Emirati Students Studying in USA Increases for Fifth Consecutive Year

According to the latest “Open Doors” Report, the number of UAE nationals enrolled at U.S. institutions of higher education in the 2014-15 academic year grew 3.4 percent – the fifth consecutive year of increasing Emirati students

Abu Dhabi, UAE, September 27, 2016:  Higher education is critical to both personal and national development and the US-UAE higher education connection is strong and growing. 

Supported by the U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, EducationUSA will host representatives from 36 American universities in a dedicated pavilion at the upcoming NAJAH Education and Training Exhibition and Career Fair, which takes place from October 25th to 27th at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. In addition to these representatives, who will be on hand to provide information and answer questions about their respective universities, EducationUSA education advisors will be present at the event.

This growth in participation is a reflection of growing student demand. The "Open Doors 2016" report, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE), shows that the number of Emirati high school graduates pursuing higher studies in the United States grew once again in the 2014-15 academic year, up 3.4% from the previous year – the fifth consecutive year of growth. In the 2014-2015 academic year, 2,878 UAE nationals were enrolled at U.S. institutions of higher education.  

More than 90 percent of all Emirati students studying in the U.S. are on a scholarship, with the majority coming from a public school background. This growth in quality study opportunities and student mobility has increased in large part as a result of government scholarships available to students at the graduate and undergraduate levels, both locally and overseas. 

The United States is home to more than 4000 institutions of higher learning, offering world- class degrees and unparalleled educational opportunities. The growth of US-UAE education connections and cooperation is an acknowledgment of the unique opportunities of higher education in the US and how the UAE and take advantage of them.

UAE scholarship granting institutions have developed strategies to reach students during high school to raise awareness of potential education opportunities and target scholarships at major’s meet the country’s growing economic and market needs.

To support this goal, EducationUSA is offering a great opportunity for students through the EducationUSA Academy. This U.S. Department of State program provides a 3-4 week summer academic program hosted at an American college or university which includes English language instruction (20 hours per week) and college preparatory courses.  It also includes tours of a diverse group of colleges and universities, fun cultural activities, and regional trips, as well as an opportunity to socialize with American and other international students. The next EducationUSA Academy will take place at the University of Colorado at Boulder from Jan 4-28, 2017.

Students from the UAE already participated in the EducationUSA Academy in 2016.  For more information about the 2017 programs, please refer to http://www.edusaacademy.org

Another initiative that the EducationUSA Advising Centers are pursuing to support Emirati students interested in studying in the U.S. is cohort advising. This year EducationUSA Dubai will launch its first advising cohort, the Competitive College Workshop (CCW), a local pilot version of the global Competitive College Club. The CCW is for high school students who are well-rounded, academically strong, and interested in studying in the U.S. The CCW aids top-tier students in building competitive applications to U.S. universities.