Quick Read
- American University of Sharjah accepts only IELTS and TOEFL.
- Heriot-Watt Dubai needs PTE 50 for undergraduate entry.
- Middlesex Dubai accepts PTE 51 undergraduate, 58 postgraduate.
- CBSE and ISC English marks can replace PTE entirely.
- PTE Academic costs about Rs.18,900 in India today.
- Heriot-Watt Dubai rejects the online version of PTE.
What Are the PTE Accepted Universities in UAE?
PTE Academic is accepted at a smaller, more specific set of UAE institutions than most search results suggest, and several of the names that rank highest for this exact keyword do not accept it at all. Every figure below is taken from the institution’s own admissions page, not from a third-party comparison site.
| Institution | Type | PTE Academic requirement | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham Dubai | UK branch campus | 59 (foundation); 64 to 67 by course group (undergraduate); 64 to 67 (postgraduate) | Foundation through postgraduate |
| Heriot-Watt University Dubai | UK branch campus | 44-49 (foundation); 50-57, min 51 per component (undergraduate); 55, min 51 (PGT STEM/Design); 55, min 55 writing (PGT non-STEM); 68, min 63 (PhD) | Foundation through doctoral |
| Middlesex University Dubai | UK branch campus | 51 overall, min 51 per component (foundation and undergraduate); 58 overall, min 51 per component (postgraduate) | Undergraduate and postgraduate |
| Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) | Public, Abu Dhabi | 60 | Undergraduate |
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Institutions that do not accept, or do not list, PTE:
| Institution | What it actually requires |
|---|---|
| American University of Sharjah | Only TOEFL iBT (minimum 80) and IELTS Academic (minimum 6.5) are accepted. Its own page states other tests, unnamed but understood to include PTE, are not accepted |
| UAE University | IELTS Academic, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL iBT, benchmarked against a Grade 12 English percentage. PTE does not appear on its published table |
| Khalifa University | TOEFL iBT 91 or IELTS Academic 6.5. No PTE minimum is published |
Counselor insight: The UAE PTE list is shorter than most search results suggest. Build your shortlist from institutions that verifiably accept PTE first, then check whether your academic marks clear the bar, rather than assuming a well-known UAE university will take your score just because it is well known.
PTE Score Requirements at UAE Branch Campus Universities
Four institutions publish detailed PTE bands, and the numbers differ enough between them that a single "aim for 60" target does not work across the UAE.
University of Birmingham Dubai runs a course-group system. Foundation courses need PTE Academic 59 in all four skills. Undergraduate Group A (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Sustainability) needs 64 overall with no less than 59 in any skill. Group BBS UG (Business, including Economics) needs 67 overall with 67 in writing and speaking and 64 in reading and listening. Group B (Psychology, Biomedical, Law, Media) needs 67 overall with 64 in all four skills. Postgraduate Group A needs 64, Group B needs 67, on the same component structure.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai sets the widest range of any UAE institution. Foundation entry sits at PTE Academic 44 to 49. Undergraduate entry needs 50 to 57 overall with a minimum of 51 in each component. Postgraduate taught STEM and design programs need 55 overall with a minimum of 51. Postgraduate taught non-STEM programs need 55 overall with a minimum of 51 in reading, listening and speaking, and a minimum of 55 in writing specifically. Doctoral entry needs 68 overall with a minimum of 63 in each component. Heriot-Watt Dubai states plainly that scores must be under two years old at the enrolment date, and that it does not accept the online version of PTE Academic.
Middlesex University Dubai keeps it simpler. Its International Foundation Programme and undergraduate degrees need PTE Academic 51 overall with a minimum of 51 in every component. Postgraduate programs need 58 overall with a minimum of 51 in every component.
MBZUAI requires PTE Academic 60 for its undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, alongside IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90 and other accepted tests. Its graduate admission process is confirmed for PTE 60 through current FAQ and UGRIP pages; PG applicants should still confirm directly, since an older graduate admissions page on the same site lists only TOEFL, IELTS and EmSAT.
Counselor insight: Heriot-Watt Dubai's refusal of PTE Academic Online is easy to miss because the score requirement itself looks identical to the in-person test. A student who books the home version to skip a trip to the test centre has spent the fee for a score that will not be accepted. Always book the in-person sitting for a UAE application unless the institution explicitly says otherwise.
Which UAE Universities Do Not Accept PTE?
This is the section most competing pages skip, and it is the one that saves the most wasted fees.
American University of Sharjah's undergraduate application requirements page, updated in April 2026, states that applicants are requested to submit TOEFL or IELTS score reports, and separately lists tests that are not accepted. PTE is not named among the accepted tests anywhere on the page. If AUS is on your shortlist, book IELTS or TOEFL.
UAE University publishes a table of English Language Proficiency Requirements tied to Grade 12 English marks: IELTS Academic, TOEFL ITP and TOEFL iBT, at a minimum 90% in English on the MOE Grade 12 certificate as an alternative pathway. PTE does not appear in that table for undergraduate admission. Its graduate school page similarly names IELTS Academic as the standard requirement, with native-speaker and English-medium exemptions, and does not list PTE as an accepted alternative.
Khalifa University states that eligibility requires a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 91 or a minimum IELTS Academic overall band of 6.5, taken within the preceding 24 months. No PTE equivalent is published.
These are published-requirement findings, current as of this research, not permanent policy statements, and UAE universities do revise their accepted-test lists. If one of these three is your first choice and you already have a PTE score, email admissions directly and get written confirmation before you rely on it.
Counselor insight: Do not book PTE and hope an unpublished exception exists at AUS, UAEU or Khalifa. If any of these three is genuinely your first choice, IELTS or TOEFL is the safer test to sit, because both are explicitly accepted everywhere PTE is uncertain.
Why UAE English Requirements Are Worded the Way They Are
Several UAE institutions phrase their English requirement as IELTS Academic, TOEFL ITP or TOEFL iBT, "or one of the standardized English language tests that is internationally recognized and approved by the Ministry of Education, UAE." Canadian University Dubai uses exactly this wording for both undergraduate and graduate admission.
That phrasing neither confirms nor rules out PTE. It leaves the decision to each institution's own admissions office, applied case by case, which is why the same test can be accepted at one UAE university and unlisted at another that uses near-identical language.
The only reliable way to resolve this for your specific application is to ask.
Counselor insight: Email admissions rather than calling. A written reply confirming "PTE Academic 58 is acceptable for this program" is a document you can point to later if your file is queried during processing. A phone call leaves you with nothing to show.
Which PTE Accepted University in UAE Fits Your Profile?
If you are a CBSE Class 12 student at 82% overall with 72% in English, targeting Computer Science at Birmingham Dubai for September 2027: your English mark does not clear the Group A waiver threshold of 75% for that qualification tier, so you will need PTE Academic 64 with no component below 59, or the equivalent IELTS 6.0. Book PTE in the November 2026 to January 2027 window so the score stays valid through your admission cycle.
If you are a BTech graduate with a PTE score of 58, applying for a master's: this clears Middlesex Dubai's postgraduate requirement of 58, and sits within reach of Heriot-Watt Dubai's PGT STEM band of 55. It does not clear MBZUAI's undergraduate threshold of 60 for AI-specific programs, which is not the right comparison for a taught master's elsewhere in any case. Confirm your specific program's requirement, since postgraduate bands vary by school within the same university.
If you are a State Board student at 64% overall with a PTE score of 47: the direct-entry bands above are out of reach this cycle. Heriot-Watt Dubai's foundation route opens at PTE 44 to 49, and Middlesex Dubai's International Foundation Programme sits at 51, both feeding into the full undergraduate degree. Treat the foundation year as your entry point rather than a setback.
Counselor insight: Students at PTE 51 to 57 have a genuinely usable UAE shortlist across Middlesex and the lower Heriot-Watt bands. Students at 44 to 49 are not shut out either, since both universities run a foundation year that leads into the same degree, and that is a year of fees, not a dead end.
Documents You Need for PTE Accepted Universities in UAE
| Document | India-specific detail |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid through your full expected course duration |
| Class 10 and 12 marksheets | Attested in India before submission where the institution requires it |
| UAE Ministry of Education Certificate of Equivalency | A separate application to the MOE, not handled by the university. AUS recommends applying at least two months before your first day of class |
| PTE Academic score report | Upload the PDF and separately request electronic delivery to the institution through your myPTE account |
| English-medium letter (where used as a waiver) | On school letterhead, signed and dated by the principal, only relevant where a waiver route like Heriot-Watt's or MBZUAI's applies |
| Financial documents | Bank statements typically for the last three to six months |
| Application fee receipt | AUS charges AED 400 plus 5% VAT, which is Rs.10,958. MBZUAI charges AED 200, which is Rs.5,218 |
Counselor insight: The MOE Certificate of Equivalency is the step Indian students most often underestimate. It is a Ministry process, entirely separate from the university's own admissions timeline, and it routinely takes several weeks. Start it the same week you submit your university application, not after you receive an offer.
PTE and UAE Application Timeline for AY2027-28
UAE institutions generally run rolling or semester-based admissions rather than a single fixed national deadline, so this calendar is a working structure rather than a confirmed date set.
| Period | What to do |
|---|---|
| Jun to Aug 2026 | Shortlist institutions and confirm each one's actual PTE policy directly with admissions |
| Sep to Oct 2026 | Sit a scored practice test. Check your weakest component against the published component floors |
| Nov 2026 to Jan 2027 | Sit PTE Academic in person. Avoid the online version if applying to Heriot-Watt Dubai |
| Nov 2026 to Mar 2027 | Submit applications as they open. Begin the MOE Certificate of Equivalency application in parallel |
| Mar to May 2027 | Respond to any conditional offer requirements. Submit predicted or actual Class 12 results |
| May to Jul 2027 | Receive final offers. Pay enrolment deposit |
| Jun to Jul 2027 | University initiates your student residence visa sponsorship |
| Aug 2027 | Arrive in the UAE, complete medical testing and Emirates ID formalities |
Counselor insight: Attestation and equivalency paperwork, not academic marks, are what make Indian students miss UAE intake deadlines. Budget six to eight weeks for this process alone and start it well before you have an offer in hand.
What PTE and a UAE Application Cost Indian Students
The PTE Academic fee in India is currently reported at Rs.18,900, including 18% GST, following a March 2026 revision. Pearson does not publish a static India fee page, so treat the figure shown at checkout on the official portal as final.
University application fees in the UAE are charged separately and are non-refundable. American University of Sharjah charges AED 400 plus 5% VAT, which totals AED 420, or Rs.10,958. MBZUAI charges a non-refundable AED 200, which is Rs.5,218.
Exchange rate used: Rs.26.09 per UAE Dirham. Verify the current rate before finalising your budget.
Counselor insight: Application fees in the UAE are charged per university and are not refunded if your PTE score is not accepted. Confirm the institution's current test policy in writing before you pay, not after.
What to Do When Your PTE Score Is Not Accepted
Your shortlisted institution does not accept PTE. This is the live situation at AUS, UAEU and Khalifa. Sit IELTS or TOEFL instead, or replace the institution on your shortlist if the timeline does not allow a retake.
You booked PTE Academic Online for Heriot-Watt Dubai. That score will not be accepted. Book the in-person test and budget for the retake fee.
Your overall score clears but a component does not. This is common at Heriot-Watt Dubai and Middlesex Dubai, both of which set per-component floors alongside the overall number. A retake is the only fix, since UAE institutions generally require every component from a single sitting.
Your score expires before your enrolment date. There is no extension. Retake with enough lead time that the result reaches the institution comfortably inside the two-year window.
Your equivalency certificate is delayed past the intake. Contact your university's admissions office directly. Several UAE institutions offer conditional registration while MOE paperwork is finalised, but this varies by institution and must be confirmed case by case.
The institution says it has not received your score. Uploading the score PDF and sending the official electronic report are two different actions. Log into your myPTE account and send the report to the institution directly.
Counselor insight: If your PTE score is rejected outright, ask admissions whether the institution runs its own English placement or bridging test. Several UAE universities do, and it is often included at no extra cost for students who already hold an offer.
3 Takeaways on PTE Accepted Universities in UAE
PTE can work for a UAE application, but only at a specific set of institutions, and confirming that set before you book the test saves both money and time.
- Verify PTE acceptance on the institution's own admissions page before you sit the test. AUS, UAEU and Khalifa University do not currently list PTE, whatever a comparison site suggests.
- Check whether your Class 12 English mark already clears the requirement. Birmingham Dubai and Heriot-Watt Dubai both publish exact percentage thresholds that remove the test entirely for many CBSE, ICSE and state board students.
- Book PTE in person, not online, if Heriot-Watt Dubai is on your list, and sit it between November 2026 and January 2027 so your score stays valid through a 2027-28 enrolment date.
Verified by: LeapScholar's UAE counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through UAE university applications, MOE equivalency processing and student visa sponsorship.
Have questions about PTE accepted universities in UAE? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTE Accepted Universities in UAE
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Is PTE accepted in UAE?
Yes, but only at specific institutions, not universally. University of Birmingham Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Middlesex University Dubai and MBZUAI publish clear PTE Academic requirements. American University of Sharjah, UAE University and Khalifa University do not list PTE among their accepted tests, so check the specific institution before booking.
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My PTE score is 52. Which PTE accepted universities in UAE can I apply to?
At 52, you clear Heriot-Watt Dubai's undergraduate band of 50 to 57, provided each component reaches the 51 minimum. You are close to but short of Middlesex Dubai's undergraduate requirement of 51 overall with 51 per component, so check your weakest skill. You do not clear Birmingham Dubai's undergraduate bands of 64 to 67, or MBZUAI's 60.
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How long is a PTE score valid for a UAE application?
Two years at every institution in this article. Heriot-Watt Dubai measures this against your enrolment date, and Birmingham Dubai against your course start date, so book PTE with enough margin that the score is still valid when your 2027-28 program begins, not just when you apply.
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Do CBSE and ISC students need PTE at all?
Often not, at specific institutions. Birmingham Dubai waives the requirement at 70% to 80% in the Class 12 English subject depending on course group and board. Heriot-Watt Dubai waives it at 65% for CBSE and ICSE English, 70% for other approved state boards. Check the English subject mark specifically, not your overall percentage.
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Is PTE accepted for the UAE student visa?
Your PTE score, or its waiver, is assessed as part of university admission, not at the visa stage. Once you hold an unconditional offer, your university sponsors and processes your student residence visa. No separate English test applies to the visa itself.
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Which universities in Dubai accept PTE?
University of Birmingham Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Middlesex University Dubai all publish PTE Academic bands. Birmingham Dubai needs 64 to 67 depending on course group, Heriot-Watt needs 50 to 57 for undergraduate entry, and Middlesex needs 51 for undergraduate and 58 for postgraduate programs.
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Does American University of Sharjah accept PTE?
No. Its own undergraduate application requirements page states that only TOEFL and IELTS score reports are accepted, and names other tests as not accepted. Applicants targeting AUS should sit IELTS Academic at 6.5 or TOEFL iBT at 80.
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Can I study in UAE without IELTS using PTE?
At several institutions, yes. Birmingham Dubai, Heriot-Watt Dubai, Middlesex Dubai and MBZUAI all accept PTE Academic as a direct substitute for IELTS. The exceptions are AUS, UAEU and Khalifa University, where PTE is not currently a listed alternative.
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What is the minimum PTE score for UAE universities?
It ranges from 44, at Heriot-Watt Dubai's foundation entry, to 68, at Heriot-Watt Dubai's doctoral entry. Middlesex Dubai sits at 51 for undergraduate and 58 for postgraduate. MBZUAI requires 60. There is no single UAE-wide minimum, and per-component floors often matter as much as the overall score.
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