UAE · Bachelor's
American University in Dubai
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
American University in Dubai
Course Overview
American University in Dubai (AUD) is one of the longest-established American-curriculum universities in the UAE — founded 1995, accredited by the UAE's Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) and by the US Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC), making it one of the few Dubai universities offering a US-accredited degree at GCC pricing. The Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at AUD runs the BA Mass Communication across four concentrations: Journalism, Broadcasting Production, Public Relations, and Integrated Strategic Communication. The downtown Dubai campus (Al Sufouh) sits within Dubai Media City — the regional media hub housing CNN Arabic, BBC Arabic, MBC, Al Arabiya, Bloomberg Middle East, Sky News Arabia, Reuters Middle East, and the regional offices of every major advertising network (WPP, Publicis, Omnicom).
Sri Lankan A-Level / IB applicants from Sinhala / Tamil and English-medium school backgrounds choose AUD for the US-curriculum + Dubai-network combination: lower tuition than US Bachelor's (LKR 7.2M/year vs LKR 14-21M for US), proximity to family (Colombo-Dubai 4 hours direct), and direct integration with Dubai Media City's regional media employers. AUD's career office places graduates into MBC Group, CNN Arabic, Sky News Arabia, BBC Arabic, Al Arabiya, Bloomberg Middle East, plus regional advertising networks (Memac Ogilvy, FP7 McCann, Wunderman Thompson MENA). The UAE 2-year post-graduation visa applies to AUD graduates.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: 3 A-Levels at grade C or higher (combined with O-Level / GCSE in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics).
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 passes in Arts, Commerce, or Physical Science stream — minimum S or C in each subject.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 24 points minimum.
- check_circle SAT (1100+) or ACT (22+) — optional for some intakes but strongly recommended for competitive applicants.
- check_circle Personal Statement (250-500 words).
- check_circle Portfolio of writing, video, or photography work strongly recommended for the Broadcasting Production / Journalism tracks.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (min 5.5 in each section).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 79 Overall.
- check_circle EmSAT English: 1400 (UAE national test, accepted alternative).
- check_circle Pearson PTE: 53 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if you have completed at least 3 years of full-time English-medium secondary education (most Sri Lankan Edexcel / Cambridge International / Royal / Trinity / St Joseph's / Asian International / Lyceum / Stafford applicants qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (AED) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | AED 83,000 | Rs. 7,221,000 |
| Living Expenses in Dubai (per year, off-campus) | AED 50,000 | Rs. 4,350,000 |
| Student Visa & Emirates ID (per year) | AED 5,000 | Rs. 435,000 |
| Health Insurance (mandatory, per year) | AED 3,500 | Rs. 304,500 |
| Books, Equipment & Travel | AED 4,000 | Rs. 348,000 |
| Total Programme Investment (4 years) | AED 582,000 | Rs. 50,634,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
UAE Post-Graduation Visa — 2 years of residence rights to seek employment after graduation, regardless of prior employer sponsorship. UAE Golden Visa pathway (10-year) for high-performing graduates with strong academic record (GPA 3.5+) or specialised skills. AUD Mass Communication graduates route into MBC Group, CNN Arabic, BBC Arabic, Sky News Arabia, Bloomberg Middle East, Al Arabiya, Dubai Media Inc., Abu Dhabi Media, plus regional advertising networks (Memac Ogilvy, FP7 McCann, Wunderman Thompson MENA, Publicis Middle East), Dubai-based corporate communications at Emirates Group, Etihad, DP World, Emaar, plus into government communications at Dubai Media Office and the UAE Government Media Office. Median UAE starting salary AED 8,000-15,000/month (LKR 696k-1.3M/month); senior communications AED 25,000-45,000/month. Sri Lankan returnees route into senior media and PR roles at MAS Holdings, John Keells, Brandix, Dilmah, plus Colombo offices of Edelman, Triad, Mullen Lowe, JWT, Ogilvy, and broadcast positions at Sirasa, Derana, News First, MTV Maharaja, plus Sri Lankan diaspora media in the GCC.
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