elite or Advanced Track 70%, General Track 75% |
| Arab Countries Al-Thanawiyyah Al-Aama |
N/A | 70% |
| American High School Diploma | Overall average grade of C (70% or 2.5/4.0) + SAT 1100 |
Overall average grade of C (70% or 2.5/4.0) |
| Bangladesh HSC |
GPA of 4.0 / 5.0 | GPA of 3.0 / 5.0 |
| Brazil Brazil Higher Secondary Certificate |
N/A | 60% |
| British GCE Curriculum | Minimum 5 IGCSE/GCSE subjects – Grade D and Minimum of 3 A level subjects – Grade CCD Completion of Year 13 |
Minimum 5 IGCSE/GCSE subjects – Grade D and 2 AS or 1 A level subject (s) – Grade D Completion of Year 13 |
| Chinese Senior High School | 80% | 60% |
| Colombia Título de Bachiller Académico |
N/A | 3 out of 5 or 6 out of 10 |
| International Baccalaureate Diploma | 25 Points | 21 Points |
| India CBSE Grade 12 |
10.5 | 7 |
| Calculated from the positional grades in English or Hindi, plus the best four remaining externally examined subjects (A1 = 4, A2 = 3.5, B1 = 3, B2 = 2.5, C1 = 2, C2 = 1.5, D1 = 1, D2 = 0.5) | ||
| India ICSE Grade 12 |
77% | 55% |
| Iran Pre-University Certificate |
14 | 11 |
| Japan Upper Secondary School Diploma |
3.8 out of 5 | 2.5 out of 5 |
| Kenya | 60 | 31 |
| Mexico | N/A | 6 out of 10 |
| Nepal School Leaving Certificate Examination |
3 out of 4 | 2.3 out of 4 |
| Nigeria WAEC & NECO |
N/A | Minimum of 7 subjects with no more than 1 “Pass” |
| Pakistan Higher Secondary School Certificate |
88% | 65% |
| CIS Countries Attestat |
N/A | Average 3/5 |
| South Korea CSAT |
77.5% | 70% |
Notes:
- Students with qualifications from other curriculum should contact the Student Recruitment and Admissions department at UOWD to determine their eligibility.
- All students applying from non UAE MoE curriculum must provide an equivalency of their Secondary School Certificate from the Ministry of Education, UAE; stating the completion of Grade 12.
- A student who does not satisfy the criteria for Equivalency of Secondary School Certificate, may be subject to conditional admission, based on receiving a Letter of No Objection to Conditional Admission issued by the Ministry.
At UOWD, all classes are taught in English and in order to enrol in a bachelor’s degree you will need to submit one of the following certificate of English language proficiency:
Business Degrees
| English Proficiency Test | Bachelor Degree Advance Entry (3 Years)* |
Bachelor Degree Direct Entry (4 Years)** |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 & Minimum score of 6.0 in Reading & Writing, 5.0 in Listening & Speaking |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 5.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based |
79 with not less than 18 in Reading and Writing, 16 in Listening and Speaking |
40 overall |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic |
54 over all with Minimum 54 PTE Communicative Skill Scores | 42 overall |
Notes:
* Students with a minimum overall score of 6.0 in academic IELTS and no more than one score (either in reading or writing) between 5.0 and 6.0 will be given the opportunity to complete a remedial subject in the first trimester as a condition for progression.
** Students with a minimum overall score of 6.0 in academic IELTS (or equivalent) and a minimum score of 6.0 in reading and writing(or equivalent) are eligible for advanced standing for English Language subjects.
Computer Science & IT Degrees
| English Proficiency Test | Bachelor Degree Advance Entry (3 Years)* |
Bachelor Degree Direct Entry (4 Years)** |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 & Minimum score of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 5.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based |
79 with not less than 18 in Reading & Writing, 17 Listening and Speaking |
40 overall |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic |
54 over all with Minimum 54 PTE Communicative Skill Scores | 42 overall |
Notes:
* Students with IELTS 6.0 and scores no less than 6 in each band could be admitted with the condition to successfully complete a remedial subject in first trimester.
** Students with a minimum overall score of 6.0 in academic IELTS (or equivalent) and a minimum score of 6.0 in reading and writing(or equivalent) are eligible for advanced standing for English Language subjects.
Social Sciences & Media Degrees
| English Proficiency Test | Bachelor Degree Advance Entry (3 Years)* |
Bachelor Degree Direct Entry (4 Years)** |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 & Minimum score of 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking |
Overall IELTS (Academic) score of 5.0 |
| TOEFL Internet-based |
86 with not less than 18 in Reading & Writing, 17 Listening and Speaking |
40 overall |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic |
62 overall with Minimum 54 PTE Communicative Skill Scores | 42 overall |
Open Day
Attend our Abu Dhabi Open Day on Saturday, 13 June 2026.
Join our experts to learn more about our degrees and how you can enrol at UOWD in our
Autumn intake which starts on 21 September 2026.