The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has introduced flexible admission policies for universities following the cancellation of the EmSAT entrance exam in November. Universities now get the freedom to set their admission criteria, make sure programmes are executed well, and ensure everything rolls out in the best interest of students.
Ahmad Ibrahim Alsaadi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Operations, explained that universities having a better understanding of students’ needs are now able to create their own admission standards. The cancellation of EmSAT allows students to explore an array of other courses and look for flexible options that cater to their interests, reports the Khaleej Times.
Dr. Yousef M. Al Assaf, President of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai, stated that their new admission criteria will include their own placement tests in Physics, Math, and English, alongside IELTS and TOEFL requirements. Meanwhile, Nahid Afshan from BITS Pilani Dubai Campus noted that their criteria would focus on high school grades in relevant subjects, with alternatives like IELTS for English proficiency.
The Ministry has also introduced NAPO 2.0, a new admission service that makes the application process more flexible and provides year-round registration information.There are no limits on the number of applications which makes it simple for students to explore admissions and deadlines for different universities. Currently, the system covers over 20 universities and will soon include most universities in the UAE. This move aims to simplify the student application process.
