What Is Khalifa University?

Updated

Khalifa University (ku.ac.ae) is an internationally ranked, research-intensive university in Abu Dhabi, UAE, that combines science, engineering, and medicine. It offers specialized degree programs that can take a student from undergraduate study through to doctoral level. It is a relevant starting point if you are a prospective undergraduate or postgraduate student, a parent or sponsor, or a researcher looking for a UAE-based institution with a research focus.

What the university says about itself

The site describes Khalifa University as "an internationally top-ranked research-intensive university located in Abu Dhabi, UAE" that "brings together the best in science, engineering and medicine in the UAE, to offer specialized degrees that can take promising high school graduates all the way to top-rated doctorate degree holders."

Three things stand out in that description:

  • Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
  • Character: Research-intensive and internationally ranked.
  • Discipline focus: Science, engineering, and medicine.
  • Degree pathway: Specialized degrees spanning undergraduate through doctorate.

Academic structure

The site's navigation lists three colleges:

College Coverage implied by name
College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Engineering and physical sciences
College of Computing and Mathematical Sciences Computing and mathematics
College of Medicine and Health Sciences Medicine and health sciences

It also lists an academic calendar, a library, a General Education Unit, a Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and a Cyber Security Academy. A named program, the BSc in Computer Science, appears in the site navigation, as does Zayed Military University.

Admissions pathways

The site separates admissions into clear tracks, which is useful for locating the right process:

  • Undergraduate admissions — for prospective bachelor's students.
  • Postgraduate admissions — for prospective master's and PhD students.
  • Scholarships — listed as a separate section under admissions.
  • Audience pages — dedicated entry points for future students, parents, and sponsors.

If you are applying, start from the admissions section that matches your level rather than the general homepage, since requirements and deadlines differ by track.

Research and facilities

Research is presented as a core part of the institution, with a dedicated Research Office, a University Research Council, research centers, R&D facilities, research groups and labs, and a Technology, Management & Innovation unit. The site also hosts Khazna, an institutional repository, which is where you would look for deposited research outputs.

Student life and support

Beyond academics, the site lists campus life, work study, a student council, clubs and associations, student events and programs, resident life, career and alumni services, student success support, and international student services and study abroad. For a prospective student weighing day-to-day experience, these pages are the place to check what support exists after enrollment.

Online services and access

The site exposes a set of portals and tools, including KU Connect (KU Portal), KUbee AI Assistant, Office 365 webmail, Banner Student Registration, Banner E-Learn, ServiceHub, OneHub, ADERP, Oracle Fusion, and MFA self-service. An "Apply now" link and a login entry appear in the navigation. These are access points for enrolled users and applicants; the site does not state that they are open without an account, so expect to need credentials where a login is shown.

How to use the site

  1. Identify your role — future student, parent, sponsor, researcher, or current student — and use the matching navigation section.
  2. Go to the admissions track for your level (undergraduate or postgraduate) to find application steps and scholarship information.
  3. Check the college and program pages for the specific degree, such as the BSc in Computer Science, to confirm what is offered.
  4. For research, use the Research Office, centers, and labs pages, and search Khazna for publications.
  5. Verify details such as dates and requirements on the academic calendar and the relevant admissions page, since the navigation alone does not list them.

What to keep in mind

The site's own description establishes the university's identity, location, discipline focus, and degree range. It does not, in the material available here, provide tuition figures, admission deadlines, or ranking numbers beyond the claim of being internationally top-ranked. Treat those claims as the institution's self-description and confirm specifics — costs, dates, entry requirements — directly on the admissions pages before relying on them for a decision.