A unique part of the NYU Abu Dhabi admissions process is the opportunity to participate in a Candidate Weekend. During Candidate Weekend, candidates take sample classes, engage in one-on-one discussion with NYU Abu Dhabi leadership and faculty, explore the cosmopolitan city of Abu Dhabi, and experience life in NYU Abu Dhabi’s global community.
Only students who — based on the strength of their applications — are considered finalists for admission are invited to participate in a Candidate Weekend. Candidate Weekend gives a select group of NYU Abu Dhabi applicants an opportunity to see the campus in Abu Dhabi and to experience NYU Abu Dhabi during an exciting and intellectually rigorous weekend with peers from around the world. Invited candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate their interest in and appropriateness for NYU Abu Dhabi, while assessing NYU Abu Dhabi as a good fit for their academic interests.
Candidate Weekend participation is by invitation only. Candidate Weekends are both informative and evaluative, providing the admissions committee an opportunity to learn more about the students, and only highly admissible applicants will be invited to attend.
Candidate Weekend Dates
Candidate Weekend dates for the 2011–2012 application cycle are as follows:
December 8-11, 2011
January 26-29, 2012
February 16-19, 2012
March 1-4, 2012
Please note that these dates are subject to change.
Participation in a Candidate Weekend will occur prior to an admissions decision being rendered. Therefore, Early Decision I applicants invited to a Candidate Weekend should expect to travel before December 15, 2011; Early Decision II Candidate Weekend invitees should expect to travel before February 28, 2012; and Regular Decision Candidate Weekend invitees should expect to travel before April 1, 2012.
Candidates are invited to a specific Candidate Weekend; we will not accept student requests for particular dates. Some exceptional circumstances may be accommodated and new dates may be assigned for students who are unable to travel on their designated weekend.
Travel Logistics
Depending on their location, applicants selected to travel will be provided with round-trip economy class airfare from the international airport closest to their school, or other means of local transportation. Applicants will also be provided with accommodations and all meals.
Please note that students traveling from outside the U.A.E. must have a valid passport in order to enter the country, and in some cases, a visa as well. NYU Abu Dhabi will provide assistance with obtaining a visa whenever necessary. Information about visa requirements is available for U.S. citizens and for non-U.S. citizens.
Frequently Asked Questions
An expense-paid trip to Abu Dhabi? This sounds too good to be true, is it?
It’s true! But keep in mind that Candidate Weekend is a lot of work. We will challenge you through sample classes and written work while you are exploring the city and learning about your co-candidates. Most importantly, however, an invitation to participate in a Candidate Weekend means the hard work you’ve put in over the last few years (as evidenced by your academic record and the quality of your application) has earned you an invitation.
Finally, this is our investment in you, our prospective students. We want to be sure that all of our prospective students experience NYU Abu Dhabi firsthand before they accept an offer of admission. From our local students to those who travel from far away to join us, we expect that every candidate will experience something new and unique on this visit.
How do I apply for a Candidate Weekend?
Students do not apply for participation in a Candidate Weekend. Instead, the Admissions Committee will consider students who submit the complete application for admission (read the Application Requirements for NYUAD) for participation in a Candidate Weekend.
I would really like to participate in the Candidate Weekend on a specific weekend, may I request one?
Unfortunately, you may not request to be considered for a particular weekend. Once you are invited to participate in a Candidate Weekend, we will consider requests to change participation dates on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances.
If I am invited to a Candidate Weekend does that mean I have been admitted?
No. Candidate Weekend participation is required in order to be admitted, but the invitation to participate should not be interpreted as an offer of admission.
If I am invited to a Candidate Weekend can my parent(s) come?
If your parent or guardian would like to join you on your trip to Abu Dhabi, they may, but at their own expense. However, during the Candidate Weekend, parents and guardians will have limited access to their son or daughter so as not to interfere with the evaluative component of the trip.
The last Candidate Weekend listed on the website is coming up soon and I haven’t been invited. Does this mean I will not be offered admission to NYU Abu Dhabi?
At this point, it is highly unlikely that you will be offered admission to NYU Abu Dhabi. However, admissions decisions are not final until the notification date that corresponds with your application type (December 15, 2011, for Early Decision I, Late February for Early Decision II, and April 1, 2012, for Regular Decision).
