Heriot Watt Dubai Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

Heriot-Watt University Dubai was founded in 2005 as a UAE satellite campus of HWU. It has been accredited by CAA for all UG and PG courses. The university was crowned as the Best University in the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards in 2019. It has also been awarded a 5-star rating by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for five consecutive years. The Heriot-Watt University Dubai courses consist of various UG and PG programs to choose from. 

The Heriot University's 2025-25 annual report and financial statements confirm that the student enrollments for Heriot University Dubai have grown over the past 2-3 years. In addition to this, the number of international students is also growing at the Dubai campus. The report also says that the Dubai campus is the fastest-growing campus, with respect to Scotland, the UAE, and Malaysia. 

New Enrollments- Around 42% of the total population at Heriot-Watt Dubai are freshers. 

Selectivity- With an acceptance rate of around 60%, as per unofficial sources, Heriot-Watt University Dubai is among the moderate-to-low competition Dubai-based universities. 

Rejection rate- Around 40% of the applicants get rejected. This means that Heriot-Watt University rejects 4 out of every 10 students. 

What is Heriot-Watt University Dubai Indian Acceptance Rate?

Official reports suggest that there are currently 2,105 Indian students housed at Heriot-Watt University's Dubai campus, making up about 45% of the total student enrollment. India is the top country of origin for this uni. Other top enrollments include Arab (13%) and Pakistani (8%). The new enrollments for Indians in 2024/25 stood to be 740. Check the international enrollment stats below- 

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Acceptance Rate Trends

From the available records, it can be discerned that the total enrollment at Heriot-Watt University Dubai has increased by 8.7% in the last three years. The Indian origin enrollment has remained more or less the same however, the share of Indian students in the population has seen a slight decrease of 6.3%. Overall the HWU Dubai campus continues to remain a popular Dubai study abroad destination amongst Indians.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Requirements for International Students

Indian students are required to pay the Heriot-Watt University Dubai fees and fulfil the HWU Dubai admission requirements mentioned below to secure a seat-

UG:

• (Year 1) Overall aggregate of 65-75% in CBSE/ICSE/State Board in Class 12 depending on the course you apply for 
• (Year 2) Overall aggregate of 75-85% in CBSE/ICSE/State Board in Class 12 depending on the course you apply for 
• Subject specific grade requirements
• English proficiency proof

PG:

• Relevant UG degree
• Second Class Lower (2:2) equivalent with 55% or 5.5 CGPA on a scale of 10 for most courses
• English proficiency proof

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

While there's no obligation to submit SAT/ACT scores to HWU Dubai, students will have to score a CGPA of 5.5 on a scale of 10 for most subjects. For Tier 1 universities like DU, IIT, JNU, etc., the requirement may vary further, at 5.3 or 6.3 for some subjects. Refer to the official uni website for the list of these institutes and more clarity.

Tips to get selected at Heriot-Watt University Dubai

Students can refer to the tips given below to maximise their chances of selection at Heriot Watt Dubai campus-

• Make a neat schedule to avoid mindlessly juggling social, academic, and other obligations. Try to maintain discipline and stick to your schedule.
• Make sure you meet the minimum grade requirement for the course you've chosen. Different courses may have different subject requirements, depending on the study level or study area.
• Lastly apply in a timely manner. Check for any admission updates or any other relevant university-related news to avoid confusion later on.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Acceptance Rate vs BITS Pilani Dubai Acceptance Rate

Both, the BITS Pilani Dubai acceptance rate as well as the Heriot Watt Dubai acceptance rate stands at around 60%, making the admission criteria moderately selective for both institutes. Moreover both are top UAE based universties that select only best of the best candidates. So prepare seriously and aim for high scores to maximise your chances of selection to either of the universities.