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Salamz everyone!

I am an Australian student that has just completed year 12 and about to start university in early march. I have got accepted into Sydney University and plan to study Bachelor of Pharmacy.

My dad has just scored a job in Saudi Arabia, and we have heard that admission is quite difficult over there if you're not a Saudi national

Therefore, at the moment we are considering all options for my study including studying in UAE...

I'm in dire need of info about studying pharmacy in UAE. So far i've been doing some research on The University of Sharjah and Ajman University of Technology.

Which university is more reocognised and prestigious? Sharjah seems really good and supposedly the medical (not sure about pharm) programs are based on the curriculum of Monash (here in australia)

Ajman also gives a 20% discount on SEM 1 if u got above 95 in ur secondary school examz! Alhamdulilah i scored 97.45 (does Sharjah do this too?)

Of course all universities try to sell themselves on the web so thats why i need you guys!

The good thing about Ajman Uni is that inshallah we are building a house there... so i'll be close to home if we move there in the future... but is sharjah really that far from Ajman anyway???

Any info (about uni, campus life, advice, scholarships) and links (maybe more specific forums on education) will be GREATLY appreciated!!!

THANX!

Honestly, with a 97.5%, neither Ajman nor Sharjah University are good enough for you. But if you are only aiming for universities in the UAE, you can also check out Dubai Pharmacy College and Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University. This link shows you the universities that are accredited by the Ministry of Education here: http://www.caa.ae/CAAweb/DesktopModules ... grams.aspx
I'm not saying those are better as I don't have much idea about them, but it's always good to increase your options. Dubai pharmacy College specializes in Pharmacy so it might be a good idea to check it out.
Though I feel like we are still way behind when teaching Medical or Pharmaceutical programs in the Middle East.
And about Sharjah University being near Ajman, it actually is very close. the University City is right next to Emirates road and you can take that straight to Ajman.

Anyway if you have more specific questions I will try to help more. For now that is all I got.

Good luck.

Here's a list of UAE colleges that might help but I think MC has mentioned all the main pharmacy related colleges.

There's also a website and forum called MashUp which is for UAE based students. You might find some useful info there.

Not sure how much of a factor that is to you but University of Sharjah and Ajman University are both segregated schools, so there wont be any boys in class

Thanx so much everyone!

I will definetly consider you're suggestions and visit those links!

Well I really don't mind coed universities because everyone is quite serious (well almost everyone) and wants to do well in their studies. If u don't want to associate with people who may lead you to haram/etc you don't have to. Its not a popularity competition. Also as a muslim female, i will eventually have to deal with men in life anyway - work/home etc... so why the forever segregating??? It just makes u less confident.

I've always been scared of all girls schools to tell u the truth because half the girls are "boy hungry" <( i know that sounds kinda wrong but its true i went to one for 2 weeks) But then again i've been to an islamic school (yrs 8-12) and that was segregated and it wasnt too bad.. by year 12 we had some mixed classes and everyone was mature.

Anyway enuf about coed etc... I will have a look at that Pharmacy college.
But don't you think that universities are more pretigious? I have to consider this factor if i ever move back to a western country in the future after my studies and need to try and get recognition.

Anyway keep the info comming! This forum is an awesome help!

will check that link

MC wrote:I work for the American University of Sharjah so I have some idea. But honestly, with a 97.5%, neither Ajman nor Sharjah University are good enough for you. But if you are only aiming for universities in the UAE, you can also check out Dubai Pharmacy College and Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University. This link shows you the universities that are accredited by the Ministry of Education here: http://www.caa.ae/CAAweb/DesktopModules ... grams.aspx
I'm not saying those are better as I don't have much idea about them, but it's always good to increase your options. Dubai pharmacy College specializes in Pharmacy so it might be a good idea to check it out.
Though I feel like we are still way behind when teaching Medical or Pharmaceutical programs in the Middle East.
And about Sharjah University being near Ajman, it actually is very close. the University City is right next to Emirates road and you can take that straight to Ajman.

Anyway if you have more specific questions I will try to help more. For now that is all I got.

Good luck.

Hey is ras al khaima really that good?

Originally my dad was directing me towards there but i was a bit fearful because its still quite new...

Then again its a very specialised uni... u know more so let me know!

Thanx a million!

well if you want to be closer to your family , than in oz, you may consider UK. as its 7 hours from Saudi as opposed to saudi - oz 16 hours. Check with the pharmacies in OZ to see if a UAE qualification will cause you any headaches when you try to return to OZ. Most people educated overseas in medical fields have to do a bridging course to practise in OZ.

Miriam wrote:
Hey is ras al khaima really that good?

Originally my dad was directing me towards there but i was a bit fearful because its still quite new...

Then again its a very specialised uni... u know more so let me know!

Thanx a million!

I don't have enough information about it honestly, but, and that is a big but, it's really new. It was established in 2006 so not sure if that would be suited for you. So 'reputation' wise, it has pretty much none.
I just have no faith in universities here when it comes to medical and pharmaceutical programs though. European and American universities are definitely way ahead there. Have you considered other majors? Chemistry for example is related and also can give you more options when choosing your career path.

Anyway if you will be in the U.A.E April 2nd - 5th, 2008 I would HIGHLY recommend that you visit Dubai GETEX (Gulf Education &Training Exhibition). There will be a whole lot of universities there that are looking for people like you. The universities are from all over the world and pretty much all notable universities in the UAE will be there too. It's one of the best ways to get the information you need. You can get some details of it from their site at http://www.mygetex.com/dubai/

If you can't make it then you should at least have a relative or friend go there and check it out for you.

If you need anything else I'll be happy to help.

scarlet wrote:well if you want to be closer to your family , than in oz, you may consider UK. as its 7 hours from Saudi as opposed to saudi - oz 16 hours. Check with the pharmacies in OZ to see if a UAE qualification will cause you any headaches when you try to return to OZ. Most people educated overseas in medical fields have to do a bridging course to practise in OZ.

hmm... UK i have close family there but i don't know. The thing is in Australia we're the only ones (no relatives) but we have loads of family friends.

What makes me sort of sad is that i worked really hard in year 12 so that i could get good marks to get into Pharmacy at Sydney uni in the first place, and i feel as if its going to waste. My dad's job was like an "all of a sudden event"

Oh well i'm sure Allah swt has better plans for me. Who know what might happen

Thanx for the link MC, i will definetly try to check out that exhibition!

Miriam wrote:What makes me sort of sad is that i worked really hard in year 12 so that i could get good marks to get into Pharmacy at Sydney uni in the first place, and i feel as if its going to waste. My dad's job was like an "all of a sudden event"

So why aren't you going to Sydney college anyway?

I just read through all your posts again. I didn't see anything that indicated you desperately wanted to come to the UAE. If you know the Sydney college is good, then I'd go for that option. It's less risky than studying in one of the UAE colleges.

An indicator of the standard of tertiary education here is the large number of UAE nationals that go and study in the US, OZ, UK, etc if they can.

Oh don't get me wrong i think i would much rather study in UAE than in Saudi.

I don't know how to speak arabic and i think that would be a barrier in saudi.

Plus UAE seems so beautiful!!! And i like the mix of cultures! I'll probably live in a hostel so i'll get a new sense of independence.

I'm just a bit sad about the whole moving thing... my whole life i've been moving!!

Melbourne>North Carolina (USA)>New Jersey>Texas>Sydney now most likely Jeddah...

Miriam wrote:Oh don't get me wrong i think i would much rather study in UAE than in Saudi.

Ok, I'm a bit confused now. The choices were Saudi vs UAE, Sydney vs UAE, or Sydney vs Saudi?

If choosing between Saudi and UAE I'd vote UAE no question. If between UAE and Sydney, Sydney probably gets my vote for education.

I'll probably live in a hostel so i'll get a new sense of independence.

Check location of hostel is near university. Traffic a pain.

Miriam wrote:Oh don't get me wrong i think i would much rather study in UAE than in Saudi.

I don't know how to speak arabic and i think that would be a barrier in saudi.

Plus UAE seems so beautiful!!! And i like the mix of cultures! I'll probably live in a hostel so i'll get a new sense of independence.

I'm just a bit sad about the whole moving thing... my whole life i've been moving!!

Melbourne>North Carolina (USA)>New Jersey>Texas>Sydney now most likely Jeddah...

I agree with bonk. No offense to anyone who lives in or is from Saudi here but I find it a very VERY depressing place. But if that is where you are going then just try and make the best of what you have as there is no point dwelling over it. It is really important to like what you are doing if you are to do it well. Try to follow what your heart tells you. It's cliche to say that I know but it's also underrated.

I think that is right. I think that studying in UAE would be quite a lonesome and depressing. I agree that i think it is better to study in US or in Canada regards on medicines.

jiivxil wrote:I think that is right. I think that studying in UAE would be quite a lonesome and depressing. I agree that i think it is better to study in US or in Canada regards on medicines.

what are u talking about , Do you know how F'in expensive it is to study that there ?

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