EmSAT Requirement Cancelled for Grade 12 Students Across UAE

The UAE’s Ministry of Education (MOE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), has announced the immediate cancellation of the Emirates Standardised Test (EmSAT) requirement for Grade 12 students, implementing a new set of university admission criteria designed to support student flexibility and success in higher education pathways. The decision was ratified by the UAE’s Education, Human Development and Community Development Council and marks a significant shift in the nation’s educational landscape, aligning admissions with students’ subject-specific strengths.

Under the new policy, UAE universities will prioritise performance in core science subjects over general academic averages for admission into competitive fields such as medicine and engineering. This focus will allow institutions to select students based on subject-specific expertise relevant to their intended field of study, rather than relying solely on cumulative percentages from high school.

Additionally, universities are now permitted to offer specialised preparatory courses aimed at equipping students with required skills, ensuring they can pursue their desired fields without being hindered by standardised test performance.

As a response to the EmSAT cancellation, the ministry has urged students and parents to maintain direct communication with universities to understand specific admission requirements for each academic program, as these may vary by institution.