Dubai · Bachelor's
Zayed University (Dubai Campus)
Bachelor of Business Administration
Zayed University (Dubai Campus)
Course Overview
Zayed University is one of the three federal UAE universities (alongside UAE University in Al Ain and Higher Colleges of Technology), with the Dubai campus delivering AACSB-accredited undergraduate and graduate business programmes. The BSc in Business Administration is delivered through the College of Business and offers six concentration majors: Accounting, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management, and Marketing. The 4-year programme uses US-style credit-hour pedagogy (English-medium, lecture + seminar format) and includes a required internship in Year 3 plus a Year 4 senior capstone project. The Dubai campus partners directly with Dubai Holding, Etisalat, Emirates Group, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Mashreq Bank, and the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) for student placements.
Sri Lankan applicants choose Zayed University over private UAE / Western branch campuses because the tuition (AED 66,000/year) is among the most accessible English-medium AACSB-accredited business degrees in the Gulf, while the federal-university brand carries strong recognition with regional employers (Zayed alumni hold senior roles across Dubai Holding, Emirates Group, ENBD, Dubai Police, and the federal civil service). UAE post-study work is via the 2-year Job Seeker visa, with Green Visa and 10-year Golden Visa pathways for skilled professionals. Sri Lankan returnees route into senior management positions at JKH, Hayleys, MAS Holdings, Brandix, Dialog Axiata, plus into Sri Lanka-UAE trade and logistics corridor at Aitken Spence Logistics, Hayleys Advantis, John Keells Logistics, and into Big Four Sri Lanka accounting practices.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Cambridge / Edexcel A-Levels: BBC-BBB.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: 3 Cs (any stream).
- check_circle IB Diploma: 26-30 points overall.
- check_circle Two academic references; CV; personal statement (300-500 words).
- check_circle Foundation pathway available for applicants who don't meet direct-entry academic requirements.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 5.5 Overall.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 71 Overall.
- check_circle EmSAT English 1100+ (UAE-administered English standardised test).
- check_circle Waived if your school qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English at a recognised institution — most Sri Lankan applicants qualify with an MOI letter.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (AED) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | AED 66,000 | Rs. 5,742,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Dubai) | AED 45,000 | Rs. 3,915,000 |
| Student Visa, Emirates ID & Health Insurance | AED 6,000 | Rs. 522,000 |
| Books & Industry Site Visits | AED 2,000 | Rs. 174,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | AED 119,000 | Rs. 10,353,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for UAE's 2-year Job Seeker visa on graduation, with conversion to the 2-year Green Visa for graduate-level employment and 10-year Golden Visa pathway for skilled professionals. Zayed University BBA grads route into management trainee positions at Emirates Group, dnata, Etisalat, Dubai Holding, Aldar Properties, Emaar Properties, Mashreq Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Aramex, Majid Al Futtaim Group, plus into Big Four UAE (PwC ME, KPMG Lower Gulf, EY MENA, Deloitte ME) — AED 12,000-20,000/month starting (LKR 12.5M-21M/yr; UAE tax-free salaries make take-home value significantly higher than UK / US gross). Sri Lankan returnees route into management positions at JKH, Hayleys, MAS Holdings, Brandix, Dialog Axiata, HNB, Commercial Bank, Sampath, plus into Sri Lanka-UAE trade and logistics corridor at Aitken Spence Logistics, Hayleys Advantis, John Keells Logistics, into Big Four Sri Lanka (PwC, KPMG, EY, Deloitte) at the audit / advisory associate level.
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