Checkout the Music and Dance Courses and Colleges in UAE....
Apr 18, 2025 11:51:25
Offers courses in Music, Dance, and Theater as part of their Arts and Humanities division.
Focuses on performance, composition, ethnomusicology, and contemporary dance.
Offers electives and courses related to music, especially within their College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Known for supporting cultural and heritage-based music programs.
Offers courses in Performing Arts, including music and theater.
Active in cultural performances and student-led productions.
Offers electives in Music (instrumental and vocal training) and Performing Arts.
Hosts musical ensembles and regularly organizes cultural events.
Offers programs under the College of Fine Arts and Design.
Includes courses in traditional and modern music and dance through cultural and heritage programs.
Offers courses in Art and Design, with performing arts included as part of broader curriculum.
Promotes cultural expression through music and dance activities.
Some campuses offer extracurricular and enrichment courses in music and dance.
Focus more on community and student engagement rather than degree programs in performing arts.
Offers merit-based and need-based scholarships to all admitted students.
Their Arts Tracks, including music and dance, are fully eligible for financial aid.
Exceptional talent in the arts can bolster scholarship chances.
Offers Talent-Based Scholarships, including performing arts.
Students demonstrating exceptional ability in music or dance during admission or through a portfolio/audition may qualify.
Provides performance-based scholarships.
Active involvement in university ensembles or performances can lead to financial support.
Offers scholarships for Emirati students and limited support for international students.
Outstanding performance in arts programs, including music and dance, may help.
Supports young Emirati artists and students pursuing music and performing arts.
Offers grants, scholarships, and mentorships under its Young Talent program.
Occasionally partners with institutions to support creative and performing arts education.
May offer grants or sponsorships for promising UAE-based artists.
Provides general academic scholarships for UAE nationals; students in creative fields may be considered based on merit and career goals.
Centre for Musical Arts (Dubai)
Music Chamber (Dubai)
Bodytree Studio (Abu Dhabi) – for dance
James & Alex Dance Studios (Dubai) – sometimes sponsor promising dancers
Prepare a portfolio or audition video showcasing your talent.
Actively participate in competitions or festivals—these often lead to exposure and scholarship opportunities.
Look for internships or assistant positions at performing arts institutions.
Offers world-class education in Music, Theater, and Dance as part of its liberal arts curriculum.
Access to professional studios, international faculty, and global performance opportunities.
Courses include composition, ethnomusicology, performance, choreography, and contemporary dance.
Best for: Students looking for a rigorous, international-level arts program.
Strong Performing Arts program with electives in Music and Theater.
Active music ensembles, choirs, and cultural events throughout the year.
Good balance between academic education and performance practice.
Best for: Students who want to mix performance with academic studies in a diverse environment.
Offers Performing Arts electives in music and dance as part of broader Arts and Sciences programs.
Strong campus arts culture, including open mic nights, music showcases, and dance workshops.
Best for: Creative students who want flexibility in course selection and an urban arts scene.
Offers music-related courses under College of Fine Arts and Design.
Hosts cultural programs focusing on both modern and traditional Emirati music and dance.
Best for: Students interested in blending music/dance with local culture and heritage.
Offers courses in Art and Creative Enterprises, including performing arts, sound design, and movement.
Promotes innovation and expression through interdisciplinary arts programs.
Best for: Students into contemporary and experimental performance styles.
Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) – Offers enrichment and extracurricular programs in music and dance.
Private conservatories and institutes – While not universities, places like Centre for Musical Arts, Dance Studios, and music academies provide high-level training alongside or outside university.
Program: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music, Theater, or Art & Art History with a focus on Dance
NYUAD offers a liberal arts curriculum where you can major in Music or Theater and focus on performance, composition, sound studies, or dance.
Dance is offered as part of the Theater program and can be pursued as a strong emphasis (choreography, contemporary dance, performance).
Highly international faculty and global arts exposure.
Program: BA in Music and Arabic Musical Arts (specialized)
Focuses on traditional music, music theory, instrumental practice, and heritage music education.
Taught primarily in Arabic; more culturally rooted and classical.
Not a dual music+dance program, but excellent for students interested in Arab music.
Program: Bachelor of Applied Media with Creative Industries Focus
Offers elective modules in music production, sound design, and performance arts.
Some HCT campuses have extracurricular dance programs, but not a standalone Dance degree.
Program: BA in Art and Creative Enterprises
Offers courses in performance studies, sound design, movement arts, and multimedia arts.
Ideal if you're looking to combine dance/music with media, tech, or experimental arts.
Program: While NYUAD doesn’t currently offer standalone Master's degrees in Music or Dance on its Abu Dhabi campus, it provides pathways to:
Graduate study through NYU in New York, including Master of Music (MM) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance, with options to begin research or projects in the UAE.
Access to residency programs, artist fellowships, and research collaborations in performing arts.
Program: Master’s in Arabic Music & Heritage Arts (under discussion/limited availability)
Focuses on traditional Arabic music, instrumental practice, and musicology.
More heritage-focused than contemporary or performance-based.
Program: Master of Arts in Cultural and Heritage Studies
Offers research pathways in traditional music, dance, and performance arts related to Emirati heritage.
More academic/research-oriented, not a performance-focused MA.
Program: Master's in History of Art and Museum Studies
While not a direct Music or Dance degree, students can focus on performing arts within cultural heritage, especially music/dance in Arab and Islamic contexts.
While they may not offer formal “Master’s degrees,” several private conservatories and institutes offer:
Diploma and advanced-level programs
Professional certifications in music/dance performance
Examples include:
Centre for Musical Arts (Dubai)
Bodytree Studio (Abu Dhabi)
James & Alex Dance Studio (Dubai)
Dubai Performing Arts Academy
Program: PhD in Arabic Language and Literature or Cultural & Heritage Studies
You can focus your research on musicology, traditional Emirati dance, folk arts, or oral musical traditions.
Ideal for those looking at academic research, ethnomusicology, or dance anthropology.
Often available in Arabic; English-taught options may be more limited.
Program: PhD in Heritage and Cultural Studies (under College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences)
Research focus can include Arabic musical heritage, performance traditions, or dance in Islamic/Arab cultures.
More research- and theory-oriented than performance-based.
Program: PhD in Islamic Civilization, Philosophy, or Arabic Literature
Suitable for topics related to historical musical theory, music in Islamic thought, or cultural expressions through dance.
Program: PhD via partnership with Sorbonne Paris (remote/dual model possible)
While the Abu Dhabi campus doesn’t offer a dedicated PhD in Music/Dance, you may propose a research-based doctorate in Performing Arts, Aesthetics, or Cultural Heritage through its home campus in France.
Can involve hybrid research based in the UAE.
Base your fieldwork or research in the UAE.
Collaborate with local institutions (e.g., NYUAD, ADMAF, cultural foundations).
Some UAE government scholarships (e.g., Emirati Scholarships, ADEK, Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundation) may support such paths.
High School Diploma or equivalent (e.g. IB, A-Levels, or national secondary certificate)
Minimum GPA: Usually around 2.5 or 70% and above (varies by university)
English Proficiency:
IELTS: 5.5 – 6.0 or higher
TOEFL: 500+ (PBT) / 61+ (iBT)
Portfolio/Audition (if applicable):
Some programs (especially at NYUAD or performing arts academies) may ask for:
Audition (instrument, voice, or dance)
Portfolio of previous performances or projects
Interview: Required by some universities or conservatories
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field:
Music, Dance, Performing Arts, Cultural Studies, Media, or similar
Minimum GPA: Usually 3.0 out of 4.0 (or equivalent)
English Proficiency:
IELTS: 6.5+
TOEFL: 79+ (iBT)
Portfolio or Audition:
Required for performance-based programs
May include video recordings, research proposals, choreography samples, etc.
Statement of Purpose & Recommendation Letters
Master’s degree in Music, Dance, Cultural Studies, or a related field
Strong academic research background
Research proposal focused on:
Ethnomusicology, performance studies, traditional arts, cultural history, etc.
English or Arabic proficiency, depending on the program:
IELTS: 6.5–7.0 or equivalent
Interview with research supervisor or faculty panel
Academic writing samples may be requested
No formal academic requirements in most cases
Age requirements may apply (usually 16+ for advanced courses)
Audition or placement test to assess skill level
Basic English or Arabic communication skills
Intake |
Application Period |
Semester Start |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall (Main) |
January – May (some as late as June/July) |
August/September |
|
Spring |
September – November/December |
January/February |
|
Summer (limited) |
March – May |
June/July |
Early Decision: November
Regular Decision: January 15
Performing arts applicants may need to submit portfolios or auditions by January
Fall: Deadline around June – July
Spring: Deadline around November – December
Fall: Apply by June
Spring: Apply by November
Fall: Apply by May – July
Spring: Apply by October – November
Fall: March – June
Spring: October – November
Varies slightly for Emirati and international students
Institutes like Bodytree Studio, James & Alex Dance Studios, or Centre for Musical Arts follow rolling admissions or term-based intakes (e.g. Fall Term, Winter Term, Summer Workshops).
Fall Term: September – December (enroll by August)
Winter Term: January – March
Spring Term: April – June
Summer Camps or Intensives: July – August
Applications for these are often open 1–2 months before the term starts.
University |
Estimated Annual Tuition |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
NYU Abu Dhabi |
AED 120,000 – 140,000 |
Fully-funded for most admitted students (merit/need) |
|
American University in Dubai (AUD) |
AED 80,000 – 90,000 |
Scholarships available; arts electives |
|
American University of Sharjah (AUS) |
AED 45,000 – 70,000 |
Includes performing arts electives |
|
University of Sharjah |
AED 40,000 – 55,000 |
Offers Arabic music-focused degrees |
|
Zayed University |
AED 40,000 – 60,000 |
For international students; Emiratis may be funded |
|
Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) |
AED 30,000 – 40,000 |
Includes creative media electives |
University |
Estimated Total Program Fee |
Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
University of Sharjah (MA in Arabic Music / Heritage) |
AED 45,000 – 55,000 |
2 years |
|
Sorbonne Abu Dhabi (Art/Heritage Programs) |
AED 50,000 – 70,000 |
2 years |
|
UAE University (MA in Cultural Studies) |
AED 40,000 – 60,000 |
2 years |
Institute |
Course Type |
Fees (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
|
Centre for Musical Arts (Dubai) |
Private lessons / Ensemble training |
AED 3,000 – 10,000 per term |
|
Bodytree Studio (Abu Dhabi) |
Dance classes / Performance training |
AED 1,500 – 5,000 per term |
|
James & Alex Dance Studios (Dubai) |
Dance courses (hip hop, ballet, etc) |
AED 1,200 – 4,000 per term |
|
Dubai Performing Arts Academy |
Kids & adult performing arts courses |
AED 3,000 – 8,000 per term |
Audition or application fees: AED 200 – 500
Instrument or dancewear costs
Performance / studio usage fees (varies by program)
Visa, accommodation, transport for international students
