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Following the discontinuation of the EmSAT exam, universities in the UAE are prioritizing the development of alternative admissions criteria, with the aim of simplifying the application process and streamlining admissions.

The changes come after the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced the immediate cancellation of the EmSAT for 12th grade students, along with the move to revised university admission standards.

The EmSAT will no longer be part of the admission requirements for 12th graders entering higher education.

Instead, each university will set its own criteria based on the academic major the student intends to pursue. This decision aims to facilitate a smoother transition to higher education, allowing students to pursue their aspirations by giving universities more flexibility in setting admission criteria.

For medical and engineering programs, admissions will now give higher priority to students’ grades in science subjects rather than their overall scores.

Comprehensive approach

Dr. Yousef M. Al Assaf, President of Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai, said: “The new admissions criteria will largely mirror our current approach. We will continue with our own placement tests in Physics, Maths and English alongside the standard IELTS and TOEFL requirements.

“Furthermore, we will adhere to both the Ministry’s requirements for high school students and the admissions criteria set forth at RIT NY. Certain placement tests will determine the appropriate level for each student, such as placement in Physics 100 or Physics 102.”

Varsities have emphasized that they remain open to considering international assessments such as the SAT or ACT if they align with admissions standards.

Nahid Afshan, Head of Admissions, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, said: “Abolishing the EmSAT exam will simplify the university application process and make the admission process easier. It will relieve students of additional pressure, allowing them to focus on their high school grades and showcasing their strengths and abilities.

“Our admission criteria will be based on the student’s total score in the high school exam, with minimum grade requirements in relevant subjects based on their preferred major. For English language proficiency, we will consider alternative exams such as IELTS in absentia. of EmSAT,” he added.

In addition, this change would allow institutions to take a more comprehensive approach to evaluating applicants, taking into account a wider range of skills and achievements, such as academic performance, extracurricular involvement and other tailored criteria.

Sara Sleem, Associate Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions, American University in Dubai (AUD) said: “Our admissions requirements demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity by accommodating applicants from diverse countries and education systems. For English and Maths we offer flexible test options, including EMSAT (to date) and other internationally accepted alternatives. Students can meet English proficiency with IELTS, TOEFL or EMSAT, while math requirements can be met through SAT, EMSAT (earlier) or the AUD Math Placement Test. With recent updates to the EMSAT requirements by the Ministry of Education, the continued use of alternative options continues to provide students with a more accessible and flexible admissions process.”

Nandini Sircar

Nandini Sircar has a penchant for education, space and women’s narratives. She sees the world through a lens of learning: whether it’s the earthly pursuit of wisdom or the otherworldly mysteries of space. In her written universe, women and children take center stage.