The Khalifa University scholarship is a tiered funding package that Khalifa University (KU) in Abu Dhabi gives to admitted bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students, including international students. There is no separate scholarship form. KU assesses you during admission and states your tier in the offer letter, so your tier can be anything from full tuition with a large monthly stipend to textbooks only.
For international students the best package is the PhD research path: full tuition, a basic stipend of AED 20,000 a month and, in Tier I, an extra allowance of up to AED 20,000 a month, in exchange for working for KU or a nominated entity after graduation. Master’s awards cover up to full tuition and housing but list no stipend. Undergraduate tiers run from full tuition down to textbooks only. Applications for Fall 2026 closed on 2 March 2026, so the deadline, for Fall 2027, is 2 March 2027.
Deadline status
The Fall 2026 window ran from 17 November 2025 to 2 March 2026 and is closed. The Fall 2027 window runs from 17 November 2026 to 2 March 2027 on last year’s dates, so have your English test and attested transcripts ready by mid-November.
How the Khalifa University scholarship works
- No separate application: you apply for admission and tick that you want scholarship support. KU decides your funding during the admission review.
- Tiers: KU places each admitted student in a tier based on academic merit and other factors. PhD tiering also weighs research potential.
- Limited places: KU says meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an award.
- Your tier is in the offer: the admission offer letter states the tier you have been given.
- Current scheme: the tier system applies to students newly admitted from Fall 2023 onward. Many older websites still quote the pre-2023 packages.
- Annual review: KU reassesses PhD funding every year.
Khalifa University scholarship for international undergraduates
KU’s page for international students lists five tiers. Every tier gets free textbooks, and the difference is how much tuition KU waives.
| Tier | Tuition waiver | Textbooks |
|---|---|---|
| Tier I | 100% (full tuition) | Provided |
| Tier II | 75% | Provided |
| Tier III | 50% | Provided |
| Tier IV | 25% | Provided |
| Tier V | No waiver | Provided |
UAE nationals and children of Emirati mothers have a separate undergraduate package. If you are an expatriate living in the UAE, KU also lists external sponsors such as ADNOC and the UAE nuclear energy programme on its admissions FAQ, but those sponsors set their own rules and most are aimed at Emiratis.
Khalifa University master’s scholarship tiers
| Tier | Tuition | Accommodation | Other benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I and II | Full tuition | Free, for eligible full-time students | Textbooks, medical insurance, flights to and from Abu Dhabi, UAE visa fees |
| Tier III | 50% waiver | Not included | Textbooks, medical insurance, flights, visa fees |
| Tier IV | No waiver | Not included | Textbooks, medical insurance, flights, visa fees |
The master’s tiers list no monthly stipend. KU’s FAQ says teaching and service duties are optional for master’s students, but you can be paid for services you provide. Insurance, flights and visa fees apply to full-time international students, and flights only to those coming from outside the UAE.
Khalifa University PhD scholarship: research path and study path
PhD applicants choose between two paths. The research path pays far more, and in return you must work for KU or an entity it nominates for as long as you studied. KU says it may still decide not to offer you a post.
Research path (with work commitment, full time only)
| Tier | Tuition | Basic stipend | Additional allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | Full | AED 20,000 a month | AED 20,000 a month, subject to approval and progress |
| Tier II | Full | AED 20,000 a month | AED 10,000 a month, subject to approval and progress |
| Tier III | 75% waiver | AED 20,000 a month | None |
| Tier IV | 50% waiver | None | None (free accommodation instead) |
Study path (no work commitment)
| Tier | Enrolment | Tuition | Monthly stipend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | Full time | Full | AED 4,000 |
| Tier II | Full time | 75% waiver | AED 2,000 |
| Tier III | Full or part time | 50% waiver | None |
| Tier IV | Full or part time | 25% waiver | None |
All PhD tiers include textbooks. Full-time international students also get medical insurance, flights between home and Abu Dhabi, UAE visa fees and, where eligible, free university housing. Conference support is subject to approval on most tiers.
If you can commit to working in the UAE after the degree, I would apply on the research path. The gap between AED 20,000 and AED 4,000 a month is too large to ignore unless you already have a job waiting at home.
Old Khalifa University figures you will still see online
Many scholarship sites still list the packages KU used before Fall 2023. Compare them with KU’s current pages before you plan your budget.
| What older posts say | What KU’s current pages say |
|---|---|
| International PhD (DRTS) pays AED 12,000 a month | Research path pays AED 20,000 a month basic stipend; study path pays AED 4,000 or AED 2,000 |
| Combined master’s/PhD scholarship pays AED 8,000 (MSc) or AED 12,000 (PhD) to everyone | The current combined master’s-PhD scholarship (CMDRTS) is listed for UAE nationals: full tuition, no stipend at master’s stage |
| KU’s share of the CSC-KU joint PhD stipend is AED 5,500 | AED 9,200 a month from KU, plus a separate CSC stipend |
| International master’s students get a stipend | Master’s tiers list no stipend |
Khalifa University admission requirements for international students
Bachelor’s degree
- You must have finished high school within two years before the year you enter.
- Certificates from outside the UAE must be attested and equated by the UAE Ministry of Education.
- Your application needs at least your first-term Grade 12 grades.
- Shortlisted applicants sit the KU Admission Test in maths, physics and chemistry, and every applicant records a video interview.
| Requirement | Minimum (2025-2026 catalog) |
|---|---|
| English | IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 79 or EmSAT English 1400 |
| Maths | SAT Math 625, AP 2, A-level C, IB 4 or EmSAT 1250 |
| Science | A-level C, IB 4, AP 2 or EmSAT 1000 in the science your programme needs |
| American curriculum | 80 or equivalent in maths and one science |
| British curriculum | Three AS/A-levels including maths and a science at C or above, plus five GCSE/IGCSE passes at C |
| IB Diploma | Six subjects at 4 or above, total of 24, including English, maths and a science |
Engineering, physics and most applied maths programmes need physics. Chemistry needs chemistry, and computer science accepts any one of physics, chemistry or biology.
Master’s and PhD
| Requirement | Master’s | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| Previous degree | Bachelor’s with CGPA 3.0 out of 4.0 | Bachelor’s CGPA 3.0 and master’s CGPA 3.25; direct PhD needs a bachelor’s CGPA of 3.5 |
| English | IELTS Academic 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 91 (test centre only) | Same |
| GRE | Not required | Only for direct PhD: quantitative 150 or higher, institution code 0822 |
| Statements | Statement of purpose, 500 to 1,000 words | Statement of purpose plus a research statement, each 500 to 1,000 words |
| Other | Two references and an interview | Two references and an interview |
| Application fee | AED 200 including VAT | AED 200 including VAT |
Native English speakers and graduates of English-medium universities may be exempt from the English test after review, but KU still asks for proof. TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted.
Documents checklist for graduate applicants
- Certified bachelor’s and, if relevant, master’s degree certificate
- UAE Ministry of Education equivalency certificate for degrees earned outside the UAE
- Official transcript that shows the grading scale
- English test score report
- GRE score report (direct PhD only)
- Detailed CV
- Statement of purpose, and a research statement for PhD
- Passport copy and a passport-style photo on a white background
- UAE visa and Emirates ID, only if you already live in the UAE
Two referees fill in an online form, so ask them early. Our guide to the recommendation letter for scholarship applications has samples you can share with them.
How to apply for the Khalifa University scholarship
- Pick one programme: KU lets you apply to only one programme per semester, so choose carefully.
- Book your tests: IELTS or TOEFL for everyone, plus SAT, A-level or IB results for undergraduates and the GRE for direct PhD.
- Start the equivalency process: get your certificates attested in your home country so they can be equated by the UAE Ministry of Education.
- Apply online: use the undergraduate or postgraduate application on ku.ac.ae and indicate that you want scholarship support.
- Upload documents and pay: incomplete applications are rejected automatically, and graduate applicants pay AED 200.
- Do the interview: undergraduates record a video interview in the portal; graduate applicants have an admission interview.
- Read your offer: the tier and benefits are in the offer letter. PhD applicants should confirm whether the offer is on the research or study path before accepting.
CSC-KU Joint PhD for Chinese nationals
Chinese citizens admitted unconditionally to a KU PhD in engineering or science can apply for the China Scholarship Council and KU joint award. KU pays AED 9,200 a month, full tuition and housing (or up to AED 2,000 a month if housing is unavailable), and CSC adds its own stipend and the flights. You must hold a CGPA of 3.5 to keep it, intake is fall only, and the CSC deadline is 10 February.
Khalifa University application dates
| Intake | Opened | Closed | Status on 24 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 bachelor’s | 17 November 2025 | 2 March 2026 | Closed |
| Fall 2026 master’s and PhD | Not stated | 2 March 2026 on KU’s Fall 2026 page; 16 March 2026 on the postgraduate page | Closed |
| Fall 2027 bachelor’s | 17 November 2026 | 2 March 2027 | Upcoming |
| Fall 2027 master’s and PhD | Opening date not given last year | 2 March 2027 | Upcoming |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens) KU’s own pages gave two closing dates for Fall 2026 postgraduate applications, so the Fall 2027 row uses the earlier one. If you are comparing Gulf options, see our guides to the King Abdulaziz University scholarship in Saudi Arabia and Qatar scholarships for international students.
FAQ on the Khalifa University scholarship
Is the Khalifa University scholarship fully funded for international students?
Only some tiers are. A Tier I or II PhD on the research path is fully funded with a stipend; most master’s and undergraduate tiers cover part or all of tuition but no monthly pay.
When is the Khalifa University scholarship deadline for 2027?
The Fall 2027 deadline is 2 March 2027 for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD applicants, with bachelor’s applications opening on 17 November 2026. The scholarship is decided with your admission, so the admission deadline is the scholarship deadline.
How much is the Khalifa University PhD stipend?
The research path pays AED 20,000 a month, plus up to AED 20,000 extra in Tier I. The study path, which has no work commitment, pays AED 4,000 or AED 2,000 a month in its top two tiers.
Can I apply to Khalifa University without IELTS?
Native speakers and English-medium graduates may get an exemption after review, but you must upload proof. Otherwise you need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 91 for graduate study and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 for a bachelor’s.
Sources and updates
Tier tables come from Khalifa University’s scholarships for international students page, its graduate scholarship page for international students, the 2024-2025 graduate catalog and its scholarship FAQ. The CSC-KU figures come from KU’s postgraduate scholarships page. Graduate requirements and the 16 March 2026 date come from KU’s postgraduate admission page, and undergraduate requirements from the 2025-2026 undergraduate catalog. The Fall 2026 window comes from KU’s undergraduate application portal and its Fall 2026 admissions page. Information checked on 24 October 2026. I will replace the Fall 2027 dates with KU’s official ones when it publishes them.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
