The United Arab Emirates has restricted funding for its students wishing to study at British universities over concerns about extremism on campuses. A list of eligible universities where students from the UAE can receive scholarships for study in the coming academic year has been published and notably excludes all UK institutions. According to reporting in The Times and Financial Times, all UK funding has been limited due to concerns over the presence of the Muslim Brotherhood on UK campuses, which is proscribed as a terrorist group in the UAE. ADVERTISEMENTThe exclusion of UK institutions does not prevent Emirate students from studying in the UK, and those who are able to self-fund will still be able to apply. According to figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, the number of UAE students studying in the UK doubled between 2017 and 2024 to 8,500.

Source: The Times January 09, 2026 17:13 UTC