Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Student Admissions Specialists will support the admissions team in managing the graduate admissions process, ensuring efficient operations, and delivering a seamless experience for key stakeholders in the admissions process. This role combines administrative expertise with coordination responsibilities to oversee key admissions activities, track applications, and facilitate communication between stakeholders. Responsibilities include managing inquiries, organizing admissions committee meetings, scheduling candidate interviews, ensuring compliance with institutional policies, and supporting outreach and recruitment initiatives. Acting as a key liaison between applicants, faculty reviewers, and university administration, the specialist will contribute to data management, reporting, and continuous improvement of admissions processes.
Key Responsibilities:
Admissions Process Coordination
- Organize, support and coordinate the end-to-end admissions process, from application receipt to final decision.
- Track application milestones, ensuring timely review and processing.
- Assist in verifying applicant credentials and ensuring compliance with admissions criteria.
- Manage contracts with external housing providers, including room allocation and student welfare oversight, when applicable.
Committee & Interview Coordination
- Organize and schedule admissions committee meetings, ensuring documentation and logistics are in place.
- Coordinate faculty and staff involvement in candidate interviews, managing schedules and materials.
- Maintain records of committee evaluations and decisions, ensuring confidentiality and accuracy.
Documentation and Reporting
- Maintain accurate records of all admission data while ensuring compliance with MBZUAI policies.
- Document and identify issues and recommend service improvements.
- Gather and analyze student feedback on admissions to inform continuous improvement initiatives.
Stakeholder Engagement & Communication
- Serve as a primary point of contact for applicant inquiries, providing accurate and timely information (in person, phone, email).
- Coordinate communication with candidates regarding interview scheduling, document submission, and status updates.
- Assist in the planning and execution of applicant information sessions and other outreach-based activities when needed.
- Assist in onboarding students in the admissions process.
Other duties
- Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Academic Qualification:
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Education or a similar qualification in educational systems and administrative processes.
- A postgraduate degree in a related field will be preferred.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- At least 2–3 years of experience in admissions, student services, or higher education administration.
- Strong organizational and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
- Familiarity with software systems and database management for effective admissions operations (student information systems (SIS) and CRM platforms used in university admissions).
- Experience in scheduling, event coordination, and database management.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with applicants and faculty.
- Ability to work collaboratively across departments and handle confidential information professionally.
- Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Excellent organizational abilities to manage schedules and administrative tasks efficiently.
- Proficiency in English, fluency in additional languages is a plus.
Preferred
- Experience working in the UAE.
- Experience in a higher education institution, with knowledge of admissions policies and recruitment strategies.
- Experience in handling international student admissions, including visa and document processing.
- Familiarity with student information systems (SIS) and CRM platforms used in university admissions.
