TOEFL Requirement for University of Dubai: A Complete Guide for Indian Students

Quick Overview

Key Takeaways

• The University of Dubai has a requirement for English language proficiency. The test for the university is that of the IELTS not the TOEFL. 

• However you can fulfill the English language proficiency requirement for the University of Dubai by getting 80% or higher marks in High School English or by passing the English Proficiency Test that is conducted by the University of Dubai and this rule is applicable to the BBA, Engineering and Information Technology programs at the University of Dubai.

• For the Law program at the University of Dubai you need to get a score of 6.0 on the IELTS proficiency test in addition to meeting the Math requirements for the Law program at the University of Dubai.

• If you want to take the English proficiency test as an alternative to IELTS for the University of Dubai, the University does not specify the minimum iBT TOEFL score so it is recommended that you get in touch with the admissions department of the University of Dubai to confirm the required score before registering for the TOEFL exam.

• From 21st January 2026 the TOEFL iBT tests will be shorter by 90 minutes. The scores will be reported on an alternative 1.0 to 6.0 band score scale in addition to the existing 0 to 120 scale but this will be for a limited time only.

• You may have to spend around INR 18,000 on the TOEFL exam and around INR 19,000 on the IELTS exam based on the 2026 fee in India.

• In case you do not meet the required English language proficiency test scores for the University of Dubai you should think about taking the English Placement Test that is offered by the University of Dubai which's a more cost-effective alternative to international English language proficiency exams like TOEFL and IELTS, for the University of Dubai.

Introduction

Do you have an English test result already in your email but you are not sure if it meets the English language requirements for University of Dubai? Every year thousands of Indian students apply to different universities in the United Arab Emirates, but language has always been one of the primary challenges for Indian students to get into the University. 

The TOEFL requirement for University of Dubai is a search thousands of applicants run every intake, but University of Dubai's own admissions page actually states its general standard in IELTS terms: 6.0 overall, with 5.5 in each band and 6.0 in Speaking.  Established in 1997, the University of Dubai has its license provided by the UAE’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. For the most popular courses including BBA, Engineering, IT, and Law, the university offers separate English language entry requirements. In this guide, we will tell you everything about English entry requirements for the University of Dubai, what TOEFL scores can be used as the alternatives, how much you will need to pay from India to take either IELTS or TOEFL in 2026 and what to do if you have lower scores than required. We will keep the information relevant so that you can schedule your test dates wisely. So, let’s get started.

If you are comparing test options more broadly, our guides on Top UAE Universities Accepting TOEFL and IELTS for Students vs IELTS for Migration are useful companion reads before you register for either exam.

What Is the TOEFL and Which Students Need It

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is administered by ETS, a US based testing body, and is designed to prove English proficiency for academic study. A common search students run is “TOEFL exam is for which country,” and the honest answer is that it is not tied to one destination. TOEFL iBT scores are accepted by institutions in more than 160 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the UAE.

Our detailed breakdown of why students take TOEFL covers the format and acceptance picture in more depth, and our TOEFL full form guide is a good starting point if you are still comparing test acronyms.

If English was not the medium of instruction of your previous studies, then the University of Dubai will require a valid score of an English language proficiency test as part of your application. A waiver can be granted if you have completed your previous secondary education in an English medium program however it is required to contact the admissions office directly to confirm this exemption since it is subject to change per intake. 

What Does University of Dubai Actually Require?

Based on the information found on the site of the University of Dubai, the following language proficiency criteria can be determined for the given course:

• General Undergraduate IELTS Academic 6.0 Overall, with no band below 5.5, and 6.0 in Speaking

• Bachelor of Business Administration High school English grade of at least 80% or satisfactory score in the University of Dubai English Proficiency Test (UD EPT).

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering Same as above with additional requirements of 80% or higher in Math and Physics, plus either Biology or Chemistry

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Same as above for English

• Bachelor of Law IELTS Academic 6.0 with minimum score of 6.0 in each band and 70% or higher in High school Math

• Graduate Diploma Original IELTS certificate with score of 6.0 or higher or official letter that the applicant’s degree was taught in English

As it can be seen from the information above, TOEFL is not mentioned anywhere with specific scores. That does not mean the University of Dubai will not accept it. It means the university's published bar is set in IELTS terms, and the practical step for a TOEFL applicant is to check with admissions before you register, so your score maps correctly to what the specific programme expects.

If you want to see how University of Dubai's English requirement compares against other institutions with a published TOEFL cutoff, our Top UAE Universities Accepting TOEFL list is a faster way to check several universities at once.

What About Postgraduate and MBA Applicants?

The University of Dubai Graduate Diploma program only discloses an explicit IELTS 6.0 requirement. 

As the MBA and other postgraduate programs do not set a different, official TOEFL or IELTS reading on their general admissions page in contrast to the graduate diploma, it is recommended to contact the UD admissions office or the Center for Executive Development directly for the exact score requirement before applying.

In addition to the language exam result, most postgraduate programs require either a bachelor’s degree transcript, relevant work experience, and sometimes even a GMAT or GRE result if applicable. So you should ask for the admissions checklist that's specific to the MBA or postgraduate program you want. The scores for TOEFL, IELTS and EmSAT exams for postgraduate studies are valid for the same amount of time as they are for undergraduate studies, which is usually no more than two years. Our MBA admission process in Dubai walks through school by school expectations, including work experience and GMAT or GRE conventions that often accompany the English score.

TOEFL Format Changes You Should Know About Before You Register

If you read something about the TOEFL which was published before 2026 then it is probably not entirely correct anymore. This is because ETS made some changes to the TOEFL iBT test from January 21st, 2026.  Here is what you need to know about the changes they made to the TOEFL test:

• The test has been shortened to an approximate total of 90 minutes, compared to roughly three hours previously

• Reading and Listening sections are now multistage adaptive tests – they dynamically adjust their difficulty based on your responses.

• A new reporting scale was introduced, with bands from 1.0 to 6.0 corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In addition to the 0-120 scale scores, test takers will receive a CEFR equivalent score for each section for two years during the transition period. The 0-120 scale scores will still be reported.

• Scores are posted faster,  no later than approximately 72 hours after the test date.

Most universities posted their score requirements before January 2026. This means the TOEFL scores are probably on the 0-120 scale. If you want to go to a university you should check what score they need. Our guide to TOEFL reading strategies for the new adaptive format  is really helpful. You should read it if you are getting ready for the TOEFL test.

TOEFL or IELTS: Which Should You Choose for University of Dubai?

Since the rules set by the University of Dubai are written using IELTS, the important question for most people applying will be whether to take IELTS or ask the University of Dubai for a similar statement for TOEFL. Your decision should still be based on which test you prefer.

What If You Don't Meet the TOEFL Requirement? English Placement Test as an Alternative Route

If your IELTS or TOEFL score does not meet the mark, University of Dubai does not necessarily cut you off right away. The applicants to the courses of BBA, Engineering, and IT can take the UD English Proficiency Test (UD EPT) as an alternative to satisfying the standard level of IELTS/TOEFL, if they meet the high school entry criteria. Students who fail the placement route are advised to take up English preparation courses together with a reduced programme load, which can prolong the programme duration.

However, if you would rather take an international test again, please bear in mind that you may want to check out our TOEFL retake policy before making any decisions, as a repeat test may not be the most convenient or cost-effective option compared to the placement route.

Application Process and Documents Checklist

For undergraduate admission, University of Dubai's published checklist includes:

1. Completed online application form
2. Attested original high school certificates for Grades 10, 11, and 12
3. An Equivalency Certificate from the UAE Ministry of Education, if your qualification was earned outside the UAE
4. Valid English language test results as required for your chosen programme
5. A passport copy with visa page, and Emirates ID copy where applicable
6. Four recent passport size photographs, or one combined PDF
7. Non-refundable admission fee, paid after you accept an offer

If your qualification was earned outside the UAE, your certificate will typically need attestation from your home country's Ministry of Education, your home country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and your country's embassy or consulate in the UAE, before an equivalency letter can be issued. Passport details matter more than most applicants expect here, since a mismatch between your registration and your passport can delay both your test score and your visa file; our guide on passport requirements for TOEFL registration walks through this in detail. For a wider view of how English scores fit alongside the rest of your UAE application, our UAE universities admission process for Indian students guide covers the full sequence.

Indian Students: What to Check Before You Book Your Test

Indian students seeking admission to University of Dubai should be aware of a few region specific considerations:

• When you are applying with Indian CBSE and ICSE qualifications you need to get your documents attested. Sometimes you also need a Certificate of Equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Education.

• The TOEFL test is available in major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.

• For the test fees, you should budget around INR 18,000 for the TOEFL test and around INR 19,000 for the IELTS test as of 2026 along with your application and coaching fees.

• Your TOEFL and IELTS test scores are valid for 2 years from the date you take the test.

• The University of Dubai does not say what the minimum TOEFL scores are for most of its programmes on its website. It is better to contact the University of Dubai by email or phone to ask about the TOEFL cut-off scores for the programme you want to apply for.

We are aware that many Indian families set aside funds for both the programme fees as well as scholarship applications, merit based awards and test fees. 

Common Mistakes Students Make With TOEFL Applications

Several recurring mistakes could appear in your process as you apply. These errors may appear as: 

• A supposed TOEFL score which is not certified by the university. Several popular 'University of Dubai TOEFL cutoffs 2023' results online are from other institutions in the UAE. Any TOEFL score you find online must be verified against the official website of the admissions

• Using outdated data and comparing the 2026 band score to the 0-120 cut-off or vice versa 

• Not accounting for processing time; TOEFL results do not appear instantly on the ETS website and can take several days to both receive and register with the university.

• A TOEFL or IELTS result more than two years old may be submitted as proof of language proficiency, but it is unlikely to be accepted.

• Not requesting the optional placement test for the English proficiency exam conducted by the University of Dubai to avoid the financial and temporal costs of taking another international standardized test.

• On the final stage, a student may make an error in providing the banking details; it is not uncommon, especially in contexts like the TOEFL exam in India, for the last moment payment to be unsuccessful.  Our guide to TOEFL payment methods in India covers how to avoid this.

How Study From UAE Helps With Your Application Journey

Working out the right English test, the correct score expectation, and the paperwork that goes with it can be confusing when you are applying from outside the UAE. Study From UAE helps Indian and South Asian students shortlist universities like University of Dubai, compare English proficiency routes across institutions, and understand which test, TOEFL or IELTS, fits their profile and target programme. Counsellors can also guide you through document attestation, application timelines, and scholarship options once your English score is sorted, so you are not managing every step alone.

You can explore the full University of Dubai, use the Compare Universities tool to see how University of Dubai stacks up against other UAE institutions on courses, fees, and admission requirements, or take the Find Your University Quiz if you are still shortlisting between programmes.

Conclusion

The TOEFL requirement for University of Dubai is less straightforward than a single number, because the university's own published standard is set in IELTS terms: 6.0 overall for most undergraduate routes, with programme-specific alternatives for BBA, Engineering, IT, and Law. If TOEFL is your preferred test, confirm the accepted score directly with UD admissions before you register, and budget close to INR 18,000 for the test itself. If your score falls short, the university's own English Placement Test route is there as a backup.

Explore your UAE study options with Study From UAE, compare University of Dubai against other institutions using our Compare Universities tool, and take the next step toward your academic goals with the correct test and requirement confirmed from the start.