Global Studies University (GSU) has received accreditation from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), U.A.E., for its Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Global Studies and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Global African Studies programs. This recognition, granted on January 28, 2025, affirms GSU’s commitment to academic excellence and interdisciplinary scholarship, further strengthening its role as a hub for global and regional studies.
GSU was established under Emiri Decree No. (57) of 2023, issued by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on September 14, 2023. The decree designates the institution as a non-profit Arab academic institution, granting it full legal, financial, and administrative independence. Envisioned as a network of semi-independent interdisciplinary institutions, GSU focuses on different global regions, beginning with The Africa Institute, established in 2018, and the soon-to-be-launched Asia Institute, with future expansions planned for the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
On February 4, 2025, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan attended the inauguration of GSU’s first cohort of Master’s students at Africa Hall, Sharjah. The event officially welcomed twenty-four students enrolled in the Global African Studies Program for the Spring 2025 semester and was attended by senior officials, academics, and university leaders. The M.A. in Global African Studies, offered in collaboration with The Africa Institute, is a two-year interdisciplinary program exploring key themes in African and diaspora studies. The Ph.D. in Global Studies is a five-year program combining coursework and research across multiple disciplines.
Admissions are now open:
Ph.D. in Global Studies (Fall 2025) – Apply by April 17, 2025
M.A. in Global African Studies (Spring 2026) – Apply by March 13, 2025