A Guide to Scholarships for International Students In The UAE

With the number of international students on the rise in the country, Dubai has become a major hub for international education. One of the key factors attracting students is the availability of scholarships.  By providing financial assistance to students who cannot afford the fees along with quality education, Dubai has become one of the most sought-after countries for students who want to learn abroad. 

Here are the different kinds of scholarships available for students in the UAE:

1. Merit-based scholarships:

This scholarship is granted to students who perform exceptionally well in academics. Most often it covers the tuition fees and other living expenses in the country. To be eligible for this scholarship, students need to have a fairly high GPA and show excellence in research or tests like GMAT. Typically, engineering universities in the UAE consider such students automatically during admissions. But in some cases, students will have to prove themselves through essays or portfolios to be eligible for merit-based scholarships. 

2. Assistantships:

Assistantships are very prevalent in universities in Dubai for international students. It involves helping a faculty in return for financial aid. This can be considered a part-time job as well. To be eligible for the same, you should be a student of the university with the necessary skills sought by the faculty. Assistantships can be helping with research, teaching a lower class, or just graduate work. The pay will be enough to cover the tuition fees and living expenses in a country like Dubai. In addition to receiving financial assistance, students also earn hands-on skills while assisting faculties in the domain they love.

3. Tuition waivers:

This refers to a deduction in fees amount upon joining the university. Students do not receive money as financial assistance, but the amount they have to pay will be minimized. Only very few universities offer tuition waivers and hence students should choose them carefully. To be eligible for this, students need to apply through the university portal and satisfy the conditions mentioned. However, the living expenses will not be covered by this.

4. Private scholarships:

In addition to the merit-based scholarships provided by the universities, certain non-profit groups and companies also provide scholarships for international students. The amounts received may or may not cover the whole of tuition fees. It is a time-consuming task to find such organizations that are allowed to provide scholarships in the UAE. They also might have restrictions for the courses. Say, only a particular stream of studies might be provided the scholarships. The requirements also might be more when it comes to such NGOs.

5. Country-specific scholarships:

These are the scholarships solely available to students from a particular country provided by the government. Applications for these are often submitted through certain portals each with its own rules and regulations. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance but also promote cross-cultural exchange. 

There are different scholarships in the UAE for international students, allowing them to pursue higher education in a cosmopolitan city while being exposed to different cultures and building a strong professional network. However, careful research is crucial to understand the specific benefits and financial aid offered by each scholarship program.