Global Studies University has opened Fall 2027 applications for its graduate programs in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, offering a two-year MA in Global African Studies and a five-year PhD in Global Studies. The university is also running a separate registration window for short certificate courses in Arabic, Amharic, Hausa and Kiswahili.
Key facts
- The Fall 2027 degree application deadline is Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Applications for both graduate programs opened on Monday, August 3, 2026.
- The first 40 complete applicants for either graduate program can receive an application-fee waiver worth AED 365.
- Fall 2026 language-certificate registration has been extended to September 13, 2026, subject to available places.
- The language classes are scheduled to run from September 14 to December 17, 2026.
What does this mean for applicants?
For students aiming at postgraduate study in Africa-focused global studies, the main decision point is the October 27, 2026 deadline. Both the MA and PhD are full-time, on-campus programs taught in English in Sharjah, and both require applicants to meet academic, language and document requirements before the deadline.
The fee waiver may matter for early applicants: GSU says the first 40 complete applications for either graduate program are eligible for a non-refundable application-fee waiver valued at AED 365. That makes document readiness important, since incomplete applications after the deadline are rejected and shortlisted candidates may be invited for interview.
- MA applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree, a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or equivalent, IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 91, a statement of interest, one academic writing sample and two recommendation letters.
- PhD applicants need a relevant bachelor’s or master’s qualification, the same language threshold, a statement of interest, a separate research statement, two writing samples and two recommendation letters.
- Language-certificate applicants can still register for Arabic, Amharic, Hausa or Kiswahili until September 13, 2026, with classes set for September 14 to December 17, 2026.
Which programs are available?
GSU’s graduate offer for Fall 2027 consists of two degrees: the MA in Global African Studies and the PhD in Global Studies. The university describes both as interdisciplinary programs centered on Africa and its connections across regions, with research and teaching spanning history, politics, culture, diplomacy, literature, heritage and language.
The MA is structured around three tracks: Museum and Critical Heritage Studies, Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations, and Afro-Arab Relations. The PhD is organized into two tracks, Cultural, Visual and Literary Studies and Historical, Political and Social Studies, with thematic areas including African-Arab Relations, Diaspora, Political Economy, the Indian Ocean World and the Muslim World.
How does the MA work?
The MA in Global African Studies is a 36-credit, two-year program taught in English and delivered on campus in Sharjah. It includes common core courses, specialization courses, electives, a language component, an internship and a six-credit thesis that is written, defended and examined through a viva voce.
All MA students study one African language for three semesters, choosing from Arabic, Amharic, Hausa or Kiswahili. The program also includes a pass-or-fail internship and a language certificate in addition to the degree.
The three tracks are built around distinct but connected themes. Museum and Critical Heritage Studies examines museums, archives, archaeology, ownership, restitution and exhibition ethics. Diplomacy and Africa’s International Relations focuses on foreign policy, global governance and political economy. Afro-Arab Relations looks at long-term historical and political ties between African and Arab societies.
What does the PhD require?
The PhD in Global Studies is a five-year, full-time doctoral degree taught in English and also based on campus in Sharjah. It combines two years of coursework with roughly three years of advanced research and dissertation work, for a total of 81 credits.
Doctoral students complete core coursework, electives, six credits of reading and preparation for the A Examination, eighteen credits for the doctoral project and three semesters of a non-Western language. They can choose Arabic, Amharic, Hausa or Kiswahili, which GSU says is intended to support direct engagement with sources, communities and scholarship relevant to the research project.
Applicants must submit a statement of interest, a separate research statement, two academic writing samples and two recommendation letters. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed online through Zoom.
Who can apply and what documents are needed?
GSU’s published requirements call for an independently accredited qualification recognized by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and by the university, official and attested transcripts and certificates, a valid passport, a recent photograph, CV materials and English-language proof. Where applicable, applicants also need UAE visa or Emirates ID copies and a UAE Certificate of Recognition for qualifications earned outside the country.
For MA applicants, the university asks for a bachelor’s degree, a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale or equivalent, a statement of interest of about 1,000 to 1,500 words, one substantial writing sample and two recommendation letters issued within one month before submission. For PhD applicants, the university asks for a relevant bachelor’s or master’s qualification, a statement of interest of about 1,000 to 2,000 words, a research statement of about 2,000 to 2,500 words, two writing samples and two recent recommendation letters.
GSU also says applicants previously dismissed from another institution for academic-integrity violations are not eligible for admission.
What is the Sharjah campus like?
GSU is based in Al Manakh, Sharjah, and operates from the restored former Khalid bin Mohammed School. The campus is described as covering more than 23,000 square metres and includes classrooms, a library, research archives, galleries, student lounges, courtyards, a café and bookshop, recreational courts, prayer rooms, accessible facilities and parking areas.
Africa Hall, first inaugurated in 1976 and reopened after renovation in 2018, is used for conferences, public lectures, film programs and musical events.
Is GSU accredited in the UAE?
Yes. GSU says it is licensed by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research through the Commission for Academic Accreditation. The university says its institutional licensure, MA program and PhD program are listed as active from January 2025 to January 2028, and that the two graduate degrees received accreditation on January 28, 2025.
That accreditation status matters for applicants weighing recognition, transferability and professional use of the degree in their own countries or sectors. GSU’s own materials also note that applicants should independently confirm whether the degrees meet any additional recognition requirements tied to their plans.
FAQ
When is the deadline for Fall 2027 graduate applications?
The deadline is Tuesday, October 27, 2026 for both the MA in Global African Studies and the PhD in Global Studies. Applications opened on Monday, August 3, 2026.
Can applicants get a fee waiver?
Yes. GSU says the first 40 complete applications for either graduate program are eligible for an application-fee waiver worth AED 365.
What languages can students study at GSU?
MA and PhD students can study Arabic, Amharic, Hausa or Kiswahili as part of their degree requirements. GSU also offers short certificate courses in those same languages.
