10.6.9 Canadian University Dubai — Access Schemes for People with Disabilities
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is committed to promoting equitable access to higher education for Students of Determination, including individuals with physical, psychological, sensory, medical and learning-related disabilities.
The University recognises that students with disabilities may encounter additional financial, academic and practical barriers when entering higher education and progressing through their studies.
To address these barriers, CUD provides targeted access arrangements through its Special Needs Scholarship, individualised academic accommodations, disability-related academic assistance and a dedicated Disability Support Office.
These schemes are designed to support eligible applicants and enrolled students according to their circumstances and educational needs.
CUD's approach is supported by its institutional Scholarship Policy, Non-Discrimination Policy and specialist student-support arrangements.
1. Overview of Disability Access Schemes
CUD provides several complementary measures intended to reduce barriers to higher education for students with disabilities.
| Access Scheme | Target Group | Nature of Targeted Support |
|---|---|---|
| Special Needs Scholarship | Eligible undergraduate applicants and students with documented disabilities | Tuition assistance and individual scholarship assessment |
| Case-by-Case Scholarship Assessment | Applicants and enrolled students with documented additional needs | Consideration of academic average and course-load requirements under applicable scholarship conditions |
| Individualised Academic Accommodations | Students with documented disabilities or learning barriers | Examination adjustments, assistive technology and adapted learning arrangements |
| Targeted Academic Assistance | Students of Determination requiring additional learning support | Individual academic guidance, tutoring and available peer assistance |
| Disability Support Office | Students seeking disability-related assistance | Assessment, coordination and facilitation of appropriate support |
These measures complement the University's general student services by addressing circumstances specifically associated with disability.
2. Access Scheme One — Special Needs Scholarship
CUD maintains a dedicated Special Needs Scholarship, also referred to as the Students of Determination Scholarship.
The scholarship is intended to support students with documented disabilities and reduce financial barriers to undergraduate education.
The University's published scholarship information recognises the importance of ensuring that disability-related circumstances do not unnecessarily prevent eligible individuals from pursuing higher education.
Scholarship Benefits and Eligibility
| Feature | Published Provision |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | Special Needs Scholarship / Students of Determination Scholarship |
| Target Group | Eligible undergraduate students with documented physical or other disabilities |
| Financial Assistance | Tuition reduction of up to 40% under currently published terms |
| New Applicants | Academic average considered by the Scholarship Committee on a case-by-case basis |
| Current Students | Minimum CGPA of 2.0 to be eligible to apply |
| Supporting Documents | Up-to-date professionally documented diagnosis |
| Applicable Courses | Eligible undergraduate credit-bearing courses |
| Summer Semester | Scholarship does not apply |
| Decision-Making | Scholarship Committee, subject to eligibility and available awards |
The financial assistance is applied according to the University's scholarship requirements and the Committee's decision.
The current published maximum is 40% of eligible tuition fees. The percentage applicable to individual applicants depends on the relevant scholarship conditions and award decision.
Individualised Assessment
CUD recognises that students with disabilities may have different circumstances affecting their academic progression.
The scholarship therefore provides for individual consideration in specified areas, including:
- Academic average for applicants seeking the scholarship at the point of admission.
- Academic course load for qualifying scholarship recipients.
- Supporting documentation concerning disability-related needs.
- Individual scholarship eligibility and award decisions.
The Scholarship Committee considers these matters in accordance with the University's published rules.
Case-by-case scholarship assessment does not constitute automatic exemption from the academic admission requirements of a degree programme.
Application Process
Eligible applicants may apply through the University's scholarship arrangements.
The process includes submission of a completed scholarship application and relevant supporting documentation.
Applicants are required to provide a current professional diagnosis identifying the circumstances relevant to their request.
CUD's published scholarship terms provide for confidential treatment of this documentation.
Scholarship Contact: scholarship@cud.ac.ae
3. Access Scheme Two — Flexible Scholarship Course-Load Arrangements
CUD's Scholarship Policy includes a specific provision recognising that some Students of Determination may require flexibility in the number of academic courses taken each semester.
The general scholarship framework ordinarily expects eligible recipients to be registered in four or more academic courses per semester.
However, for the Financial Hardship and Special Needs Scholarship categories, the number of courses is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Where possible, a minimum of four academic courses is recommended.
Purpose of the Arrangement
Students with disabilities may require an adjusted study load because of medical, psychological, learning or other documented circumstances.
Individual consideration of course-load requirements provides a means of recognising these needs within the University's scholarship framework.
This targeted arrangement helps reduce the risk that a standard scholarship course-load requirement becomes an additional barrier to educational participation.
It is applied according to the Scholarship Committee's assessment and the University's applicable academic requirements.
4. Access Scheme Three — Individualised Academic Accommodations
CUD provides individualised academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities and other recognised barriers to learning.
These accommodations are intended to support equitable participation in teaching, learning and assessment.
The University considers requests on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the student's documented needs and the learning objectives of the relevant academic programme.
Targeted Academic Arrangements
| Accommodation | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Additional Examination Time | Supports students whose documented conditions affect their ability to complete assessments within standard time limits |
| Assistive Technology | Provides access to appropriate technology or learning tools to support participation |
| Specialised Learning Resources | Makes relevant educational materials or learning assistance available according to individual needs |
| Note-Taking Support | Assists students who have difficulty capturing lecture information |
| Reduced-Distraction Environments | Provides adjusted examination settings where suitable and approved |
| Individual Academic Guidance | Helps students navigate academic challenges associated with disability |
Accommodations are determined according to individual assessment rather than automatically assigned to every student with a disability.
Academic Integrity and Programme Requirements
Academic accommodations are intended to provide equitable opportunities to demonstrate learning.
They do not automatically change the essential learning outcomes or academic standards of the relevant programme.
The University considers appropriate adjustments while maintaining the academic requirements associated with the qualification.
5. Access Scheme Four — Targeted Tutoring and Academic Assistance
CUD provides academic assistance to students who require additional support with learning and progression.
The University has documented provision of one-on-one tutoring and dedicated academic support for Students of Determination.
Targeted Assistance
Support may include:
- Individual tutoring or academic guidance.
- Assistance with course materials.
- Study strategies adapted to individual learning needs.
- Examination preparation.
- Additional clarification of academic content.
- Peer learning assistance where available.
- Coordination between disability-support and academic personnel.
These measures aim to help students address learning barriers and participate more effectively in their degree programmes.
Student Success Centre
CUD's Student Success Centre provides academic tutoring and skills-development assistance.
Students with disabilities may use these services alongside individually approved disability-related accommodations.
The Centre provides support in areas including academic writing, mathematics, English, study strategies and time management.
Targeted disability-related assistance and general academic tutoring complement one another in supporting student participation and progression.
Student Success Centre Contact: StudentSuccess@cud.ac.ae
6. Access Scheme Five — Dedicated Disability Support Office
Canadian University Dubai maintains a Disability Support Office providing a designated institutional contact point for students with disability-related needs.
The office is overseen by Ms. Simran Siddiqui, who also serves as the University's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer and heads the Counselling Office.
The Disability Support Office works with relevant university functions to assist students in obtaining appropriate support.
Support Functions
The office contributes to:
- Receiving requests for disability-related assistance.
- Reviewing relevant documentation and individual circumstances.
- Considering appropriate academic accommodations.
- Coordinating approved adjustments with relevant university personnel.
- Facilitating access to counselling and student-support services.
- Addressing disability-related inclusion matters within the University's support framework.
The service recognises that individual support needs may differ according to disability, academic requirements and personal circumstances.
Disability Support Office Contact Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Officer | Ms. Simran Siddiqui |
| Position | Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer; Disability Support Office oversight |
| Office | HUB 1 – 05 |
| Telephone | +971 4 709 6292 |
| Simran.Siddiqui@cud.ac.ae | |
| Counselling Email | StudentCounsellor@cud.ac.ae |
7. Accessing Individualised Disability Support
CUD provides a process through which students can request assistance tailored to their needs.
Step 1 — Contact the Disability Support Office
Students may request an appointment or contact the office to explain the barriers or difficulties affecting their academic participation.
Step 2 — Submit Supporting Documentation
Where required, students provide relevant professional documentation describing their disability or learning-related needs.
Such documentation may include medical, psychological or educational assessment reports.
Step 3 — Individual Assessment
The relevant university support personnel review the student's circumstances and consider the adjustments or assistance that may be appropriate.
Step 4 — Identify Targeted Support
Support may include academic accommodations, appropriate learning resources, tutoring, counselling or guidance concerning scholarship eligibility.
Step 5 — Coordinate Approved Arrangements
The University coordinates approved support with relevant academic or administrative personnel where necessary.
The process is intended to provide individualised support while respecting student privacy and applicable institutional procedures.
8. Supporting Physical and Campus Accessibility
The University's disability access schemes are complemented by accessible campus facilities.
These include designated accessible parking, accessible washrooms, wheelchairs for temporary assistance, ramps, step-free routes, elevators and evacuation equipment.
CUD's institutional facilities records report:
| Facility | Reported Availability |
|---|---|
| Accessible washrooms | 9 |
| Designated accessible parking bays | 20 |
| Wheelchairs available for temporary assistance | 5 |
These facilities support access to classrooms, university services and other campus activities.
Detailed facility locations and photographic evidence are provided under SDG 10.6.7 — Accessible Facilities for People with Disabilities.
9. Participation of Students of Determination
CUD maintains institutional enrolment records identifying Students of Determination.
These provide contextual information about the population that may benefit from the University's disability access schemes.
Reported Enrolment
| Academic Year | Students of Determination Enrolled |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | 85 |
| 2023–24 | 96 |
| 2024–25 | 110 |
The University's reported enrolment of Students of Determination increased from 85 in 2022–23 to 110 in 2024–25.
This represents an increase of approximately 29.4% over the period.
The figures indicate student participation and are not presented as a count of scholarship awards, accommodation requests or tutoring beneficiaries.
They also do not independently establish that increased enrolment was caused by a specific access scheme.
10. Institutional Policies Supporting Disability Access
CUD's disability access arrangements are reinforced by its formal institutional policies.
Non-Discrimination Policy (GM-PO-1N)
Approved: 10 May 2024
Approving authority: Board of Trustees
The University's Non-Discrimination Policy expressly recognises disability and People of Determination.
It establishes a commitment to reasonable accommodations and equal access to education, employment and university services.
The policy provides an institutional foundation for disability-inclusive education and participation.
Scholarship Policy (FR-PO-9A)
CUD's Scholarship Policy establishes the dedicated Special Needs Scholarship category and the relevant scholarship administration procedures.
It provides for individual consideration of specified scholarship requirements, including academic average at admission and course-load arrangements.
The scholarship is subject to eligibility, documentation and Scholarship Committee decisions.
Student Support and Accessibility Arrangements
The Disability Support Office and Counselling Office provide operational support for students requiring academic adjustments or individual assistance.
These functions contribute to the practical implementation of the University's disability inclusion commitments.
11. Institutional Coordination
The provision of disability access schemes involves several university departments and support functions.
| Responsible Unit | Role |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Committee | Assessment and decisions concerning scholarship applications |
| Admissions Office | Administration of undergraduate entry requirements and application procedures |
| Disability Support Office | Individual disability support and accommodation coordination |
| EDI Officer | Oversight of EDI and Disability Support functions |
| Student Success Centre | Academic tutoring and learning-development support |
| Academic Departments | Implementation of approved academic adjustments |
| Student Affairs | Student wellbeing and relevant support services |
This institutional structure supports coordination between financial assistance, disability-related adjustments and academic participation.
12. Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities
CUD's disability access schemes aim to reduce barriers to higher education for Students of Determination.
The University's scholarship, academic accommodation and targeted learning arrangements support more equitable opportunities for participation.
SDG 4 — Quality Education
Dedicated tuition assistance, appropriate academic adjustments and targeted educational support contribute to inclusive participation in tertiary education.
SDG 3 — Good Health and Wellbeing
Individualised support and access to counselling can help address challenges affecting students' wellbeing and educational participation.
SDG 16 — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Formally documented scholarship and non-discrimination policies contribute to clear institutional responsibilities and equitable educational arrangements.
Institutional Commitment
Canadian University Dubai recognises that students with disabilities may require targeted financial, academic and personal support to access and participate in higher education.
The University's Special Needs Scholarship provides a dedicated financial assistance pathway, while case-by-case course-load consideration and individual academic accommodations help address disability-related barriers.
Targeted tutoring, counselling and the Disability Support Office provide additional assistance to students requiring individual support.
In academic year 2024–25, CUD recorded 110 enrolled Students of Determination.
These access arrangements are supported by the University's approved Scholarship Policy and Non-Discrimination Policy, demonstrating its institutional commitment to disability-inclusive educational opportunity.
Responsible Functions: Scholarship Committee, Disability Support Office, EDI Office and Student Affairs.
Disability Support Officer: Ms. Simran Siddiqui
Office: HUB 1 – 05
Telephone: +971 4 709 6292
Disability Support Email: Simran.Siddiqui@cud.ac.ae
Scholarship Email: scholarship@cud.ac.ae
Primary Reporting Period: Academic Year 2024–25.