Top 12 Scholarships For Middle Eastern Students

Calling all Middle Eastern students with big dreams and even bigger ambitions! You’ve come to the right place. There are many scholarships available to help you further your education and reach your educational goals. But how do you know which ones are right for you? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best scholarships for Middle Eastern students, including details on eligibility, application tips, and requirements for each one. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to explore your options.

Scholarships are a great option to finance your education without getting into debt. Unlike student loans which you have to repay with interest, you don’t have to pay back the money you receive from scholarships and you can apply for as many as you qualify for. From government-funded scholarships to private awards, there are plenty of opportunities out there.

If you are a student from the Middle East looking for ways to finance your education, scholarships are a great option, and there are many available to students from this region. From scholarships for women to scholarships for STEM students, there are many opportunities out there for Middle Eastern students who wish to study abroad, in their home country, or in their region.

We’ve got the scoop on all the best scholarships, and we’re going to make it fun and easy to find the right one for you. This article will help you explore the top scholarships for Middle Eastern students, covering everything from application requirements to deadlines, so you can make an informed decision about which scholarships are right for you. With the right information, you can make your dream of studying abroad a reality.

scholarships for Middle Eastern students

Scholarships For Middle Eastern Students

For the sake of clarity, a Middle Eastern student refers to someone who is either from a country in the Middle East or who has a background in that region. The Middle East is a region that includes countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel. The term “Middle Eastern” can also refer to people who have origins from these countries, even if they don’t currently live there.

So, a Middle Eastern student might be someone who is from one of these countries, or someone who has a family history from the region. Whichever one you are, you qualify for the scholarships for Middle Eastern students curated here. Having said that, let’s get started.

The scholarships for Middle Eastern students are:

  • MERO Scholarship
  • The Queen’s University Belfast Scholarships for the Middle East and North Africa
  • The Aziz Foundation Scholarships
  • Said Foundation Scholarships
  • King Faisal Foundation Scholarships
  • The Daughters for Life Foundation Scholarships
  • The University of Nottingham Middle East and Turkey Undergraduate Excellence Award
  • Middle Eastern International Student Scholarships
  • The University of York Scholarship Scheme
  • Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) University Scholarships
  • The University of Essex Middle East Undergraduate Scholarship
  • Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

1.     MERO Scholarship

MERO Scholarship is offered by the University of Bradford, a leading public research university located in the city of Bradford, England. If you are from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and South East Asia and wish to study abroad, you can apply for the MERO Scholarship by the University of Bradford to achieve your educational ambitions.

In addition, you have to be enrolled or accepted in an undergraduate or postgraduate (taught and research) program to be eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship value is £5,000 and will go into reducing the cost of your fees. The scholarship will be paid in subsequent years if progressing with an average of 60% or above. There is no separate application for the scholarship, it will be processed automatically.

Scholarship Link

2.     The Queen’s University Belfast Scholarships for the Middle East and North Africa

Here is another scholarship opportunity for Middle Eastern and North African students who want to study abroad in the UK. Queen’s University Belfast, a public research university in Northern Ireland and one of the oldest universities in the UK is offering scholarships to support the financial cost of Middle Eastern and North African students who would like to study at its prestigious institution.

The scholarships are for those who have received an offer an admission into the undergraduate or postgraduate program. There are different scholarships such as the International Office Undergraduate Scholarships, LLB Senior Status Scholarship, Queen’s Business School Scholarships, and many others. Their awards range from £1,500 to £5,000 while some offer a 20% to 50% reduction in tuition fees.

There is no separate application for the scholarships, you will be automatically considered based on your application for admission.

Scholarship Link

3.     The Aziz Foundation Scholarships

The Aziz Foundation is a UK-based charitable organization that provides scholarships for students who wish to study at universities in the UK. The Aziz Foundation scholarships are available to students from any country, but priority is given to students from the UK and Commonwealth countries. The scholarships are designed to support students who have the potential to become leaders in their field.

The Aziz Foundation scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees and provide a living allowance for students. In addition, the foundation offers a range of other support, including mentoring and networking opportunities. The scholarships are highly competitive, and only a small number of students are selected each year. To be eligible for the scholarships, students must have excellent academic qualifications and demonstrate a commitment to making a positive impact in their community.

The scholarships are offered every year and if you are from the Middle East but living in the UK and want to study in the UK as well, you may be eligible for one of the scholarships offered by the Aziz Foundation.

Scholarship Link

4.     Said Foundation Scholarships

The Said Foundation is a charity based in the UK established in 1979. It offers scholarships for students from countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East who wish to study at universities in the UK. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees and provide a living allowance for students. The foundation also offers a range of other support, including networking opportunities and mentoring.

The foundation has offered over 680 postgraduate scholarships at top UK universities for students from the Middle East, more than 700 undergraduate scholarships for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, and 500+ MBA and DPhil scholarships at Said Business School at the University of Oxford for students from around the world.

Aside from the funding, the Said Foundation is also committed to helping you develop as a leader and make a positive impact in your home country. The foundation runs several leadership development programs and events, which are designed to help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your career. So, even after your studies are finished, you will still have access to a range of support and opportunities from the Said Foundation.

Scholarship Link

5.     King Faisal Foundation Scholarships

King Faisal Foundation scholarships are also very prestigious and if you are from the Middle East, you can apply for them to support the cost of your university fees and even more. The scholarships are offered by the King Faisal Foundation, a charitable organization founded in Saudi Arabia founded in 1976. The foundation offers scholarships to students from all over the world who wish to study in Saudi Arabia or the United States.

The scholarships cover the cost of tuition fees and provide a living allowance for students. In addition, the foundation offers a range of other support, including opportunities for research and internships. The scholarships are highly competitive, and only a small number of students are selected each year.

Scholarship Link

6.     The Daughters for Life Foundation Scholarships

The Daughters for Life Foundation offers full scholarships to Middle Eastern female students in North America at the undergraduate level. The foundation collaborates with top academic institutions and educational organizations from around the world to assist deserving female students from the Middle East with post-secondary education, including travel, tuition, accommodation, and food.

Scholarship recipients are selected based on excellent academic performance, financial need, and commitment to make an outstanding contribution to improving the lives of girls and young women through extra-curricular activities, work, or volunteer experience. The scholarships are awarded in December every year and cover full tuition for 4 years of the bachelor’s degree program.

This is one of the best scholarships for female Middle Eastern students who would like to study abroad.

Scholarship Link

7.     The University of Nottingham Middle East and Turkey Undergraduate Excellence Award

Are you from the Middle East and wish to study in the UK? Then you should consider applying to the University of Nottingham to qualify for the Middle East and Turkey Undergraduate Excellence Award – a scholarship designed to support the cost of your studies at the University of Nottingham. The award is for students with excellent academic achievement living in Turkey and countries in the Middle East.

The award will cover between £2,000 to £6,000 of your tuition fees in the first year of your chosen degree program. To be eligible, you must be domiciled in one of the eligible countries, be classified as an ‘overseas’ student for tuition fee purposes, and receive an offer of admission into any full-time undergraduate degree program at the University of Nottingham.

The University of Nottingham Middle East and Turkey Undergraduate Excellence Award is one of the best scholarships for Middle Eastern students who are aspiring to study in the UK.

Scholarship Link

8.     Middle Eastern International Student Scholarships

If you are an Iraqi citizen with hopes of studying in the US you are just one step away from achieving that dream. Don’t worry about the funding, the Institute of International Education’s Iraq Scholars and Leaders Program will cover all of your financial needs. The program is a subsidiary of the Middle Eastern International Student Scholarships offered by the Caruso School of Law, the law school of Pepperdine University located in Malibu, California, USA.

The IIE Iraq Scholars and Leaders Program will provide scholars with financial support to study for a degree program in the US. Selected scholars will receive full tuition to study at any college or university in the US, visa and academic support, placement assistance into the college or university, accommodation, and living expenses while in the US, flight fare to come to the US at the beginning of the program and to return to Iraq at the end of the program, medical insurance while in the US, and an extensive pre-academic program in the US.

Scholarship Link

9.     The University of York Scholarship Scheme

The University of York partnered with Said Foundation to provide fully-funded scholarships to support outstanding students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine who want to study for a master’s degree in the UK. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of one of these countries and have work and/or voluntary experience relevant to their field of study.

Scholarship Link

10.  Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA) University Scholarships

There are still more scholarships options for Middle Eastern students and the MECA University Scholarships is one of them. Every year, MECA provides scholarships to more than 100 students who want to study at Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza.

The scholarship aims to enable students to obtain degrees and the skills to make significant contributions to their communities and their country.

Scholarship Link

11.  The University of Essex Middle East Undergraduate Scholarship

Last but not least on our list of scholarships for Middle Eastern students is the Middle East Undergraduate Scholarship offered by the University of Essex. It is awarded to international students from one of the countries in the Middle East who wish to study abroad in the UK. The scholarship provides £3,000 to the recipient and will be applied as a tuition fee discount in the first year.

There is no separate application for the scholarship, applicants are considered based on the application admission they submit for a place at the University of Essex.

Scholarship Link

12.  Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

Aga Khan Foundation offers a range of scholarships to students from select countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The scholarships are for both undergraduate and graduate studies, and they cover a wide range of fields, from agriculture to health to business.

The goal of the foundation is to support students who demonstrate a commitment to improving the quality of life in their communities. The application process is competitive, and it includes a written application and an interview.

The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships have several eligibility requirements that must be met by all applicants. Firstly, applicants must be citizens of one of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, or Mozambique.

Secondly, they must demonstrate financial need and have no other means of financing their studies. Thirdly, they must have excellent academic records and a strong commitment to improving their communities. Finally, they must be between the ages of 18 and 30.

Conclusion

Scholarships for Middle Eastern students are like rockets launching into space – they can propel you to amazing heights and help you reach for the stars! The scholarships available to Middle Eastern students are many and varied. Whether you are looking for funding to study in the UK, Saudi Arabia, or the United States, there are options available to you.

These scholarships are not just about funding your education, they are about opening doors and giving you the tools you need to succeed. Whether you want to become a leader in your field or make a difference in your community, a scholarship can help you achieve your goals.

Like the scholarships offered by Said Foundation, the Aziz Foundation, and the King Faisal Foundation provide not only financial support, but also leadership development opportunities, mentoring, and more. With the right scholarship, you can pursue your educational goals and make a positive impact in your home country.  So, don’t be afraid to reach for the stars – and don’t forget to apply for scholarships!

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