Education consultants have indicated that UAE students are increasing chosing to study psychology with the aim of getting into the profession of counselling in view of the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large number of students are also showing keen interest in computer science and other IT-related subjects noting the work and study-from-culture post-pandemic.

Greta Carlson, recruitment officer at Canadian University in Dubai, stated that she has noticed a lot of female students opting psychology.

"COVID-19 can be one of the factors for pupils choosing this subject as a career to offer counselling services because a lot of people have been suffering from depression and other mental-health related challenges,” Greta Carlson added.

Bhakti Reen, admission manager at Manipal Academy of Higher Education at the Dubai Campus, pointed out that subjects like data science engineering, cybersecurity and IT-related fields are witnessing higher demand among students.

"We also recently introduced applied psychology programme and data science engineering and both are doing immensely well,” she added during interaction with the media on the sidelines of the two-day KT UniExpo exhibition,

The KT UniExpo exhibition, which began on Thursday, witnessed thousands of students across the UAE interacting with university officials and education counsellors on the first day at Conrad Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Bhakti Reen explained how the COVID-19 pandemic can become part of medicine, pharmacy and psychology subjects in the coming years.

"COVID-19 is a global issue and could be incorporated for case studies, research and discussions in classrooms," he added.

Nella Basco, admission manager at Curtin University Dubai, added to Reen’s comments, noting that demand for psychology among students has increased exponentially because a lot of working professionals have started working from home and are seeking counselling services.

“I think there would be greater demand for psychology, going forward," Basco added.

Rora Buenaluz, student recruitment coordinator at the American University in Dubai, pointed out that psychology has emerged as one of the most popular programmes, apart from business and engineering. Buenaluz added that students are choosing phychology to help the people facing mental health issues due to COVID-19.

Speaking on the sidelines of the KT UniExpo, Yazan Shaikh, assistant marketing manager at Middlesex University Dubai, also underscored that increasing number of students are opting for psychology, business management and law programmes across colleges in the UAE.

"The students mentioned that their friends are already studying psychology at the university so they also wish to pursue and get into counselling and market-oriented stuff," he added.

Husnpreet Kaur, an education counsellor and manager at education consultancy firm PROED, named computer science, data science, psychology and international relations as popular subjects among UAE students pursuing higher education.

Higher demand for scholarship

Career experts have also talked about surge in demand for scholarship since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID-19 is one of the factors for the increase in demand for scholarships. The pandemic has brought in a vast variety of fields where students can specifically channelise their interests. I would say children have become more independent as they gain information from a variety of places and channels now,” she said.

Nahid Afshan, senior manager for admissions at BITS Pilani at the Dubai Campus, explained that the college has started offering more scholarships to ensure that every student who scores above 70 per cent in grade 12 will get some kind of scholarship. The college has also increased its scholarship budget from Dh5 million to Dh7 million, Afshan added.