Undergraduate Admissions

Admission to RIT Dubai is selective, our admission process is personal. We are interested in learning about your interests, abilities, and goals in order to provide the best information and guidance we can as you select the college and program that is right for you. Factors considered in our admission decisions include, but are not limited to, past high school/college performance (particularly in required academic subjects), admission test scores, the competitiveness of high school or previous college, and the academic program selected. Recommendations from those familiar with your academic performance and an interview with an admissions counselor may also be influential.

RIT Dubai is currently accepting applications for Spring (January) and Fall (September). We welcome all interested students to apply as soon as they can because we have limited seats for scholarships.

Students are encouraged to apply early, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Once your application is complete, the Admissions Committee will meet to review your complete application and notify you of the admission decision in a timely manner.

Our admission process is a personal one, and we will work with you to assist with the application procedure and notify you personally of the decision and your options.

The Admissions Committee reviews each application based upon the specific preparation and experiences of each individual student. Students will be considered for admission based on high school performance, appropriateness of courses for the academic major, demonstrated motivation and success, and English language ability.

All incoming freshman students are required to take placement exams at the beginning of the semester. These exams are essential in determining the appropriate course level for each student within the program. Students who have completed A Level, IB Higher Level, or Advanced Placement (AP) courses through College Board may be exempt from certain placement exams based on their final grades in relevant subjects.

For additional information regarding the test credit equivalencies for Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge Advanced Level Examination (A Level), and International Baccalaureate (IB), please click on the following links:

• Advanced Placement (AP) Credit Equivalencies
• Cambridge Advanced Level Examination (A Level) Credit Equivalencies
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Equivalencies

• All Engineering students are required to take Math and Physics placement tests.
• All Business, Computing and Psychology students are required to take Math placement test.
• Cybersecurity students have the option to take the physics placement test only if they are interested in taking physics related subjects.
• New Media Design students have the option to take a math placement test if they want to enroll in Math electives.

Placement in appropriate Math and Physics courses will be determined according to the table provided below. We strongly recommend that you strive to perform well in the EMSAT or RIT placement tests. Achieving higher scores in these tests may enable you to bypass certain courses. Starting the semester with foundational courses could potentially impact your graduation timeline, so making the most of these placement tests is essential for your academic journey.

Placement Test Samples

• Click here for the Physics placement test sample.
• Math placement test sample will be available online once you create your Math placement test account. We encourage all students to take advantage of this sample test to become familiar with the tools and resources available, including the online calculator and ruler. Upon completing the practice test, you will gain access to online learning materials and exercises. We strongly recommend that you complete all these exercises as they will play a significant role in preparing you for the second placement test. Your performance in the second test will be used to determine your placement at RIT Dubai. You can access the instructions for the math placement test and complete the practice test by clicking here.

Click here to schedule your placement test

Each of our degree programs has specific admission requirements designed to ensure that applicants possess the necessary qualifications and background for success. Undergraduate applicants must submit a high school transcript, meet a minimum grade requirement, and provide standardized test scores. Some programs may also require students to appear in the placement tests. Please refer to the specific requirements for your chosen program to ensure a complete, hassle-free, and successful application.

The bachelor's degree programs offered at RIT Dubai are rigorous and require a solid academic foundation. The programs will be taught in English, and applicants will be required to have basic competency in the English language.

The table below outlines the minimum requirements for conditional admission compared to full admission.

• IELTS Indicator Test, Duolingo English Test, IELTS General Training, PTE Academic Test, and Home-Based TOEFL exams are not acceptable for UG Applications.
• TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years, while EMSAT scores are valid for 18 months.

You will be placed in the following English courses based on your English test score

Eligibility Criteria for English Language Test Exemptions

• UAE Ministry of Education Curriculum: Students following the UAE MOE Curriculum who achieve an overall score of 80% or higher in high school English will be placed in the English Foundation course, ELCA 062. To progress, they must successfully complete ELCA 062 with a minimum grade of C and UWRT 100 with at least a C- within their first academic year. Meeting these requirements is essential to continue their academic journey successfully at RIT.
• International Curricula (American, British, IB, Australian, Canadian and SABIS): Students enrolled in international curricula where English is the primary language of instruction may qualify for an exemption from the English Proficiency test, subject to the following criteria:
  • Admit students with less than 80% in their English high school subject into English foundation ELCA 062.
  • Admit students with 80% or above in their English high school subject into UWRT 100.
  • Students taking test credits such as A-Level, IB Level, or AP will be placed in the appropriate English course according to the table below. Students who achieve a score of 3 or higher in AP English Language and Composition will be exempt from taking UWRT 150 and will be recommended to take ENGL-260 Written Argument.

• Indian Curriculum: Students enrolled in Indian Curriculum where English is the primary language of instruction may qualify for an exemption from the English proficiency test, subject to the following criteria:
  • A certified letter confirming that English is the medium of instruction must be submitted during the admission process.
  • Students will be placed in the appropriate English course according to the table below.
  • Students who are interested in skipping English foundation ELCA 062 or UWRT 100 may attempt the standardized English proficiency test.