Dubai: BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus has welcomed its new cohort for the 2026–27 academic year, highlighting the growing international appeal of the UAE as a higher education destination.

More than 60 per cent of students joining the campus this year are from outside the UAE, representing 13 nationalities, including India, Nigeria, Thailand, the United States and several Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The campus has welcomed nearly 1,000 students across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. The new intake spans a wide range of disciplines in engineering, technology and business.

The latest admissions come as the UAE's higher education sector continues to expand. According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR), new enrolments increased by 13 per cent year-on-year in 2024–25, marking the highest intake in a decade. Registrations during the previous academic year also reached their highest level in five years.

For the 2026–27 academic year, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus is offering 15 first-degree programmes, four master's programmes and doctoral studies. Undergraduate programmes account for 82 per cent of admissions, followed by master's programmes at 14 per cent and doctoral studies at 4 per cent.

Several programmes recorded increased enrolment compared with the previous year, particularly Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mathematics and Computing, and Robotics and Industrial Automation. Business programmes and other engineering disciplines also attracted strong interest.

During orientation programmes held in the final week of August for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, campus leadership highlighted the growing diversity of the student community and the institution's focus on preparing graduates for a rapidly changing world.

Nahid Afshan, Deputy General Manager and Head of Admissions at BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, said the latest admissions cycle reflected continued confidence in the institution despite challenging circumstances.

She highlighted the international diversity of the new intake, noting that more than 60 per cent of students had joined from outside the UAE, describing it as a reflection of the campus's growing global appeal and the confidence placed by students and families in a BITS Pilani education.

Prof. R. Swarnalatha, Associate Dean, Admissions and Marketing, also highlighted the increasingly diverse student community and the wide range of academic pathways available across engineering, technology and business.

Welcoming the new students, Prof. Souri Banerjee, Director of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, said the institution aims to develop well-rounded graduates by combining academic and technical knowledge with innovation, leadership and the ability to make a meaningful contribution to society.

The new intake comprises 32 per cent female and 68 per cent male students. Students from 13 nationalities will bring diverse perspectives and experiences to classrooms and campus life.

The 2026–27 academic year reflects the changing profile of students choosing to pursue higher education in the UAE. With students arriving from different parts of the world and enrolling in programmes across engineering, technology and business, BITS Pilani Dubai Campus continues to contribute to the UAE's broader ambition of developing future-ready talent for a knowledge- and innovation-driven economy.