Scholarships in the UAE for Masters & Bachelors Programs

As a university student you will be required to pay course fees throughout your degree. This section provides information on the applicable fees and ADU scholarships in the UAE & financial aid programs which are available to help students fund their academic programs.

Empowering outstanding students

Abu Dhabi University Scholarships

Abu Dhabi University is dedicated to empowering outstanding students and inspiring them to pursue their educational objectives. Our Abu Dhabi scholarship and financial aid program represents a key pillar in our strategy for academic excellence and reflects our commitment to supporting the development of the UAE. We consider it an important national duty to provide equal opportunities for students interested in pursuing higher education and enable them to proactively contribute to society regardless of their financial situation, which is why we offer scholarships for masters programs as well as bachelors programs.

The maximum coverage period of any Abu Dhabi University scholarship is four years, or upon graduation, whichever is sooner. In some cases, English language requirements are also included. It is not necessary to re-apply for a scholarship as long as the scholarship maintenance criteria (outlined in the details of each scholarship section) are met.

The scholarship application process begins after a student is formally admitted to ADU and assigned a unique student ID number. This ID number is used to securely log in to a university account that has a section for Financial Aid and Scholarships.

As student information, including academic records, has already been processed by the university upon admission, any scholarships that the student is eligible for will appear on their account page. The student may choose to fill out the online application for any scholarship that appears here, as he/she qualifies for these scholarships based on merit. The application is completed with the appropriate details filled in by the student, along with the uploading of any required documents, and then is submitted online.

Scholarship Offered

Seven main categories

Scholarships offered by Abu Dhabi University

Frequently Asked Questions

Abu Dhabi University aims to make obtaining a quality undergraduate or postgraduate degree as accessible as possible. Therefore, we have made it our priority to develop an attractive Abu Dhabi scholarship and financial aid program that provides equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their background or financial situation.

Our UAE scholarships apply to both master’s programs and undergraduate degrees, and we offer a number of different options that are designed to give every individual a chance to experience the benefits of higher education.

The postgraduate scholarships offered at Abu Dhabi University include:  

  • Merit-based Graduate Scholarships  
  • Alumni Scholarships  

The undergraduate scholarships offered at Abu Dhabi University include:  

  • Athletic Scholarships  
  • Academic Scholarships  
  • University Scholarships  
  • Family Tuition Waiver   
  • H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarships

Abu Dhabi University offers the H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarship, which invites students to study for free in the UAE.

It provides 100 percent waived fees on tuition, application, registration, student services and health services.

However, there are specific entry requirements . For example, the H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarship is exclusively available to the top 20 UAE public secondary school graduates. Applicants must also be new students and planning to join Abu Dhabi University in the fall semester after they graduate from secondary school.

In addition, interested students must meet the English language proficiency requirements defined by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and have a minimum EmSAT Math score of 1,200, English score of 1,600 and Arabic score of 900.

Abu Dhabi University’s scholarships for master’s and bachelor’s programs in the UAE require slightly different Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) percentages.

For instance, to apply for our Athletic Scholarship and receive a 25% percent on tuition fees, you need a CGPA of 2.75. This is lower than some of the other scholarship requirements, but this particular scheme is only suitable for those who actively participate in Abu Dhabi University sports teams, either as a coach, captain or player.

Providing further options, undergraduate students who excel in academia rather than sports are invited to put themselves forward for the Academic Scholarship. Offering 20 percent waived tuition fees, you must have achieved a CGPA of 3.60 or more for two consecutive semesters in order to be considered for this desirable scholarship.

Meanwhile, those hoping to obtain a postgraduate Merit-Based Graduate Scholarship will need a CGPA of at least 3.5 percent (or equivalent) to receive the 25 percent tuition waiver, and a score of 3 or above in the Master level program is required for the Alumni Scholarship.

As mentioned above, our scholarships are designed for students of all nationalities and backgrounds.

International students are encouraged to apply for many of the different schemes, including the Athletic Scholarship that rewards sporting excellence and team spirit, and the Family Tuition Waiver that invites every sibling and generation to benefit from higher education and enjoy reduced tuition fees.

However, there are a few exceptions and some scholarships that are not open to international students.

The Abu Dhabi University Scholarship is only awarded to UAE residents and GCC national candidates, and the H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarship is only available to those who studied at public secondary schools in the UAE.

Yes, you can, however, this is not an application for students applying for the first time to the university during those mentioned terms.

No, however the student is required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per Fall/ Spring in order to maintain their scholarship. 

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