Funding

The tuition and fees below are for students in the MIDSAI program based on figures for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

Important Consideration: The above figures are best estimates. The actual tuition and fees on a student’s bill may differ from the figures shown above.

How much can scholarships cover (in USD)?

The expenses listed below are representative, and actual figures will differ depending on the student’s individual needs and circumstances.

¹ Travel: This is a highly variable cost depending on the student’s situation. The estimates provided in the table are based on one-way economy flights from New York to Abu Dhabi (as of August 2025).

² Housing: The rent for on-campus housing in a shared two-bedroom apartment is USD 8,824 per year. The payments are split and appear on the fall and spring semester bills.

³ Books: This estimate is based on input from faculty and students.

⁴ Living expenses: This is a highly variable cost depending on the student’s situation. The budget provides a basic standard of student living, based on student input.

⁵ Health insurance: NYUAD covers the cost of the mandatory health insurance coverage needed for the UAE and international travel.

Applicants should indicate in the application if they want to be considered for an academic merit-based scholarship. The information provided in the application is sufficient, and no additional information needs to be submitted by the applicant. Academic merit is determined by the selection committee during the admissions process. Top-ranked candidates are offered larger scholarships.

NYUAD scholarships typically cover between 50 and 85 percent of the tuition and fees. In rare circumstances, top academically-ranked admitted applicants may be offered scholarships covering almost all of their tuition and fees.

Students will need to source funds to pay for housing, travel, living expenses, and the tuition and fees balance not covered by NYUAD scholarships. These sources usually include:

• Personal and family funds

• Student loans

• External scholarships

EducationUSA is a US Department of State network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. These offices offer financial advice for international students. 

Students are expected to use personal and external funds to cover part of their total expenses. For that reason, students should prepare a budget now so that they are able to focus fully on studies during the program. 

When preparing a budget, it is useful to consider two factors: expense amounts (how much to pay)  and timing (when to pay). Contact the Graduate Admissions office for help creating a budget.

NYU Payment Plan for tuition and fees: Students can request a payment plan for tuition and fees from the Bursar’s office. The plan allows the student to spread the semester’s charges over the semester as follows: