1.3.2

Commitment to Low-Income Student Success

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is committed to ensuring that students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds have equitable opportunities not only to access higher education but also to successfully complete their academic programmes.

Recognising that poverty and financial hardship can create significant barriers to student retention, academic progression and graduation, the University adopts a coordinated approach combining need-based financial assistance, academic advising, student success initiatives and individualised support.

CUD's commitment focuses on students from the bottom 20% of the national household income distribution (bottom financial quintile) or an equivalent documented poverty-related income category, subject to applicable UAE income classifications and institutional eligibility criteria.

Through targeted financial assistance, academic support and student-success monitoring, CUD seeks to reduce socioeconomic disparities in educational attainment and improve graduation outcomes for students from low-income households.

Institutional Completion Target

Canadian University Dubai has established a target to achieve a graduation/completion rate of at least 85% among eligible low-income students receiving the Financial Hardship Scholarship, benchmarked against the overall institutional graduation rate.

This target reflects the University's commitment to ensuring that students experiencing financial hardship are provided with the support necessary to progress through their academic programmes and complete their qualifications.

The institutional completion target addresses students belonging to the bottom financial quintile or an equivalent documented poverty-related income category.

The Office of Student Affairs, in coordination with the Scholarship Committee and Office of the Registrar, is responsible for monitoring academic progression and reviewing performance against the target.

Completion Rate Definition and Measurement

CUD measures on-time completion among eligible low-income scholarship students using a defined graduating cohort.

The completion rate is calculated as follows:

Low-Income Student On-Time Completion Rate (%) = (Number of eligible low-income scholarship students graduating on time ÷ Total eligible low-income scholarship students expected to graduate in the same cohort) × 100

The denominator consists of eligible low-income scholarship students scheduled to complete their academic programmes during the relevant reporting period, including students who did not graduate on time.

The numerator consists of students from that same cohort who successfully completed their qualifications within the prescribed programme duration.

The completion rate is monitored against CUD's institutional target of at least 85%.

This approach distinguishes actual student completion performance from the proportion of university graduates receiving financial assistance.

Institutional Performance: Academic Year 2024–25

Low-Income Student Graduation and Completion Outcomes

CUD's institutional records for academic year 2024–25 provide measurable evidence of graduation outcomes among scholarship students.

During this reporting period, 159 scholarship students were expected to complete their academic programmes, of whom 91 graduated on time.

This represents an on-time completion rate of 57.23%, compared with CUD's institutional target of 85%.

2024–25 Low-Income Student Completion Performance

The reported completion rate of 57.23% indicates that CUD did not achieve its institutional target of 85% in 2024–25.

This result highlights the importance of maintaining targeted support for financially disadvantaged students and strengthening the monitoring of barriers to timely programme completion.

The University recognises that financial hardship can intersect with academic, personal and other circumstances affecting progression and graduation.

CUD's approach therefore combines financial assistance with academic support and monitoring to help students overcome barriers to successful completion.

Graduation Outcomes Across the University

In academic year 2024–25, CUD recorded 439 university graduates, including 91 low-income scholarship students who completed their studies on time.

The 91 students represent 20.73% of the University's total graduates during the reporting period.

This percentage measures the share of all graduates represented by low-income students graduating on time. It is distinct from the 57.23% on-time completion rate calculated using the eligible scholarship cohort.

Financial Access and Support for Low-Income Students

CUD's financial assistance programmes form an important part of its broader approach to supporting student progression and completion.

Financial Aid Coverage

In academic year 2024–25, CUD reported 940 students receiving financial assistance associated with poverty, representing 54.24% of its reported student population.

The number of students receiving financial assistance increased from 618 in 2022–23 to 940 in 2024–25, an increase of approximately 52.1%.

While the proportion of students receiving financial assistance fluctuated across the reporting period, the number of supported students increased alongside CUD's expanding student population.

These figures provide context for the scale of CUD's financial support programmes and their role in addressing economic barriers to higher education.

Access for Financially Disadvantaged Students

CUD's institutional admissions records also demonstrate efforts to expand access for students from low-income backgrounds.

In 2024–25, 134 of 478 newly admitted undergraduate students were identified as belonging to the bottom financial quintile or an approved equivalent low-income category.

This represented 28.03% of the incoming undergraduate cohort, exceeding CUD's institutional admission target of 10%.

These results demonstrate the University's efforts to widen access to higher education for financially disadvantaged students.

CUD recognises that successful access must be accompanied by sustained academic and financial support to help students progress towards graduation.

Academic and Financial Support Programmes

To improve graduation and completion outcomes among low-income students, CUD provides a range of academic, financial and personal support measures.

These initiatives are intended to address challenges that may affect students' ability to remain enrolled, maintain satisfactory academic progress and complete their qualifications.

1. Financial Hardship Scholarship

CUD offers a need-based Financial Hardship Scholarship providing tuition assistance of up to 40%, assessed according to documented financial need and applicable scholarship eligibility criteria.

The scholarship aims to reduce financial barriers to continued enrolment and support students who may otherwise experience difficulty meeting tuition expenses.

Under the stated scholarship conditions, recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.8 to continue receiving support.

In the 2025–26 academic year, CUD recorded:

The Financial Hardship Scholarship forms part of CUD's broader student-support framework, helping eligible students manage the financial demands of higher education.

2. Scholarship Monitoring and Early Academic Intervention

CUD's Scholarship Coordinator monitors the academic performance of scholarship recipients each semester to identify students experiencing progression difficulties.

Monitoring activities include reviewing academic performance and identifying students who may benefit from additional institutional support.

Where appropriate, students can be referred to academic advising, tutoring and other university services designed to address academic challenges.

This approach aims to support timely intervention and reduce the risk of academic difficulties contributing to delayed graduation or withdrawal.

3. Student Success Centre

CUD's Student Success Centre provides academic support services aimed at strengthening student achievement and successful programme completion.

Services include:

• Academic Advising: Guidance on academic planning, course progression and programme requirements.
• Tutoring Support: Individual and group academic assistance for students requiring additional learning support.
• Study Skills Workshops: Activities designed to strengthen time management, examination preparation and effective learning strategies.
• Academic Performance Guidance: Support for students experiencing difficulties meeting programme requirements.
• Student Support Referrals: Coordination with other university services where additional assistance may be required.

These services are available to students experiencing academic difficulties, including those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.

4. Emergency Financial Assistance

CUD provides discretionary financial assistance to eligible students facing unexpected financial hardship.

Such support may address urgent financial difficulties involving essential expenses, including accommodation, transportation and study materials.

Emergency assistance is intended to help reduce the risk that sudden financial pressures interrupt students' educational progression.

By addressing immediate financial challenges, the University seeks to support continued student participation and minimise preventable barriers to programme completion.

5. Alumni Mentorship and Career Guidance

CUD's alumni mentorship and career-support initiatives provide students with opportunities to receive guidance from graduates and industry professionals.

Mentoring activities may support academic motivation, career planning, professional development and preparation for employment.

For students experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, access to professional networks and career guidance can complement financial assistance and academic support.

These initiatives contribute to the University's broader objective of supporting students through their transition from higher education to professional employment.

6. Community Engagement and Student Development

Under applicable scholarship conditions, scholarship recipients may participate in community service activities of up to 15 hours per month.

Community engagement opportunities support students in developing interpersonal skills, leadership capabilities, civic responsibility and connections to the wider community.

These experiences complement academic learning and contribute to students' personal and professional development.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Institutional Oversight

CUD's low-income student completion target is supported by institutional monitoring arrangements involving the Office of Student Affairs, Scholarship Committee and Office of the Registrar.

These functions are responsible for reviewing relevant academic and scholarship records and monitoring the University's progress towards its completion objectives.

Key Student Success Measures

The University's monitoring approach distinguishes between access, financial support and completion outcomes.

Financial aid participation demonstrates the scope of support provided, while cohort-based completion measurements allow the University to assess whether financially disadvantaged students are successfully completing their programmes.

Continuous Improvement and Student Success Priorities

CUD recognises the importance of reviewing actual student completion outcomes against its institutional targets.

The 2024–25 completion result of 57.23%, compared with the 85% institutional target, identifies a measurable gap that informs the University's student-success priorities.

CUD's student-support framework provides mechanisms for addressing barriers to timely completion through academic advising, financial assistance and individualised support.

The University's continuing priorities include:

1. Strengthening Early Identification of Students at Risk

Monitoring academic performance and scholarship eligibility to identify students who may require additional support before academic difficulties affect progression.

2. Improving Access to Academic Support

Encouraging students experiencing academic challenges to use tutoring, advising and study-skills resources.

3. Addressing Financial Barriers to Completion

Maintaining financial assistance and emergency support arrangements intended to reduce the impact of economic hardship on continued enrolment.

4. Strengthening Coordination Across University Offices

Supporting collaboration between Student Affairs, the Scholarship Committee and the Registrar to monitor academic performance and student progression.

5. Monitoring Progress Against the 85% Target

Reviewing graduation and completion outcomes annually to assess the effectiveness of institutional support and identify opportunities for improvement.

Through these measures, CUD seeks to strengthen completion outcomes among financially disadvantaged students while maintaining its commitment to equitable access and academic success.

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

CUD's low-income student completion target and student-support programmes contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 1 — No Poverty

By providing financial assistance and support for students from low-income households, CUD aims to reduce poverty-related barriers to higher education completion and support opportunities for long-term economic advancement.

SDG 4 — Quality Education

Through academic advising, tutoring and student-success programmes, CUD promotes equitable educational participation, progression and completion.

SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities

By targeting financial disadvantage and providing support throughout the student lifecycle, CUD seeks to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in educational attainment.

Institutional Commitment

Canadian University Dubai remains committed to supporting students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds throughout their higher education journey.

The University's 85% completion target provides a measurable institutional objective for improving graduation outcomes among low-income students.

While the 2024–25 on-time completion rate of 57.23% fell below this target, the University continues to provide financial, academic and personal support to help students overcome barriers to successful programme completion.

Through continued monitoring, coordinated student support and periodic review of completion outcomes, CUD seeks to strengthen academic success and expand opportunities for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Responsible Offices: Office of Student Affairs, Scholarship Committee and Office of the Registrar.

Contact: scholarship@cud.ac.ae

Primary Reporting Period: Academic Year 2024–25, with historical financial aid comparisons from 2022–23 and 2023–24.