UAE officially opens applications for Spring 2026 scholarship program

ISLAMABAD: It has been officially declared by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research that applications for UAE study scholarships for Spring 2026 are now open.

Applicants, the Ministry states, are required to fulfill 12 conditions of eligibility, with the window for registration closing on November 7. All documents needed are to be submitted by November 21, and results are to be published on November 28.

The Ministry also stipulated nine reasons why academic admission letters may be rejected, prompting applicants to study all the requirements thoroughly before submitting their applications.

Application Requirements

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Be UAE nationals.
• Meet all requirements for the academic degree they are applying for.
• Gain admission to a university and a specialty included in the Ministry’s approved list.
• Pass the interview and competency tests successfully.
• Have all prior qualifications attested and equivalised.

Other terms include:

• Studying full-time and on campus outside the UAE.
• For male applicants, submit documentation of national service exemption, deferment, or completion.
• Signing a commitment declaration to adhere to all scholarship-related rules and decisions.
• Not having obtained any other full scholarship from any local or foreign organisation.
• Not having been sponsored earlier for the same or lower degree, funded by the Ministry, or by another organisation, or self-sponsored.
• Not having had a past scholarship withdrawn for whatever reason.

Academic Conditions

The Ministry stipulated that all letters of academic admission shall state the course of study and have a direct web link to the program in the university’s portal if not indicated in the letter.

Admission letters will not be accepted if they cover:

• Training periods or preparatory programs (e.g., Pre-Master).
• English language or foundation courses.
• Dual-degree or double-major courses.
• An additional academic year in a master’s course (for bachelor-level applicants).
• Distance-learning or hybrid study programs.
• MBA or Executive MBA programs are intended for professional development.

Programs are presented through continuing education or professional studies departments.

Scholarship Specializations

Scholarships are available to all specializations that have one of the following criteria:

The university is in the top 50 in the world in the selected major.
The university and specialty are in the top 100 in the United States or Australia.
In the top 200 in other nations, or the top 300 in non-English-speaking countries.

10% of Selected Applicants Only

Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mualla, on behalf of the Ministry, referred to the Academic Scholarship Program as the UAE’s longest-standing and most honored educational program.

He continued that the program initially had the objective of increasing the possibilities for higher education when local higher education institutions were not extensive. With the passage of time, its emphasis changed towards academic distinction and international competitiveness.

Only 10% of the approximately 3,000 yearly applicants receive scholarships. There are currently 592 students—new and continuing—learning at 115 top-ranked universities in 22 nations, and 187 students graduated during the 2024–2025 academic year.

Dr. Al Mualla also emphasized that the program is a national strategic initiative aimed at sending top-performing Emirati students to top international universities. When they return, the scholars are to use their knowledge to shape the UAE’s future.

He added, “This program started when the Union was founded, when opportunities for higher education in the UAE were limited. It goes on today—emphasizing excellence, innovation, and readiness of our finest minds to compete anywhere in the world.”