The Higher Colleges of Technology offers instructional programs leading to Bachelor, Higher Diploma and Diploma Degrees in: Applied Media, Business, Computer Information Science, Education, Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, and Military and Security.

Course Credit Definition

HCT course credit units are granted in recognition that a course of study has been successfully completed as per the requirements of the relevant course outline.

The number of credit units assigned to each course is based on the amount of time that students are expected to spend under supervised delivery as well as independent study of the content in order to achieve learning outcomes.

The set number of credits for each course is specified in the course catalog. Most courses are one semester long which, if completed with a passing grade, carry the number of course credit units as specified.

Graduation Requirements

The graduation requirements for any individual student are determined by the catalog that was effective when the student matriculated in the major. The student is personally responsible for meeting all graduation requirements. 

If a required course within a program changes its number of credits, then the number of credits required by the program for graduation may, at the discretion of the Faculty, change by the minimum required by CAA for the respective program and CGPA is at least 2.00. In case of substantial changes in course offerings, equivalent graduation requirements must be approved by the Executive Dean of the student’s Division. 

Disclaimer: Course information, content and prerequisites may be subject to change as a result of the HCT’s commitment to a process of continuous improvement in academic programs. Students must comply with the most up-to-date course requirements.

To graduate a student has to achieve a minimum CGPA of 2.0 for any undergraduate degree program.
A minimum of 50% of the program credit requirements must be completed at HCT. 
Students must complete the required volunteering hours to be able to graduate.

Passing Grade Requirement

The minimum passing grade requirement for a course to meet any area of the graduation requirements and to satisfy any course prerequisites and/or co-requisites is D.

General Studies Requirements

All Bachelor degree students must complete a minimum of 33 credits of General Studies (GS) with a minimum grade of D in order to graduate. Students who transfer to HCT may satisfy the General studies requirements if the course(s) being transferred meet the outcomes of a General studies area as defined by the General Studies program.

Bachelor Degree

To earn a Bachelor Degree from the HCT, a student must:

1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the overall baccalaureate coursework.
2. Complete at least 120 credit units including:
   1. 33 credits of General Studies courses in specified areas;
   2. a minimum of 60 units in a program major.
3. Complete all required courses for a program major.

Higher Diploma Exit Option

To earn a Higher Diploma from the HCT, a student must:

1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
2. Complete at least 90 credit units including:
   1. required General Studies courses;
   2. required core and elective units within a program major.
3. Complete all required courses for a program major.

Diploma Exit Option

To earn a Diploma from the HCT, a student must:

1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
2. Complete at least 60 credit units including:
   1. required General Studies courses;
   2. required core and elective units within a program major.
3. Complete all required courses for a program major.

* One credit unit equals not less than 15 hours per semester.

Qualifications Framework for the Emirates (QFE)

Level	Generic Nomenclature	Vocational Education and Training (VET)1	Higher Education (HE)1	General Education (G 12-GE)1
10	Doctoral Degree	--	Doctoral	--
9	Master Degree	Applied Master	Master	--
8	Graduate Diploma	Applied Graduate Diploma	Postgraduate Diploma	--
7	Bachelor Degree	Applied Bachelor	Bachelor	--
6	Diploma	Advanced Diploma	Higher Diploma	--
5	Diploma / Associate Degree	Diploma	Associate Degree	--
4	Certificate	Certificate 4	--	Secondary School Certificate (G 12)
3	Certificate	Certificate 3	--	TBA
2	Certificate	Certificate 2	--	--
1	Certificate	Certificate 1	--	--

Source: QFEmirates handbook

1	Principal Qualification titles used in the QFEmirates (each with its own profile)

The Qualifications Framework for the Emirates (QFE)

Each Bachelor, Higher Diploma, and Diploma program has been aligned with the National Quality Framework of the Emirates. The QF Emirates is the UAE’s National Qualifications Framework (termed the “Qualifications Framework for the Emirates” (QFE) to distinguish it from other countries). The QFE Framework also provides detailed information on the level of knowledge, skills, and competencies required of graduates in the UAE. The specific levels of learning attained by HCT graduates are aligned with the QFE levels appropriate to their program.

The Hybrid Learning Model

Over two years ago, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) embarked on a journey to revolutionize the applied education model, incorporating a number of applicable modes and channels for the delivery of its curriculum, including the use of online strategies. It developed and began to build out a physical and information technology infrastructure to handle the transition over a realistic timeline. Pilots in blended delivery and flipped class formats were run and as a result of their success began being implemented in the mainstream delivery of General Study’s courses.

In February 2020 the world was struck with a pandemic which led to the closure of campuses in all countries around the globe.  HCT transitioned into the on-line delivery mode for the remainder of the academic year. 

With the success of the transition to the online mode of delivery and accounting for the uncertainty of the external environmental conditions ie. regulatory, workplace and health, the time is for HCT to accelerate its revolutionary plans. The cornerstone for completing the transition is the adoption of a Hybrid Model for the Delivery.

The hybrid learning model is a combination of on-line and on-campus delivery of an academic program, where appropriate and applicable, to cover all aspects of the curriculum, theory and practical. The guiding principles for the hybrid model include:

• The combined mode of delivery will be program-course specific with fractions course dependent,
• Following the Ministry of Education/ CAA guidelines, the total of on-line delivery component for any one program  will be less than 50%,
• The on-line portion may not be campus-specific and can be system-wide.