Murdoch University Dubai is the core international branch campus of Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. As a global satellite of a world-renowned research institution, the Dubai campus brings a distinguished Australian heritage of academic rigor and free-thinking to the heart of the United Arab Emirates.

Licensed by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), the university serves a diverse international student body. It offers a sophisticated, high-tech learning environment at its flagship campus in Dubai Knowledge Park, where students earn a globally recognized Australian degree that carries the same prestige as one earned at the home campus in Perth.

A Legacy of Free Thinking: From Perth to the World

The history of Murdoch University began in 1974, named after the prominent Australian academic and essayist, Sir Walter Murdoch. Since its inception, the university has been defined by its "Free to Think" philosophy, challenging conventional wisdom and fostering a culture of inclusion and pioneering research.

The Dubai Expansion

In 2008, Murdoch University established its presence in the UAE, becoming a vital part of Dubai's educational landscape. Over the past decade and a half, the campus has evolved into a specialized hub for media, business, and information technology.

• 2008: Murdoch University opens its inaugural campus in Dubai.
• 2019: The university receives a 5-Star Rating by the KHDA in the Higher Education Classification, excelling in employability and internationalization.
• 2020: Relocation to a state-of-the-art, 27,000-square-foot facility in Dubai Knowledge Park, featuring world-class media labs and collaborative breakout spaces.
• 2023: Celebrates 15 years of operations in the UAE, marked by a growing alumni network of global leaders.

Vision, Mission, and Purpose

The institution’s strategy is guided by a commitment to "Creative Intelligence," ensuring that students are not merely recipients of information, but active problem-solvers.

The Vision

To be a leading international university known for excellence in teaching, research, and providing a transformative experience for students, contributing to the social and economic vitality of the UAE and the wider region.

The Mission

The university empowers a diverse range of students to achieve their potential through supportive, high-quality Australian higher education. By blending research-informed theory with practical industry application, it prepares graduates for global career success and ethical leadership.

The Core Purpose

Murdoch University Dubai exists to:

• Nurture Free Thinkers: Encouraging students to challenge the status quo and develop the critical thinking skills required for a rapidly changing workforce.
• Provide Global Mobility: Enabling students to transfer credits seamlessly between the Dubai, Singapore, and Perth campuses, fostering a truly international academic journey.
• Foster Industry Integration: Serving as a bridge between academia and the professional world through strong partnerships with Dubai’s leading business and media hubs.

Academic Schools and Departments

The academic structure at Murdoch University Dubai is meticulously designed to meet the demands of the modern global economy. Across specialized departments in Business, Information Technology, Psychology, and Media & Communications, the university provides a multidisciplinary environment led by international faculty.

The curriculum is aligned with Australian AQF standards, ensuring a focus on "Technological Agility" and creative problem-solving. Whether pursuing a Foundation program, an Undergraduate degree, or a Postgraduate qualification, students benefit from a boutique, high-tech ecosystem. Facilities such as the dedicated film studio, post-production suites, and cybersecurity labs empower students to turn theoretical knowledge into professional-grade output.

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture, and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, an 830m-tall tower, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. On artificial islands just offshore is Atlantis, The Palm, a resort with water and marine-animal parks.

Most of the universities in Dubai are affiliating themselves to institutions abroad, and several of them use English as a medium of instruction. Learning in Dubai is comparatively cheaper because of its education policies. The opportunity to stay in a cosmopolitan culture and to learn social etiquette, are necessary in today's world.

Dubai is now home to 63 institutions from across the world. It also provides quality education to all its students.

The Dubai authorities want to create and support a large academic community in Dubai that will accelerate the development of higher education. The Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) is a regional base for premier institutions. It provides world-class facilities to the students. It also facilitates on-campus accommodation along with all modern conveniences including broadband internet connection.

The possibilities of finding job training and full-time opportunities in Dubai are quite high because of the development in the area of infrastructure, trade, and commerce. The current labor laws of the UAE do not permit students to work part-time. However, if postgraduate students who secure full-time work can change from a student visa to an employer-sponsored visa.
 
Besides the main programs like IT and Business Administration, few new and innovative programs like the master’s in Logistics, a combo of engineering and management, and IT and management, Insurance, property development, and management and marketing are also being designed and imparted.

The polytechnic in Dubai offers short courses, seminars, and workshops in business management, hospitality management, finance, tourism, computing, and industrial engineering.

Courses are imparted through both lecture and lab work. Course outline and lecture notes are sometimes distributed among the students to help them prepare for exams. Lab work consists of small groups of students. Student performance is assessed via tests, assignments, and projects. Some universities also require the students to complete work experience training for two months.

Fees range in polytechnic ranges from Pounds 1,500 a year to Pounds 3,400 for a full-time course. About a third of the students are expatriates from countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Russia, and Arab countries outside the Gulf.

Higher education in Dubai also includes training institutes where you can enroll for part-time or full-time courses. Institutes offer both local programs and internationally recognized certifications. Student performance is assessed by a computer-based exam, written exam, or practical tasks.

Higher Colleges of Technology were established in 1988. Located in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras al-Khaimah and Fujairah, these colleges prepare nationals for professional and technological careers in both government and private sectors. Since their foundation, the colleges have grown significantly, with staff and students increasing by about 30 percent each year.

The UAE University located in Al Ain has eight faculties and was established in 1976. In the last 24 years, it has become a leading institution in education, research, and community service. The University is also proving to be the most popular destination for students seeking higher education in the UAE with over 15,000 students currently studying at their facilities.

The Centre for Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT) runs a countrywide continuing education programs for all nationalities. The programs have been designed for professional development and personal enrichment for people with an eye for continuing education.

Initial projects include 100 face-to-face instructor-led courses and approximately 100 online courses through a Cert website: http://www.certonline.com/

Zayed University was established in 1998 to prepare leaders who will foresee the possibilities and capture the opportunities that will create the future of the United Arab Emirates. The University has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Enrollment on the campuses as of 2003 is over 2000 students, all of them female nationals.

The University is small enough to enable students to have a personal interaction with faculty, yet sufficiently large to offer them a range of challenging degree programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Sciences, Communication, and Media Sciences, Education, Family Sciences, and Information Systems.

Zayed University also runs a number of research centers that reach out to many areas of society, including media, education, and the business community. Among them is SmartSquare, created to facilitate the improvement of businesses and technology projects for the U.A.E. and the region. Zayed University's web site is www.zu.ac.ae

Best Universities in Dubai

• Zayed University
• University of Wollongong in Dubai
• American University in Dubai
• The British University in Dubai
• University of Dubai
• Dubai Medical College
• Al Ghurair University
• Dubai Pharmacy College
• Canadian University of Dubai
• American University in the Emirates
• University of Jazerah