Candidate Weekend

Candidate Weekend has been a vital part of the NYU Abu Dhabi admissions process since our very first admissions cycle. It is the final evaluative step in the admissions process for NYU Abu Dhabi, and finalists are invited to attend Candidate Weekend. Attendance is by invitation only, and all invited students must attend to remain eligible for admission. It is a unique and important opportunity to experience what it’s like to live and learn in our global community, and it offers applicants a meaningful way to evaluate NYU Abu Dhabi as a potential academic home.

If selected for Candidate Weekend, you will receive an email invitation. NYU Abu Dhabi covers all costs of participation, including international travel and accommodation, where needed. If you are applying to NYU Abu Dhabi for the 2026–2027 admission cycle and reside outside the UAE, we strongly encourage you to apply for a passport now if you do not already have one.

Invited students must confirm attendance within 48 hours of receiving the invitation.

While receiving an invitation is a significant achievement, it does not guarantee admission.

What You Need To Know About Candidate Weekend

The weekend includes academic and student life sessions, cultural experiences, collaborative group discussions, and additional evaluations for admission consideration.

During Candidate Weekend, you will hear from campus leadership, attend a sample class, join group activities on and off campus, participate in a brief interview, and complete additional assessments. Candidate Weekend assessments complement students’ applications, and no prior preparation is required.

Candidate Weekend Dates

Candidate Weekend takes place on select weekends aligned with each application round (EDI, EDII, and RD). If you are invited to participate, your invitation will include your assigned Candidate Weekend, along with all relevant travel and program details.

The Candidate Weekend dates* for the 2026–2027 application cycle are:

Candidate Weekend 1 (Early Decision I): December 11–13, 2026
Candidate Weekend 2 (Early Decision II): February 5–7, 2027
Candidate Weekend 3 (Regular Decision): March 19–21, 2027
Candidate Weekend 4** (Waitlist — Virtual): April 24-25, 2027

* Updates will be provided should there be any changes.

** For the 2026-2027 application cycle, students may be waitlisted without attending an in-personCandidate Weekend. Candidates placed on the waitlist who have not previously attended Candidate Weekend will be required to attend Candidate Weekend 4 virtually. This online event will model the in-person program, and attendance is required to remain eligible for admission from the waitlist. More details will be shared directly with waitlisted candidates.

If you have previously attended an in-person Candidate Weekend and are waitlisted, you will not be required to participate again in Candidate Weekend 4.

FAQs

Attendance is required and you must confirm your participation within 48 hours of receiving an invitation. If invited and you cannot attend your application round’s Candidate Weekend, you may change to another round before the respective deadlines. Please note that invitation to the new round’s Candidate Weekend is not guaranteed. Contact us if you foresee any attendance challenges.
No. You must attend the Candidate Weekend for your application round. If you have unavoidable scheduling conflicts or extenuating circumstances that may affect your ability to attend your assigned Candidate Weekend after receiving an invitation, you will have an opportunity to share this information with the Admissions team. We will do our best to accommodate such requests under extenuating circumstances, however, it is not guaranteed.
Yes. NYU Abu Dhabi covers travel, visas (for international travelers who require one), accommodation (for non-local candidates), meals, and activities during Candidate Weekend.
If you are traveling from outside the UAE, your passport must be valid for at least six months after Candidate Weekend. Apply for or renew your passport immediately to have it at least two weeks before the event.
Yes. All invited candidates must attend. NYU Abu Dhabi can provide a Temporary Release Letter to request military leave for the event. Contact us if you have attendance issues.
We do not offer travel or programming for parents during Candidate Weekend. We strongly encourage parents to allow their child to participate independently to engage fully with peers, students, and faculty.
No. Some visits may be considered on a case-by-case basis, and candidates are not allowed to leave NYUAD’s supervision to depart with a friend or family member at any time.
No. Required attendance for Candidate Weekend 4 (CW4) is virtual. Prior to CW4, you will be required to complete additional admissions evaluations to maintain your admissions eligibility; however, these will take place online as well. We invite candidates who are able to visit campus to attend CW4 sessions in person on April 25, 2027; however, this is not mandatory for those who are unable to travel to NYUAD for the day. All required components will be virtual.
Yes, however, we can't say in advance how many offers, if any, we'll be able to extend from the waitlist this admissions cycle.
No. You must attend the Candidate Weekend to which you are invited to remain eligible for admission to NYU Abu Dhabi. As such, we recommend only applying to the round for which you have availability to attend the corresponding Candidate Weekend.

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Candidate Weekend

What You Need To Know About Candidate Weekend

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