How to Get a 100% University Scholarship in Dubai: A Complete Guide for Expat Families

A college education in Dubai can be one of the largest expenses for many families that moved to the emirate. The tuition fees at top-rated universities for the entire duration of study can reach up to AED 100,000 a year or higher.

Fortunately, a few schools in Dubai and UAE give 100% tuition scholarships to the students with excellent academic performance and leadership abilities. These awards are very competitive, but good planning and preparation can be quite beneficial in securing them.

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Top Universities Offering Full Scholarships

There are lots of institutions that offer full tuition scholarships or scholarship packages for outstanding students. The American University of Dubai and the University of Dubai are also offering the prestigious H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Scholarship and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Full Scholarship respectively to the top performing candidates.

Other prestigious scholarships include the International STEM Scholarship offered by Khalifa University, need and merit-based scholarships offered by NYU Abu Dhabi, Chancellor’s Executive Scholarship offered by Amity University Dubai and the President’s Academic Excellence Award offered by RIT Dubai. Some of these programmes may also consist of tuition support with the added benefit of accommodation and living allowances.

Build a Strong Academic Profile

The selection criteria for full scholarships are still academic excellence. In the Grade 12 exams, students should aim for 93-95 marks or more; in Advanced Level exams, for AAA grades or more, and in International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, for 38 points or more.

High standardized test scores (SAT scores above 1450 if applicable) may help bolster a scholarship application as well, especially for students applying to an internationally affiliated school.

Maximize Your Funding Through Scholarship Stacking

Students can also lower the amount of education loans if they don’t find an all-scholarship, by using a variety of funding schemes. Often merit scholarships, financial hardship scholarships, early admission discounts, and sibling or alumni scholarships can be combined, as long as university policies permit.

For many families, this will be the strategy that brings them the greatest tuition savings, even in the absence of a 100% award.

Prepare a Complete Application

A good scholarship application is more than just a transcript. A compelling SOP to detail your educational objectives and your career goals is normally needed by universities to support your application along with LORs that are normally written by teachers or school leaders to inform the University about your background.

If it is not mandatory for the applicants, then they should also have their financial documents verified and ready, such as, salary certificate, bank statement, tenancy papers, supporting documents etc. Enrollment in Olympiads, sports competitions, leadership activities and similar community service programs can also bolster your profile.

Apply Early

Scholarship Timing is important. Admission to most Universities starts from November to January for the September intake. Be sure to contact colleges during the first round of admissions to maximize your chance for full awards, as scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Maintain Your Scholarship

Being granted a scholarship is just the first step. This is because most universities require that the recipient maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 to 3.8 on a scale of 4.0. Scholarship awards may be reduced or cancelled for failing to meet the minimum academic requirements.

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