Doctoral PhD Degree

To apply for a Doctoral degree program at the University of Sharjah, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Regular Admission

Applicants must:

• Hold a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification from a university recognized by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR).
• Have a minimum Master’s CGPA of 3.00 out of 4.00, or its equivalent.
• Have a minimum Bachelor’s CGPA of 2.50 out of 4.00, or its equivalent.
• Hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in fields relevant to the intended Doctoral program.

Conditional Admission

Degree in a Different Field

Applicants whose Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree is not in a field relevant to the intended Doctoral program may, in exceptional circumstances, be considered for conditional admission.

The relevant academic department will determine any required prerequisite or remedial courses at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level.

All prescribed courses must:

• Be completed before the student begins Doctoral-level courses
• Be completed within the first year of study and no later than two consecutive semesters
• Be passed with a minimum grade of C

These prerequisite or remedial courses do not count toward the Doctoral degree requirements or CGPA.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants must meet the English language proficiency requirements of the selected program, where applicable.

Additional Program Requirements

Some programs may have additional admission requirements, such as:

• Personal interview
• Admission examination
• Professional experience
• Portfolio
• Other program-specific requirements

Applicants to Doctoral programs taught in English must obtain one of the following minimum scores:

• TOEFL iBT: 79
• TOEFL PBT: 550
• IELTS Academic: 6.0

For Doctoral programs taught in Arabic, English language proficiency is not required unless specifically required by the selected program.

Programs with Specific English Language Requirements

Applicants to the following Doctoral programs have specific English language requirements:

• Ph.D. in Applied Sociology
• Ph.D. in Private Law
• Ph.D. in Public Law

Applicants to these programs must either:

1. Obtain a minimum TOEFL ITP score of 450, or its equivalent; or
2. Obtain a minimum IELTS Academic score of 4.5; or
3. Successfully complete the prescribed English language course (ESL – 0 credit hours) during the first semester.

Warning: Students who do not satisfy the English language requirement by the end of the first semester will not be permitted to continue in the program.

Exemptions

Applicants may be exempt from the English language proficiency requirement in the following cases:

• Native English speakers who completed their academic qualifications in a country where English is the official language, provided that both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees were completed in English.
• Applicants who graduated from a university where English was the primary language of instruction, provided that they satisfied the University’s approved English language proficiency requirements upon admission to both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs.

Additional Exemption for Specific Programs

Applicants to the Ph.D. in Private Law, Ph.D. in Public Law, or Ph.D. in Applied Sociology are also exempt from repeating the English requirement if, during their Master’s studies, they:

• Obtained a minimum IELTS Academic score of 4.5 or equivalent; or
• Successfully completed the prescribed ESL (0 credit hours) course.

Test Validity

• English language proficiency test results are valid for two years from the date of the examination.
• Exclusion: The University does not accept Home Edition or other online home-based English language proficiency examinations for admission purposes.

Applications for Doctoral programs will be open from 5 October 2026 to 12 November 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to review the admission requirements and submit their applications within the announced period.

Applicants to Doctoral programs are required to submit the following documents:

1. Copy of a valid passport.
2. Academic Qualifications

   Applicants must provide:

   • Certified copies of the Bachelor's and Master's Degree Certificates.
   • Certified copies of the Bachelor's and Master's Academic Transcripts.
3. Recent passport-size color photograph.
4. Copy of a valid UAE National Identity Card (Emirates ID).
5. Copy of the UAE National Family Book, where applicable.
6. Application fee of AED 500 (non-refundable).
7. English Language Proficiency

   Applicants must provide one of the following:

   • A valid IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, or PTE Academic certificate; or
   • Official proof that their previous university degree was taught in English.
8. Two Academic Recommendation Letters

   Applicants are required to submit two recommendation letters from professors who taught or supervised them during their previous university studies.

9. Curriculum Vitae (CV).
10. UoS Alumni Card – Required for University of Sharjah graduates, where applicable.

Qualifications Obtained Outside the UAE

Applicants who obtained their academic qualifications from institutions outside the United Arab Emirates are required to obtain the necessary certificate recognition/equivalency from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR).

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Additional Supporting Documents

Where applicable, applicants shall also submit the following supporting documents:

1. National and Reserve Service No Objection Certificate – A valid No Objection Certificate issued by the relevant National and Reserve Service authority for male Emirati applicants.
2. Kuwait Embassy Cultural Office Approval – A letter of study approval issued by the Kuwait Embassy Cultural Office for Kuwaiti applicants.
3. People of Determination Card – A copy of the applicant's People of Determination Card, where applicable.
4. Employment Letter – Applicants who are currently employed are required to submit a letter from their employer confirming their current employment.
5. UoS Employee Consent Form – University of Sharjah employees are required to submit the relevant consent form issued by Human Resources.