Al Qasimia University Fees 2026: Tuition, Courses and Scholarships Explained for Indian Students
Quick Overview
| Detail | Confirmed Figure | Source Status |
|---|---|---|
| University type | Public university, Sharjah, Islamic-Arabic curriculum | Official (AQU website) |
| Master's programme fee | AED 99,000 total (AED 3,000 per credit hour × 33 credit hours) = approx. INR 26,02,710 | Official (AQU tuition fees page) |
| Bachelor's programme fee | Not published in AED by AQU for self-funded students | Unconfirmed, verify with AQU |
| International scholarship coverage | 100% tuition, stipend, accommodation, insurance, visa, flights | Official (AQU scholarship page) |
| Bachelor's programmes offered | 8 programmes across 5 colleges | Official |
| Master's programmes offered | 3 programmes, 33 credit hours each | Official |
| Bachelor's scholarship age cap | 16 to 20 years old at time of application | Official (AQU scholarship page) |
| Accreditation | Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; granted January 2015, renewed March 2021 | Official (AQU website) |
Key Takeaways
- AQU does not mention tuition fees for self funded bachelor’s degrees. AQU has an option for students outside the UAE to get a full scholarship if they are eligible.
- The only tuition fee that AQU has confirmed is for masters programmes. It costs AED 3,000. There are 33 credit hours in total. So the total fee for the programme is AED 99,000 which's about INR 26,02,710.
- Some websites say that the tuition fee for a bachelor's degree is around AED 25,000 to AED 54,450 per year. You should confirm the fee with the Admissions team before you start planning your budget.
- If you get the AQU scholarship, it covers most of the cost like the tuition fee, accommodation, insurance, visa, Emirates ID, return airfare with a monthly stipend.
- You should start getting your documents attested 2-3 months before you apply because AQU does not accept the apostille route that India uses.
- The main language that AQU uses to teach is Arabic. So you should plan to spend time and money on the Intensive Arabic Language Programme.
Planning to Study in the UAE? Let Us Guide You the Right Way.
Introduction
The confusion is real if you are looking for Al Qasimia University fees and getting different numbers on all websites. Al Qasimia University, an Islamic-Arabic university in Sharjah does not give a standard tuition fee for a bachelor's degree. This is why many websites have numbers which are based on guesses or are old information.
The university does mention a fee for the masters programme, which is AED 99,000. They also have a scholarship model that helps students from outside the UAE who are eligible. This guide separates what AQU has actually published from what is unverified online, walks you through the exact steps to check what you will pay, apply for the scholarship, and register, and lays out what Indian students specifically need to plan for. Let us begin.
There are 2 things that can help you: the Al Qasimia University Scholarship 2026 guide, which tells you everything about who's eligible and how to apply for the scholarship and the Al Qasimia University for campus photos, quick facts, and a side-by-side comparison view. If you are still trying to decide which university to look for in Sharjah, then you should look at the Study in Sharjah page next.
Important: Arabic Is the Primary Medium of Instruction
Before you budget a single AED, know this: AQU lists Arabic and English as its media of instruction, but in practice coursework, and thesis defence at the master's level, lean heavily on Arabic across almost every college. Non-Arabic speakers take a placement test when they arrive. If they do not pass the test then they have to finish one or two semesters at the Language Centre after which they can start their degree. This will take extra time even though it does not cost any extra money according to the information which is available. If you are thinking about an English-medium MA or bachelors programme check this directly with AQU before you apply. Do not wait until after you apply.
Al Qasimia University Fee Structure 2026
This is the section where most other guides get it wrong. AQU's official tuition fees page confirms a per credit hour rate only for its master's programmes. For bachelor's programmes, no standalone AED tuition figure is published, because the university's stated admission approach for international applicants is scholarship based rather than fee based.
| Programme Level | Official AED Tuition | INR Equivalent (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's (3 programmes) | AED 3,000 per credit hour × 33 credit hours = AED 99,000 total | INR 26,02,710 | Confirmed on AQU's official tuition fees page; waived entirely for scholarship recipients serving as Research and Teaching Assistants. |
| Bachelor's (8 programmes) | Not officially published | Not applicable | AQU's international admission model is scholarship based; third-party estimates of AED 25,000 to AED 54,450 per year are unverified and inconsistent across sources. |
Step-by-Step: How to Confirm What You Will Actually Pay
Step 1: Check if you qualify for the international scholarship first using our eligibility table further below. If you do, tuition is not the number you need to budget for at all.
Step 2: If you do not immediately qualify, email AQU's admissions office and ask for the current self-funded fee schedule for your specific programme in writing.
Step 3: Ignore any AED figure on a comparison site that does not link back to an AQU page. Cross-check it against the official tuition fees page yourself.
Step 4: Once you have a written figure, convert it using the day's actual AED to INR rate, not a fixed number from an old blog post, since the rate moves daily.
Al Qasimia University PG Courses and Fees
AQU's College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research offers three master's programmes, each confirmed on the official tuition fees page at the same rate:
- Master of Jurisprudence and its Foundations, College of Sharia and Islamic Studies
- Master of Arabic Language and Literature, College of Arts and Humanities
- Master's Programme in Qur'anic Exegesis and Hadith, College of the Holy Qur'an
Each runs 33 credit hours at the AED 99,000 total noted above. If you have seen other programme names, such as an MA or LLM, referenced elsewhere for AQU, these are not confirmed on AQU's official fees page. Verify directly with AQU before assuming they carry the same fee structure or are currently open for admission.
Language note: as flagged earlier in this guide, all three master's programmes above sit within Islamic and Arabic studies, so do not assume English-medium instruction. Confirm the language reality with AQU before applying.
Al Qasimia University Courses and Fees for Indian Students
At the undergraduate level, AQU offers eight programmes across five colleges, each with a minimum grade requirement rather than a published fee. You can explore more at the Al Qasimia University courses.
- 70% in Class 12 for Arts and Humanities, Communication, the Holy Quran, and Foundations of Religion
- 75% in Class 12 for Sharia and Islamic Studies
- 80% in Class 12 for Economics and Management, plus IELTS 5.0 for the Economics programme specifically, where reviewing IELTS exam guidelines and scoring insights can help you prepare effectively.
- IELTS 4.5 additionally required for the Mass Communication programme
Tip: check your programme's grade threshold before you start the attestation process. If you are 2 to 3 percentage points short, it is worth improving through a supplementary exam or waiting a cycle rather than applying and risking rejection after you have already paid for document translation and attestation.
Al Qasimia University Scholarship: How It Changes the Fee Picture
This is the single most important thing to understand before budgeting for AQU. The university's international scholarship, available to eligible applicants applying from outside the UAE, covers:
- 100% tuition fee waiver for the full programme duration
- A monthly stipend, amount confirmed only after admission
- Free accommodation for single students inside or near the Sharjah campus
- Health insurance for the duration of study
- The university will give you a round trip airfare after you finish 50% of the study plan. They will also give you a one-way ticket home after you graduate.
- Visa, UAE residency, and Emirates ID processing, fully funded and managed by the university
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for the AQU Scholarship
Step 1: Check if you can apply. If you want to get a bachelor's degree, you must be between 16-20 years old, and have finished class 12 in the last 2 years. If you want to get a master’s degree, you need to have a bachelor's grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0.
Step 2: Start getting your certificates attested immediately. Do not wait until you are selected. First get your State Board to attest your certificates, then the Ministry of External Affairs and finally the UAE Embassy, ensuring you align everything with the standard UAE student visa.
Step 3: Get a translation of every certificate and your passport in Arabic or English, attested by the same three authorities.
Step 4: Complete AQU's online application form in full, listing your preferred colleges in priority order, and upload all documents in colour, JPG for photos and PDF for the rest.
Step 5: Track your email and the application portal closely after submission. Seats are limited, and priority goes to higher grades, more recent graduation, and younger age, in that order.
For the complete eligibility breakdown, GPA maintenance rules, and full document checklist by level, see Study From UAE's Al Qasimia University Scholarship guide linked earlier in this article.
Al Qasimia University Registration Process
Once you have an offer, registration follows a fixed sequence. Use this as a checklist rather than reading it passively:
- Accept your offer within the timeframe AQU specifies. Late acceptance can lead to your seat, and your scholarship if applicable, being reassigned.
- Complete visa and residency paperwork through AQU's international office if you are on the scholarship; self-funded students handle this independently or with a consultant.
- Arrive in Sharjah within the university's stated window. AQU has explicitly stated that late arrival can result in visa cancellation, so treat this deadline as non-negotiable.
- Attend orientation, where you will get your class schedule, campus map, and, if required, your Arabic placement test slot.
- Pay any outstanding registration or services fee, if applicable to your programme, before the add or drop deadline for your first semester.
Living Costs Beyond Tuition in Sharjah
The University does not give a breakdown of the living costs but other people who have studied in the UAE have given approximate estimates for living expenses. Remember these are guesses, not official numbers from the university:
- If you live on campus you will probably pay around AED 3,300 to AED 4,400 per year for housing which is about INR 86,757 to INR 1,15,676.
- If you live off campus, which is something you might consider if you have a self funded programme, it will cost around AED 8,800 to AED 22,000 per year which is about INR 2,31,352 to INR 5,78,380.
- For expenses each month you will probably need around AED 1,000 to AED 2,000 which is around INR 26,290 to INR 52,580.
Here is a tip to help you plan your money: If you have a scholarship then the university will take care of your accommodation whether you live on or off campus. The above prices for off campus housing are mainly for people who have self funding and need to find their own place to live. The scholarship is really helpful because it covers the cost of accommodation. This means you do not have to worry about paying for a place to live whether it is on campus or off campus if you have the scholarship.
Common Mistakes Indian Students Make While Budgeting for AQU
- Trusting a single AED figure from a comparison website. Since bachelor's tuition is not published, verify any specific number rather than assuming it. Fix: email AQU Admissions and get it in writing before you plan around it.
- Using the apostille route for attestation. The UAE does not accept apostilled Indian documents, only the Board or State, MEA, and UAE Embassy chain. Fix: start the traditional chain the moment you decide to apply.
- Assuming the scholarship is automatic. Bachelor's scholarships follow a priority order by grades, recency, and age; master's scholarships are competitive. Fix: apply as early in the intake window as possible.
- Underestimating the Arabic requirement. Non-Arabic speakers may need up to two semesters of preparatory language study before starting their degree. Fix: begin basic Arabic self-study before you arrive.
What Indian Students Should Know Before Applying to AQU
Beyond fees one real challenge that affects every Indian applicant: Paperwork. Every certificate you send, from your Class 12 marksheet to your passport translation needs the whole attestation process (State or Board first, then Ministry of External Affairs, then UAE Embassy). India has accepted apostilled documents for other Hague Convention member countries since 2005, but the UAE is not a member of that convention, so apostille is not a valid substitute for AQU submissions regardless of how recently a document was apostilled.
Your Pre-Departure Budget Checklist
- Attestation and legal translation fees for every certificate and your passport
- Medical fitness certificate from a government hospital, valid within 3 months of submission
- Police clearance or good conduct certificate, with legal translation
- 12 recent passport-size photographs with a white background
- Initial travel and settling-in costs to Sharjah, since most other expenses are covered if you receive the scholarship
How Study From UAE Can Help
Working out what Al Qasimia University fees actually mean, and whether you qualify for a scholarship that removes most of them, is exactly what Study From UAE helps Indian students work through. Our team can check your eligibility against AQU's grade and age thresholds, sequence the India specific attestation chain correctly, and help you apply directly through AQU's own admissions portal. If you are still comparing AQU with other UAE universities, the Find Your University Quiz can help narrow that down.
Conclusion
The honest answer to "what are Al Qasimia University fees" is that AQU has published only one confirmed number, AED 99,000 for its master's programmes, and built its international admissions model around scholarships rather than a standard bachelor's fee. Verify any other AED figure directly with AQU, start your attestation chain early, and check whether you qualify for the scholarship before assuming you will pay in full.
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