Dubai · Bachelor's
Zayed University (Dubai Campus)
Bachelor of Science in Communication and Media Sciences
Zayed University (Dubai Campus)
Deadline detail: August 1 (September intake), November 30 (January intake)
Course Overview
Zayed University's College of Communication and Media Sciences is the flagship communications school in the UAE and one of the better-known ones in the wider Gulf. The BSc in Communication and Media Sciences is built on the accreditation models used by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, the International Advertising Association and the Public Relations Society of America — which in practice means the curriculum looks like a serious American communications degree rather than a general media-studies course, and it is unusual in the region for that.
The degree covers the full range of media and technology: audio, video, web, multimedia and print, alongside media theory, research methods, media law and ethics, and strategic communication. At the Dubai campus students choose from concentrations in Media Production and Storytelling, Integrated Strategic Communications, and Tourism and Cultural Communications — the last of these being a genuinely Dubai-specific specialisation, given that destination marketing and cultural communication are a real industry here rather than an academic construct. Production facilities include television and radio studios, editing suites and digital media labs, and an internship is built into the degree.
For Sri Lankan students the Gulf argument is a specific one. Dubai is the media and advertising capital of the Middle East: the regional headquarters of the global agency networks, MBC and the Arabic broadcast groups, Dubai Media City, the regional offices of the international news organisations, and the marketing functions of Emirates, the hotel groups and the retail conglomerates are all here. Fees at a UAE federal university are a fraction of a UK, Australian or US communications degree, the flight home is four hours, and the UAE's post-study routes — including the ten-year Golden Visa available to graduates with a high GPA from an accredited UAE university — have made staying on after graduation considerably more feasible than it once was. Note that Zayed University operates separate campuses and facilities for male and female students; confirm the arrangements for your intake before applying.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A recognised secondary school certificate. Sri Lankan GCE A/L, Cambridge and Edexcel International A-Levels and the IB Diploma are all accepted, with the certificate assessed against UAE Ministry of Education equivalency.
- check_circle Sri Lankan GCE A/L: three passes in any stream — this is a communications degree and does not require a science or mathematics background, though Arts and Commerce stream applicants are the natural profile.
- check_circle Cambridge or Edexcel International A-Levels: passes in at least two or three subjects alongside a full set of O-Levels or IGCSEs including English and Mathematics.
- check_circle IB Diploma: full diploma.
- check_circle All non-UAE qualifications must be attested — this is the step Sri Lankan applicants most often underestimate. Certificates need attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo and then by the UAE Embassy, and equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education. Start this at least three months ahead of the deadline.
- check_circle A portfolio is not required, but production work, school media, photography or writing samples strengthen an application and help with concentration placement.
- check_circle International students require a student residence visa, which the university sponsors on admission, along with a medical fitness test and Emirates ID registration after arrival.
- check_circle Zayed University operates gender-separated campuses and facilities; confirm the specific arrangements for your intake and campus with admissions before applying.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.0 Overall is the usual entry requirement for degree programmes at Zayed University; some programmes and intakes require 6.5.
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 79-80 Overall.
- check_circle EmSAT English: the UAE national test is accepted and is often the more practical route for applicants already in the Gulf.
- check_circle Waived in some cases where your secondary education was completed entirely in English at a recognised institution — Sri Lankan applicants from Cambridge, Edexcel and IB streams and from English-medium national-curriculum schools should submit a school letter confirming the medium of instruction and ask admissions to assess it. This waiver is applied at the university's discretion, so confirm in writing before deciding not to sit a test.
- check_circle The degree is taught entirely in English.
- check_circle Arabic is not required. Free Arabic courses are available and are genuinely useful in this field — a communications graduate who can work bilingually in the Gulf market is worth substantially more to a regional agency than one who cannot.
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (AED) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | AED 66,000 | Rs. 5,742,000 |
| Living Expenses in Dubai (per year) | AED 45,000 | Rs. 3,915,000 |
| Student Residence Visa, Medical & Emirates ID | AED 4,000 | Rs. 348,000 |
| Health Insurance (per year) | AED 2,500 | Rs. 217,500 |
| Laptop, Camera Equipment, Books & Airfare | AED 3,000 | Rs. 261,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | AED 120,500 | Rs. 10,483,500 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Dubai is the media, advertising and communications hub of the Middle East, and graduates from this college feed it directly: the regional offices of the global agency networks (WPP, Publicis, Omnicom, Dentsu), the broadcast and production sector around Dubai Media City and MBC, public relations and corporate communications functions at Emirates, Etihad, DP World, Emaar, Majid Al Futtaim and the banks, destination marketing at Dubai Tourism and the hotel groups, digital and social media agencies, and the regional bureaux of the international news organisations. The UAE's post-study routes have improved substantially — graduates can apply for a job-seeker or Green Visa, and outstanding graduates from accredited UAE universities with a high GPA can qualify for a ten-year Golden Visa, which decouples residency from a single employer. Confirm the current thresholds with the ICP before relying on them. Starting salaries in Dubai communications roles vary widely by employer type, and the absence of personal income tax changes the take-home arithmetic significantly against a comparable UK or Australian salary. Sri Lankan returnees carry Gulf agency experience that is well regarded in Colombo, moving into the advertising and PR agencies, the marketing and brand functions at Dialog, John Keells, MAS, Cargills and the banks, the hospitality and tourism marketing sector, and the digital content and production industry.
Related Programs
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our counsellors have helped hundreds of Sri Lankan students secure placements in Dubai. We handle everything from applications to visa processing — and it starts with a free, in-person visit to one of our three offices.
ඔබට සුදුසු විශ්වවිද්යාලයක් තේරීම, අයදුම්පත් යොමු කිරීම, SOP සකස් කිරීම සහ වීසා ලබා ගැනීම ඇතුළු සෑම පියවරකදීම, ඔබ වෙනුවෙන් සියලුම වගකීම් විශ්වාසවන්තව අප භාර ගනිමු.
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