If you are an international student and want to study in one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities, welcome to Dubai! With its world-class education system and multicultural environment, Dubai is the top academic destination for international students. But how can you afford it? This blog will explore the top 5 fully-funded scholarships for international students in Dubai.
These scholarships cover tuition fees and provide housing allowances, stipends for living expenses,, and travelling assistance. They ensure you can focus on your studies and enjoy the rich cultural experience in the city! Continue reading!
Top 5 Fully Funded Scholarships For International Students in Dubai
Studying in Dubai can benefit international students and give them excellent exposure to its vibrant and multicultural environment. However, finances can be a significant burden, as education is expensive in the UAE.
Fortunately, many scholarship programs launched by Dubai’s prestigious universities for international students offer financial support for Bachelor’s, Master’s, PG and PhD programs.
The following are the top five fully funded scholarships in Dubai for international students:
Khalifa University Scholarships for International Students in Dubai
The goal of the Khalifa University Scholarship program is to attract brilliant students to enrol at Khalifa University. It is a leading research institution in Dubai to pursue graduate studies in Engineering, Science, and Technology disciplines.
The university offers two types of scholarships; that are:
Undergraduate Scholarships
The scholarship is available to both UAE National and international students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at Khalifa University. Eligibility for the scholarship is determined during the admission process, so applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application.
The scholarship benefits for UAE Nationals and Mothers of Emirati children are as follows:
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Free accommodation for eligible students
- Free weekly transportation
- Textbooks provided by the university
Postgraduate Scholarships
Khalifa University of Science and Technology provides several scholarships to support qualified international students enrolled in postgraduate programs. For instance:
1. Masters Scholarships
The scholarship helps international students pursuing a Master’s degree at Khalifa University. You don’t need to apply separately for it; eligibility is checked during the admission process.
Applicants are evaluated based on academic performance and assigned to a specific scholarship Tier.
The following are the Tiers for Masters Scholarships:
Tier I and Tier II (Full-Time or Part-Time)
- Full coverage of tuition fees
- Textbooks by the University
- Free university accommodation for eligible full-time students only
- Medical insurance coverage for full-time international students
- Mobilisation and demobilisation flights (between home country and Abu Dhabi) for full-time overseas international students
- Coverage of UAE visa application fees for full-time international students
Full Time or Part Time Tier III
- 50% waiver of tuition fees
- Textbooks by the University
- Medical insurance coverage for full-time international students
- Mobilisationtion and demobilisation flights (between the home country and Abu Dhabi)
- Coverage of UAE visa application fees
Tier IV
- Textbooks provided by the University
- Medical insurance coverage for full-time international students
- Mobilisationtion and demobilisation flights (between the home country and Abu Dhabi)
- Coverage of UAE visa application fees
2. PhD Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to students pursuing a doctoral degree at Khalifa University. The students are not required to submit a separate scholarship form, and their academic merit and other factors decide the eligibility.
The scholarship tiers are only available for full-time PhD students and are accessed annually for eligibility.
3. China Scholarship Council – khalifa University Joint PhD Scholarship
In partnership with the China Scholarship Council (CSC), Khalifa University offers the CSC-KU Scholarship to highly qualified Chinese nationals admitted to a full-time PhD program in Engineering or Science. This scholarship is awarded to eligible students for a maximum of 4 academic years.
To be eligible, students must apply for the PhD program at the university. After they receive an admission offer letter from the university, the students must apply to CSC by filling out the admission form for funding and employer reference.
Online forms of CSC are available here: http://apply.csc.edu.cn.
The following are the benefits offered to the scholarship holders:
- Monthly stipend: 9,200 AED
- Additional stipend from CSC
- Mobilisation and demobilisation flights (China to Abu Dhabi) provided by CSC
- Full tuition coverage at Khalifa University
- Free University accommodation or assistance up to AED 2,000/month
- University-provided textbooks
- UAE visa application fees covered
- Medical insurance for full-time international students
- Support for international research conferences (approval required)
Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen and permanent resident of the People’s Republic of China at the time of application.
- Receive unconditional admission to a PhD program at Khalifa University.
- Get an official scholarship approval from CSC before their first registration at Khalifa University.
- Register as a full-time student each semester, including the summer term.
- Maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.5 out of 4 throughout their studies.
For more information on the under and postgraduate scholarships, visit the university website: https://www.ku.ac.ae/scholarships-postgraduate#international-students.
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) Scholarships
The MBRU Scholarships aim to bring outstanding international students to study at one of Dubai’s top medicine and health sciences institutions. This program was inaugurated in 2017/18 and ensured talented students could focus entirely on their studies without financial worries.
The following are the scholarships by the university according to the departments.
1. College of Medicine: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Scholarship Programs
Future Doctor’s Program
This merit-based scholarship is for students pursuing an MBBS at MBR University.
For new and continuing students:
- Five scholarships awarded to the top 5 ranked MBBS applicants (new students) with an annual GPA of 3.8 or above (for continuing students)
- Up to a 30% scholarship on annual tuition fees
- Applicable for one academic year only
- The scholarship is determined every year
- No application process required
Jood Scholarship Program
This is a need-based scholarship for MBBS students at MBR University. Students with financial need can get scholarships up to 50% off their annual tuition fee. However, their GPA needs to be above their minimum GPA of progression. This scholarship is only available for UAE residents.
The Jood Scholarship program is also available for students studying in Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine at MBR University.
Jood Scholarship Required Documents:
- Copy of the full family book (UAE nationals) or valid passport/Emirates ID of all family members (non-UAE nationals)
- Original salary certificates for guardians (father and mother, if employed), including gross salary and all allowances/benefits
- Copy of bank statements for the last six months
- Original certificate of liabilities from the bank
- Copy of the lease contract (if applicable)
- Certificates verifying education tuition fees for all family members (if applicable)
- Death/divorce certificates of guardian (if applicable)
- Any additional documents supporting the family’s financial status
Other scholarships include:
- Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences: 50% scholarship offered by the university
- PhD of Science in Biomedical Sciences: 100% scholarship provided by the university
2. College of Nursing and Midwifery: College of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarship Program
Fronliners Scholarship
MBRU offers a scholarship covering 50% of tuition fees for its two postgraduate nursing programs: the Master’s in Cardiovascular Nursing and the Master’s in Pediatric Nursing. This scholarship is available to students of all nationalities.
For more information, please visit the university website: https://www.mbru.ac.ae/scholarships/.
Zayed University Scholarships For International Students in Dubai
Zayed University offers merit-based scholarships to self-funding international students at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. The scholarships aim to promote academic excellence and provide opportunities for students to pursue higher education in a supportive environment without financial restraints.
These scholarships are in the form of the following programs:
1. Undergraduate Merit Scholarship (President’s Award and Academic Merit Scholarship)
The number of scholarships available for international students is 10% of the total number of UAE Nationals enrolled in undergraduate programs each academic year.
The Admissions and Outreach Committee first reviews the Scholarship applications. Then, they send the applications to the Scholarship Committee, which reviews and approves them. The Vice-President or their representative makes the final decision on scholarships based on the Provost’s recommendation.
To maintain these scholarships, students must maintain a CPGA of 3.6 (President’s Award) and 3.3 (Academic Merit) throughout the year.
2. Undergraduate Family Grant
Zayed University offers Undergraduate Family Grant scholarships to families with more than one child enrolled in its undergraduate programs. This grant provides a 25% tuition discount for each additional sibling beyond the first, but it cannot be combined with other major awards.
To be eligible, students must
- Meet the minimum enrolment requirements for their academic program
- And must not have any disciplinary issues
3. Undergraduate Tuition Fee Discount for Children of ZU Employees
Zayed University offers a 50% tuition fee discount to children of ZU employees like administrators, faculty, and staff on regular contracts. However, the students must be enrolled in any of ZU’s undergraduate programs.
This benefit will be discontinued if the parent’s regular contract employment at the university ends.
To keep the Undergraduate Tuition Fee Discount:
- Students must meet the minimum enrollment requirements for their academic program
- Have no disciplinary issues
- And ensure their parent remains on a regular, full-time employment contract at Zayed University
For more information on eligibility for these scholarships, please visit the university website: https://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/undergraduate-programs/_images/tuition-scholarship.
United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) Fellowships, Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships
The UAEU offers scholarships, fellowships, and graduate assistantships as an honourable award for international students with exceptional academic performance and leadership potential.
The following are the scholarship and fellowship programs offered by the university:
1. The Chancellor’s Fellowship for Graduate Students
The Chancellor’s Fellowship aims to attract top students by offering financial support for higher education. It focuses on STEM and strategic fields like renewable energy, transportation, and technology. The fellowship is budget-dependent and does not apply to Education programs, DBA, MBA, or MPA degrees.
2. Graduate Research Assistantship (All Nationalities)
This award is granted to students working on research projects. To be eligible for this assistantship, the students must enrol in the university’s Master of Doctorate program.
3. Graduate Teaching Assistantship (all Nationalities)
These scholarships are typically granted to those students who actively participate in teaching at the university in exchange for financial support.
4. Graduate Administrative Assistantship (All Nationalities)
Like GTA, the GAA scholarship is granted to full-time students who participate in administrative tasks for the university.
5. PhD Scholarships and Fellowships (All Nationalities)
These scholarships are granted to high-achieving students who need financial support.
Other scholarships offered by UAEU are as follows:
- The Hamdan Bin Rashid Scholarship Program
- Scholarship for MSc Space Science
- PhD Studentship at the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- PhD Studentship at the Department of Biology, etc
For more information, please visit the university website: https://www.uaeu.ac.ae/en/cgs/scholarship.shtml
American University in Dubai (AUD) Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship
This scholarship is for international students with a solid academic background. The awards are as follows:
1. Undergraduate Scholarships
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship for Undergraduate Study
The university introduced this scholarship under Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Makhtoum’s name in 1999. High-school applicants must have a 90% or above grade point average to be eligible for this scholarship program. The program is open to all nationalities and undergraduate programs.
The Gebran Tueni Media Scholarship
In honour of the late Lebanese journalist Gebran Tueni, the Lebanese Government, in collaboration with AUD, offers two full-tuition Gebran Tueni Media Scholarships for the Arabic Track at the undergraduate level. The scholarships cover dorms and visa charges for eligible Lebanese applicants with excellent high school academic averages.
The students must submit a portfolio of creative work and undergo a qualifying interview by the MBRSC Admissions Committee. The scholarship is renewable annually until graduation.
Other AUD undergraduate scholarships include:
- The Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication Scholarship
- The William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship at AUD
- ICT Funds Scholarship for Undergraduate Admissions
- The Dubai Electricity And Water Authority (DEWA) Intilaq Scholarship
- AUD School Partnership Initiative (ASPI)
- AUD Senior Scholarship
2. Graduate Scholarships
The AUD Alumni Tuition Waiver
This scholarship is granted to students enrolled in any of the AUD graduate programs, offering a 25% fee waiver until graduation.
The AUD School of Education Tuition Waiver
The School of Education at the American University in Dubai offers a 40% tuition waiver for the Master of Education (M.Ed.) program. This scholarship recognizes educators’ crucial role in shaping future leaders and society.
To qualify, applicants must be accepted into the program and provide proof of current employment as teachers, teacher assistants, or school administrators with their admissions application.
For more information, visit the university website: https://www.aud.edu/admissions/scholarships/
FAQs
Dubai’s fully funded scholarships cover several degrees, including undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs. The universities can also customise these scholarships to fields like Engineering, Science, Technology, Medicine, and Health Sciences.
Most scholarships require students to maintain a certain level of academic performance throughout their study period. This may include maintaining a minimum GPA, fulfilling specific course requirements, and having qualities that initially qualified them for the scholarship.
These scholarships are open to international students who meet the eligibility criteria. However, these eligibility requirements can vary depending on the scholarship program and the institution.
The application process depends on your chosen scholarship program and institution. Generally, students must apply directly through the university’s scholarship portal or admissions office. It is essential to check each scholarship program’s requirements and deadlines and prepare the necessary documentation.
In conclusion, pursuing higher education in Dubai is possible with these fully funded scholarships. They provide comprehensive financial support, ensuring you can focus on your studies and enjoy Dubai’s vibrant culture.
Check each scholarship’s requirements and apply to embark on a worryless academic journey in this dynamic city.
