As thousands of students across the UAE prepare for the next stage of their education, new data from GEMS Education offers a valuable snapshot of how university decision making is changing. While prestigious institutions continue to attract strong interest, students are increasingly placing equal importance on affordability, career opportunities, wellbeing and long-term value.
The findings provide useful insight for parents, educators and school leaders supporting young people through one of the most significant decisions of their academic journey.
Students Receive More Than 12,000 University Offers
GEMS Education students secured more than 12,000 university admission offers for the 2026/27 academic year after submitting more than 14,000 applications to 1,470 universities worldwide.
Among the offers were more than 1,000 places at Ivy League, Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. In addition, students received more than 600 offers from institutions ranked among the world’s top 50 and 203 offers from universities in the global top 30. This year’s graduating cohort included 6,612 students, with 95 per cent applying to university. The remaining students primarily chose gap years, including Emirati students undertaking national service.
Meanwhile, over the past five years, GEMS students have secured scholarships worth more than USD 400 million collectively. This year alone, scholarship awards are expected to total around USD 150 million.
University Choices are Becoming More Strategic
The data suggests that today’s students are taking a broader approach when selecting universities. Rather than focusing solely on global rankings, many are applying to more institutions before comparing scholarship opportunities, graduate employment prospects, industry connections, campus wellbeing, safety and overall return on investment.
For families facing rising higher education costs around the world, this reflects a growing emphasis on making informed financial decisions alongside academic ambitions.
Dino Varkey, Group CEO at GEMS Education said,
“These outcomes for our students are, first and foremost, a celebration of their ambition, resilience and the countless hours of hard work they have invested in reaching this milestone.”
According to Dino Varkey, this year’s university admissions data highlights a significant shift in how young people are approaching higher education. He said students are no longer making decisions based solely on prestige or university rankings. Instead, they are placing greater emphasis on employability, affordability, wellbeing, industry exposure and the long-term value of their degree.
He added that GEMS remains committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to access leading universities around the world. He said the strong university outcomes reflect both the calibre and global competitiveness of GEMS graduates, as well as the quality of education across the network. He also noted that the choices students are making demonstrate a generation that is thoughtful, globally minded and intentional about shaping their futures, giving confidence that they will become the leaders, innovators and changemakers of tomorrow.
UAE Universities Continue to Grow in Popularity
One of the most notable trends is the growing number of students choosing to remain in the UAE for higher education.
The proportion of GEMS graduates enrolling at UAE universities has almost doubled in recent years, increasing from 18 per cent in 2022 to 35 per cent in 2025. This reflects increasing confidence in the country’s expanding higher education sector. Many universities now offer internationally recognised qualifications, strong links with employers and opportunities to study close to home.
For parents, this also offers a potentially more affordable route while allowing students to remain connected to family support during their university years. Meanwhile, demand for universities across Europe has grown steadily, while the United Kingdom continues to attract strong interest. In contrast, Canada has seen a decline in popularity and applications to the United States have fallen slightly.
Career-Focused Degree Choices Continue to Shape Applications
Business and Management remains the most popular degree choice among GEMS graduates for the fifth consecutive year. However, interest in technology and healthcare continues to rise.
Computing and Artificial Intelligence, Engineering, Medicine, Psychology and Health Sciences are all attracting increasing numbers of applicants. These choices reflect growing awareness of emerging industries and careers expected to remain in high demand over the coming decades.
For educators and careers advisers, the trend highlights the importance of preparing students with digital, analytical and transferable skills from an early stage.
Universities are Looking Beyond Exam Results
The admissions process is also becoming more holistic. Universities are increasingly assessing applicants on more than academic grades. Leadership experience, work placements, entrepreneurial thinking, additional qualifications and meaningful extracurricular activities are becoming increasingly important during the selection process.
As a result, students are encouraged to build strong portfolios that demonstrate character, initiative and real-world experience alongside academic success.
Support Extends Beyond University Applications
The scale of GEMS’ university guidance programme also demonstrates how schools are expanding support for students throughout the application process.
Over the past year, more than 13,000 students benefited from the GEMS For Life programme. This included 1,130 university visits, 67 university and careers fairs, 132 seminars and masterclasses, 876 work placement opportunities and 93 alumni engagement initiatives.
In addition, GEMS For Life now partners with 109 universities worldwide, offering scholarships, guidance programmes and exclusive opportunities. Today, one in every four GEMS graduates enrols at one of these partner universities.
The Changing Priorities Shaping Higher Education
The latest university admissions data reflects broader changes taking place across higher education. Students are still aiming high academically. However, they are also making more informed choices about cost, wellbeing, employability and long-term career prospects.
For parents, this reinforces the importance of discussing university options as early as possible. For schools, it highlights the growing value of comprehensive careers guidance that helps students make decisions aligned with both their ambitions and future opportunities.
As the UAE continues to strengthen its higher education landscape, these changing priorities may also encourage more students to consider world-class opportunities closer to home.
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Further Reading
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