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Heriot-Watt University unveils PhD programme

The number of doctoral programmes in Dubai seem to be on the rise with new PhD programmes being announced by universities in the UAE.

Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai Campus announced plans to start providing PhD programmes on a wide range of subjects.

The university, which has been offering courses for over seven years, will offer students the option to take up doctoral studies in Accountancy and Finance, Energy and Renewable Energy, Power Electronics and Control, Construction Management and Civil Engineering.

“There is a shortage of PhD programmes offered in the UAE by local universities and only very few branch campuses have started to introduce them,” said Professor Kaka, Vice-Principal of Heriot-Watt University and Head of Dubai Campus.

The new move comes in the wake of a recently published ‘Higher Education Landscape in Dubai’ report which referred to growth rate of students in the region.

There are reportedly more than 48,000 students at Higher Education Institutes in Dubai although just one per cent of those are undertaking PhD studies full-time.

“We have gathered our own evidence that there is high demand for PhD courses in the form of enquiries and also from our MSc graduates who are keen to further their education with us.

Last year’s National Student Survey ranked it as the fourth University in the UK and top in its home country of Scotland.

Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Campus started in Dubai International Academic City in 2005 and its new Dh200 million state-of-the-art campus was opened in November 2011 by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com