How can I get a full scholarship for a PhD programme in the UAE?

PhD scholarships provide students with full and continuous support during their graduate studies. At the United Arab Emirates University, scholarship applicants are assessed based on their academic credentials. The minimum requirements to be considered for a full scholarship are: 

• Have a GPA of at least 3.5/4.0 in a master’s degree 
• Have no employment or other financial sponsorship 
• Have completed a dissertation in one of the UAE priority sectors (renewable energy, transportation, health, water, technology, or space) 

If a candidate meets these requirements as well as the university’s admissions criteria for PhD study, then they may be selected for a full PhD scholarship. This covers the full costs of tuition, as well as providing a monthly stipend and health insurance if required. 

This scholarship lasts four years and throughout that time the recipient must be enrolled full-time and maintain a GPA level of at least 3.3. They’ll also be expected to commit to a minimum of 40 hours per week on courses and/or research projects throughout the year. 

Requirements will vary by institution and by scholarship. 

As an alternative option to a PhD scholarship, you may also want to consider a PhD fellowship. At the United Arab Emirates University, this offers the same level of financial support as a full scholarship but the recipient must also commit to working at least five hours per week as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA) during their first three semesters, rising to 10 hours per week afterwards. 

While this is a bigger commitment, it’s worth considering the additional benefits you might experience as a GTA/GAA. Check with your preferred institution to see what PhD fellowship opportunities they offer. 

A final option for PhD candidates looking for financial aid is to check if their chosen department offers any specific funding support. For example, PhD students in the department of biology at the United Arab Emirates University offers studentships “for enthusiastic, ambitious, and hard‐working PhD candidates with a strong background in cellular and molecular biology as well as biochemistry”. 

These positions once again provide full financial support for four years of study in addition to a monthly stipend. Requirements will likely vary by faculty/department as well as by institution so make sure you check these closely to ensure you’re eligible. 

Unless otherwise stated by the institution, you should be able to apply for multiple sources of funding at the same time (although only one will be awarded). Most universities handle applications online, often as part of the PhD application process itself. 

For more information, contact the institution directly or check their website for more information.