International Scholarships to Study in the Middle East

A fairly new addition to the QS World University Rankings by Region, the newly released QS Arab Region University Rankings this year now features 199 universities. To celebrate, we bring you a round-up of some of the best funding opportunities and scholarships for international students offered in the region.

Spanning Egypt, Iran, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, these international scholarships give students from all over the world a chance to study in the Middle East and experience the unique culture of the region first-hand.

Scholarships to study in Egypt 

• AMIDEAST Need-Based Scholarships – International scholarships for US students in financial need to study in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman or Tunisia.
• AUC Scholarships for Non-Egyptian Students – Various merit-based scholarships to study in Egypt at the American University in Cairo.
• Nile Basin Scholarship at Alexandria University – Scholarships for students from Nile Basin countries to study a master’s or PhD program at Alexandria University.

Scholarships to study in Israel 

• Mosse / Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison – A list of study-abroad grants, awards and scholarships for eligible UW-Madison students to study a range of areas in Jewish studies.  
• DOROT Foundation Fellowship – Enrichment and study abroad scholarships for American and Canadian Jewish students to study in Israel and build leaderships skills.
• Israeli Government Scholarships for Foreign Students – Study abroad scholarships for overseas students to study in Israel for up to one year on a language course or research program.
• Masa Israel Grants and Scholarships – Study abroad scholarships for Jewish international students to study in Israel.

Scholarships to study in Saudi Arabia 

• Effat University Scholarships – A range of scholarships (including academic and non-academic) to cover tuition fees for high-achieving students from all nationalities. 
• Alfaisal University Scholarships – Need and merit-based scholarships to study in Saudi Arabia at Alfaisal University in Riyadh.
• Saudi Arabian Government Scholarships for Non-Saudis – Offers a variety of internal and overseas scholarships to non-Saudi applicants. Full scholarships, partial scholarships and paid scholarships are also available.

Scholarships to study in Turkey 

• Sabanci University Graduate Scholarships – Full scholarships for master’s or PhD students at Sabanci University, including a tuition exemption and maintenance grant. The university is also currently offering the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award for international researchers.
• Turkish Government Scholarships for International Students – Various Turkish scholarships for international students wishing to study in Turkey. Open to students of all levels, although restrictions for each scholarship may apply. – The 2018 round of applications is now closed. Please check back for an update on the 2019 round.
• TÜBITAK Research Fellowship Programme for International Researchers – Scholarships for international PhD students and young post-doctoral researchers to pursue research in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and technological sciences, medical sciences, agricultural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
• Özyeğin University Scholarships – Undergraduate and graduate scholarships for international students to study in Turkey at Özyeğin University. Every student admitted is automatically considered for these merit-based scholarships.

Scholarships to study in the UAE 

• INSEAD UAE Campus MBA Scholarships – Various graduate scholarships offered by INSEAD to gain funding for an MBA at one of the school’s three campuses, including Abu Dhabi. Not all scholarships listed are for study in the UAE.
• Khalifa University Teaching Assistant Scholarships – Master’s and PhD scholarships for international students studying at Khalifa University in the UAE. Funding offered in return for teaching assistant duties during your studies.
• Masdar Institute IRENA Scholarships Programme – Graduate scholarships to study in the UAE at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI). Funded by IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency.
• UAE University Graduate Assistantships – Master’s and PhD scholarships for international students at United Arab Emirates University who participate in teaching, research or administrative duties during their stay.

Other scholarships to study in the Middle East 

• ICGEB Research Grants for Member States – The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) provides grants for students to undertake research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy. You can study in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt or any of the other ICGEB member states, as long as you’re a student from one of these countries.
• MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at AUB – Undergraduate and graduate scholarships to study at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. The graduate scholarships are open to refugees, Lebanese nationals, and nationals of sub-Saharan Africa.
• Muscat University Entrance Scholarships – Scholarships for Omani and international students to study an undergraduate or postgraduate program at Muscat University in Oman.
• Qatar University Scholarships – Undergraduate scholarships for international students to study at Qatar University on a bachelor’s program.
• TUMS Scholarships in Iran – International scholarships to study at all levels at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in Iran.

This article was originally published in June 2015. It was last updated in November 2018.

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