Equivalency Certificate Requirements – United Arab Emirates
Will British or American qualifications count at a university here? The official conditions, step by step.
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Applied Bachelor - Advanced stream or equivalent (plus Grade 12 English 80%)
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 70%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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Applied Bachelor - General or Applied stream or equivalent (plus Grade 12 English 80%)
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 80%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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Vocational Diploma - Advanced stream or equivalent (plus Grade 12 English 70%)
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 60%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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Vocational Diploma - General or Applied stream or equivalent (plus Grade 12 English 70%)
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 70%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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Mahara programmes - high school average 60% (Grade 12 English below 70%)
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 60%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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Self-sponsored non-UAE nationals - average 85%, and 90% in English and the qualifying Grade 12 subjects
Higher Colleges of Technology
Minimum: 85%
المسار المتقدم أو ما يعادله: 70% - المسارين العام والتطبيقي أو ما يعادلهما: 80% - مستوى إجادة اللغة الإنجليزية: 80% في اختبار الصف الثاني عشر أو ما يعادله
Source: Higher Colleges of Technology - Admissions Criteria for Fall 2025 (hosted on mohesr.gov.ae)
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American: complete Grades 10, 11 and 12 with at least five subjects per grade, each passed at D or 60% (Islamic Education and Arabic not counted)
Minimum: 60%
The student must successfully complete Grades 10, 11and 12, with a minimum of five subjects per grade, each with a passing score of at least D or 60%.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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American: earn the secondary school completion certificate (high school diploma)
The student must successfully complete Grades 10, 11and 12, with a minimum of five subjects per grade, each with a passing score of at least D or 60%.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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American: English - TOEFL iBT no less than 61, or
Minimum: 61%
The student must successfully complete Grades 10, 11and 12, with a minimum of five subjects per grade, each with a passing score of at least D or 60%.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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American: English - IELTS Academic no less than 5.0
Minimum: 5%
The student must successfully complete Grades 10, 11and 12, with a minimum of five subjects per grade, each with a passing score of at least D or 60%.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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American: SAT I Math no less than 450
Minimum: 450%
The student must successfully complete Grades 10, 11and 12, with a minimum of five subjects per grade, each with a passing score of at least D or 60%.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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British track 1: pass five GCSE/IGCSE subjects at A*-E or 9-3 (Islamic Education and Arabic not counted)
Minimum: 5%
The student must pass two subjects at the Subsidiary Level or one subject at the Advanced Level with a grade of (A*, A, B, C, D, E).
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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British track 1: plus two Advanced Subsidiary subjects or one Advanced Level subject at A*-E
The student must pass two subjects at the Subsidiary Level or one subject at the Advanced Level with a grade of (A*, A, B, C, D, E).
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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British: successfully complete Grade 12 (Year 13) or its equivalent
The student must pass two subjects at the Subsidiary Level or one subject at the Advanced Level with a grade of (A*, A, B, C, D, E).
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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British track 2 (vocational): BTEC Level 3 Diploma with at least 120 credit points or 720 GLH, plus five GCSE/IGCSE passes or an International BTEC Level 2 Diploma (480 GLH) or the IB MYP Certificate
Minimum: 720%
The student must pass two subjects at the Subsidiary Level or one subject at the Advanced Level with a grade of (A*, A, B, C, D, E).
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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IB track 1: obtain the full IB Diploma (Islamic Education not among the required subjects)
The student's total score must be no less than 21.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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IB track 2: pass six IB subject certificates, each at grade 3 or above, including English, Mathematics and one science (SL or HL)
Minimum: 3%
The student's total score must be no less than 21.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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IB track 2: total score no less than 21
Minimum: 21%
The student's total score must be no less than 21.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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IB track 3 (vocational): IB Career-related Programme certificate, two IB subjects at 3 or above, and BTEC Level 3 Diploma with at least 90 credit points or 540 GLH
Minimum: 540%
The student's total score must be no less than 21.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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CBSE / Indian and other curricula ('Other systems'): pass Grades 10, 11 and 12 according to the curriculum requirements
The student must pass grades 10, 11, and 12 according to the curriculum requirements.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
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CBSE / Indian and other curricula: obtain the graduation certificate or diploma of that curriculum
The student must pass grades 10, 11, and 12 according to the curriculum requirements.
Source: MoE Guide to Academic Certificate Equivalency for Licensed UAE-based Private Schools 2024-2025
We have not found a published official condition for this curriculum yet. Check with the official body listed at the bottom of the page.
How it is calculated
The conditions are shown as the official body published them for each curriculum, with their wording, source and start date. The final decision on a certificate's equivalency rests with the official body alone.
Worked example: SAT Math 430 is below 450.
What is certificate equivalency (معادلة الشهادات)?
Certificate equivalency is the official recognition that a school certificate from another curriculum — British, American, International Baccalaureate and others — counts the same as the national secondary certificate. Universities ask for it before admitting students from those curricula.
Also searched as: equivalency certificate UAE, certificate of equivalency, certificate equivalency, how to get an equivalency certificate in the UAE
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