Tuition at the branch campuses, the real cost of living, residence-visa rules, and which Dubai degree actually travels home. We tell you before you commit. Not after.
The PDF we give students who can’t book a call this week. Verified costs, residence-visa rules, which branch campuses award the real degree, and where graduates actually end up.
Verified costs by emirate. Tuition, rent, transport, visa. Real numbers for Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
Branch campus, decoded. Which degrees are awarded by the home university, accreditation and all, and which aren’t.
Residence-visa checklist. Sponsorship, Emirates ID, medical, in the order GDRFA actually evaluates them.
Stay-back routes. The Green Visa, the 10-year Golden Visa for top students, and free-zone employment.
PDF, ~2.4 MB · used by 90+ students this intake.
The brief
Dubai 2025 / 26
Volume 09 · 40 pages
Transitley
Honestly answered
The questions we get most.
How much will a Master’s in Dubai really cost, all in?
Year one, end-to-end, typically lands between AED 110,000 and AED 155,000 depending on the campus, course and where you live. The calculator above is what we use on the first call.
Will my Dubai degree say “Dubai” or the home university?
Depends on the campus. The reputable branches, Heriot-Watt, Birmingham, Wollongong, award the exact same degree as the home campus, accreditation and all. Some others don’t. We tell you which is which before you apply.
Can I work part-time while I study?
Yes, with a permit. Students can work part-time in the free zones and, more recently, on the mainland with a No-Objection Certificate. Hours are capped during term. We map the current rules to your visa.
What happens after I graduate, can I stay?
Often, yes. Strong graduates qualify for the Green Visa or a self-sponsored job-search window; the top tier can land a 10-year Golden Visa. We score your eligibility on the first call.
Is the student residence visa hard to get?
It’s one of the faster processes, usually decided in about a week once the university sponsors you. The work is in the medical, Emirates ID and attestation sequence. We run that file for you.
How early should I start? My intake is next year.
6–9 months out is comfortable. Dubai’s September and January intakes move fast, and attesting your documents can take 3–6 weeks on its own. Earlier is calmer.
What does working with Transitley cost?
First consultation is free. The full admissions service is paid by the student, not the university; so the advice points where it should, not where the commission is. Exact pricing is on the call.
Trip on
One call. One counsellor. Visa filed.
Seven destinations, one process. A counsellor reads every inquiry. The eligibility call is free, and we tell you honestly when a case isn’t winnable.