Office of The Registrar
As the University Registrar, I welcome you to the Office of the Registrar’s Web page at Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation. The Office of the Registrar is an academic service unit, reporting to the Dean at DIDI.
The major responsibility of the Office of the Registrar is to maintain accurate records of all students and to guard, interpret, and implement University regulations governing academic affairs. We serve the students, faculty, staff and alumni through registration, record keeping, course and classroom management, and academic support. Our mission is to support teaching, learning and student development by maintaining the integrity of academic policies and the student information system.
The Office of the Registrar is responsible for the administrative and operational activities surrounding student registration, academic records, commencement, and some reporting and acts as the Institute and custodian of record for all student-related academic information.
For More Information, please reach out to the Office of the Registrar via email, phone or visit the office.
Phone +971 4 5687455
Office Hours Sunday – Thursday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Office of the Registrar d3, Building 4, Ground floor, DIDI Admin Offices
This calendar includes important dates for the entire DIDI community.
DIDI has a single degree, the Bachelor of Design. In place of a single major, students have the opportunity to combine two design disciplines, from four, and create their own unique ‘cross-concentration’ study path.
All first-year University students share the common ‘Foundation’ coursework, providing a broad and in-depth foundation. Year-long core studios, workshops and lectures provide a rigorous grounding in design thinking that encourages cross-disciplinary work at an advanced level.
In the second, third and final years of the Bachelor of Design program, students curate their own degree path by pairing two of the four disciplines offered. DIDI offers four disciplines: Product Design, Multimedia Design, Fashion Design and Strategic Design Management. Our design degree program encourages students to explore their interest through innovative design pathways and across design disciplines, while gaining real-world experience through a design internship
Whichever study path chosen, students will have the opportunity to develop their critical thinking, refine their research skills, challenge their intellect, and expand their cultural horizons. To graduate from DIDI, students enrolled in the undergraduate programs must:
- Complete 120 Credits* according to the academic plan and satisfy the below requirements:
- Foundation courses – 30 Credits
- General Education courses – 18 Credits
- Discipline 1 – 24 Credits
- Discipline 2 – 24 Credits
- Electives Courses – 9 Credits
- Thesis + Thesis prep – 12 Credits
- Internship – 3 Credits
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of not less than 2.00.
- Satisfy the residency requirement that majority of the final thirty (30) credit hours will be completed at DIDI.
Each element of the curriculum has been designed to allow students to study the topics they choose, and graduate with a Bachelor of Design (BDes) degree. The below chart shows the curriculum sequence for all cross-concentrations at DIDI. Based on the cross-concentrations declared, students can select the courses they wish to register for. Here are three main reasons for cross-concentration courses:
- Diversity is good.
- Innovation is guaranteed. Cross-disciplinary courses encourages innovation. The DIDI DNA encourages cross-pollination of skills and ideas. The curriculum is designed to encourage cross-disciplinary learning.
- Passion postponed. Taking all courses in a single discipline, will have students to wait an entire year before they are able to take another course in another discipline. Mix it up.
Studio Instruction
The primary learning method in design is the studio. The studio method is based on an instructor assigning design problems that each student works at resolving through project work. A typical design problem is addressed through research, articulating the problem, and sketching solutions. Solutions are then developed through drawings, prototypes and models. Students present their work in three primary ways: one-on-one discussions with the faculty, and group critique’s, where students display their work, and the faculty discusses the work with the class. Juries and panels comprised of faculty and industry professionals are also utilized for critiques and review. Studios are the ideal environment for visual learners, as students learn by doing and working in the same space as their peers. A typical studio has one to three projects per semester, with multiple critiques or juries, a midterm and a final. Each faculty develops their own approach and timing for project assessment.
Workshop Instruction
Students learn the basic techniques of design from direct hands-on experience in the workshop. Faculty assign short projects to introduce students to the relevant techniques in each discipline. Workshops can be coordinated with studios so that the learned techniques can be directly applied to a student’s individual project. Faculty assess workshop projects based on demonstration of the acquired skills and its application.
Lecture Instruction
Theoretical courses follow the traditional classroom lecture format with lectures and assigned readings. Student comprehension is assessed through exercises, journals, class discussions, reflective learning, quizzes and exams. Lectures can be subdivided into 2 or 3 modules spread across a weekز
Credit Hour: Credit value is the numerical value relating to the number of hours assigned to a credit. Defined by the QF Emirates, a notional value of 15 hours (with additional study hours) equates to one (1) credit value. The CAA uses a notional value of 1 credit = 15 hours of classroom instruction (with an additional expected study-load of 30 hours). In other words, one credit hour equals approximately three hours of work per week. One in class hour should be equal to two hours of out of class work in preparation and homework. A contact hour represents the measure of scheduled instruction given to students. Contact hours should be calculated on a per week basis. Studio-based courses allocate credit as follows; 1 credit = 1.5 hours of classroom instruction and 3 hours of out of class work. Therefore a 6-credit studio meets for 9 hours per week for 15 weeks.
| Class Type | Credit Value | Contact Hours | Prep and Homework | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture and Workshop | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Studio | 1 | 1.5 | 3 | 4.5 |
Grades: The measure of student performance in an individual course and based on a faculty evaluation of a student’s achievement that is represented by a letter.
Grade Points: Grade point is calculated by multiplying the grade value of a course by the number of credits of that course. E.G. An A or a 4.00 on a 3-credit course, equals 12 grade points. (4.0 (‘A’ Grade) x 3 credits = 12 grade points).
Grade Point Average (GPA) is the cumulative record of academic performance over the period of a semester. The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the total grade points earned in a given semester divided by the Total number of credits attempted in that semester. The Grade Point Average (GPA) is based on a 4.00 scale and reflects a single term of academic activity. All GPA calculations are carried out to two decimal places.
Cumulative GPA (CGPA) is the aggregation of GPA for all the semesters attended. Grades from all completed courses contribute toward the student’s CGPA. When calculating the CGPA, all fail (F) grades that are not replaced by a passing grade are counted in the computation. Repeated courses, will be recorded on a student’s permanent academic record with an ‘*’. The notation does not affect previously posted academic actions (such as probation or suspension). Check with the Registration Office for more information.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the total grade points earned in each semester divided by the total number of credits attempted in that semester. GPA is based on a 4.0 scale and reflects a single term of academic activity. For each credit earned a grade value (For the purpose of averaging, each grade shall be weighted as per DIDI grading policy) will be awarded based upon the grade received, and will be used to calculate the grade point averages (GPA).
| Course information | Course Credit (CC) | Grade earned (GC) | Grade Value (GV) | Grade point ( GV x CC) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FoS101 | Exploring Design1 | 6 | C | 2.00 | 12.00 |
| FoW101 | How to Design (Almost) Anything | 3 | F | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| FoL204 | History of Design | 3 | B+ | 3.30 | 9.90 |
| FoL102 | Design Across Scales 1 | 3 | A- | 3.70 | 11.10 |
| FoL103 | Understanding Design | 0 | U˅ | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Total | 15 | – | 9.00 | 33.00 |
TOTAL GPA is the total grade point earned for a semester divided by the total courses credits is 2.20
Total grade point Earned (33.00)/Total course credit (15) = 2.20
- Grades for Audit (U^), Incomplete (I), Withdrawn (W), Transfer Credit (T), Pass (P) and In Progress (IP) courses receive 0 grade value and do not count towards GPA Calculation.
- Repeated courses, will be recorded on a student’s permanent academic record with an ‘*’. The notation does not affect previously posted academic actions (such as probation or suspension).
Applicants enrolled in other universities, colleges or any institution of higher education prior to submitting their application are regarded as transfer applicants. In addition to the DIDI admissions process students who wish to transfer from other universities are required to follow the process below.
The transfer credits process involves:
- Submission of official university transcripts along with course descriptions for credit(s) to be considered for transfer. Students are required to be in good academic standing, i.e., not on probation or been dismissed from the institution from which they are transferring.
- Transfer of credits will only be evaluated once the student receives and accept the acceptance offer made.
- Once transfer credits are approved, they will be posted to the student’s academic record by the Office of the Registrar.
- Transfer credits submitted by a student currently enrolled will be reviewed, evaluated and assigned within three weeks of submission.
- Transfer credit notification will be in writing, and the student’s record amended to reflect the transfer credits, and the course equivalency.
- Official transcripts must include the Institutions’ seal to be eligible for consideration.
- A grade of ‘C’ or higher (or equivalent) and an overall CGPA of 2.00 and above must be earned for approval of transfer credit.
- Advanced Standing and recognition of prior learning, is not granted at DIDI.
- DIDI does not permit credits to be assigned for the same course twice even when they are taken at different institutions.
DIDI considers transfer credits for courses from accredited Institutions, aligned to the courses on offer at DIDI. Transfer of credit will be subject to DIDI academic rules and regulations.