The UAE MoFA scholarship is for UAE nationals only. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires a UAE passport and family book, so international students cannot apply, whatever some listings labelled “fully funded” suggest. If you are not Emirati, skip to the section on UAE scholarships for international students, where Khalifa University, MBZUAI and NYU Abu Dhabi are the realistic options.
For Emirati school leavers, the MoFA scholarship pays tuition for a bachelor’s degree at an approved university abroad, followed by postgraduate study at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy and a job in the UAE diplomatic corps. The 2026 application window ran from 1 to 30 May 2026 and is closed. The deadline is 30 May 2027, with the window opening on 1 May 2027.
Not open to international students
MoFA’s eligibility list starts with UAE nationality, a UAE passport and a family book. Any site asking a non-Emirati to pay a fee or send documents for “the UAE MoFA scholarship” is not the ministry.
Who can apply for the UAE MoFA scholarship?
| Requirement | MoFA rule |
|---|---|
| Nationality | UAE national with a UAE passport and family book |
| Age | 17 to 22 (the scholarship page lists 17 to 21, and its FAQ allows previous-year graduates up to 22) |
| English | IELTS Academic 6.5 or an equivalent such as TOEFL |
| Admission | Unconditional offer from a MoFA-approved university, stating the programme dates and total cost |
| Conduct | Certificate of Good Conduct and Behaviour from the UAE authorities |
| Male applicants | National service completed, or a permanent exemption |
| Consent | Parent or guardian approval for applicants under 22 |
| Selection | Admission tests and a compulsory interview |
High school grades by curriculum
The April 2026 announcement gave a single 80% minimum. The scholarship page breaks it down by curriculum, and several streams need more than 80%:
| Curriculum | Minimum |
|---|---|
| General, General Technical, American and other systems | 90% |
| Advanced Stream, Advanced Technical, SABIS | 85% |
| Elite Stream, Advanced Science Program | 80% |
| British (IGCSE/A Level) | Five IGCSE/GCSE subjects at B or above and two AS/A Level subjects at C or above |
| International Baccalaureate | Diploma with at least 30 points |
UAE MoFA scholarship 2027 deadline and key dates
| Stage | 2026 round | Next round |
|---|---|---|
| Call announced | 15 April 2026 | 15 April 2027 |
| Applications open | 1 May 2026 | 1 May 2027 |
| Deadline | 30 May 2026 (closed) | 30 May 2027 |
| Decision | Usually 3 to 5 months after applying | Usually 3 to 5 months after applying |
Next-round dates are this year’s moved forward one year (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens). Because you need an unconditional university offer by the deadline, apply to universities abroad well before May.
What the MoFA scholarship covers and what you owe back
MoFA pays all tuition fees for the bachelor’s degree, directly to the university. Neither the scholarship page nor the 2026 announcement mentions a monthly stipend, housing or flights, so confirm those with the ministry before you plan a budget.
- Bachelor’s degree abroad: at one of more than 115 approved universities, in an approved field.
- Postgraduate diploma: in UAE Diplomacy and International Relations at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA).
- Appointment: to MoFA’s diplomatic corps once you meet the graduation requirements.
- Service bond: you serve in the diplomatic corps for as many years as the scholarship paid for.
Scholars may also have to study a third language, and must clear any change of major or country with the MoFA programme officer and the cultural attaché first.
The nine approved specializations
| Technology and data | Politics and law | Economics and security |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence | International Relations | International Trade |
| Data Science | Political Science | Economics |
| Cybersecurity | International Law | Security Studies |
How Emirati students apply for the MoFA scholarship
- Pick a university and field: from MoFA’s approved list. Universities outside the list are not accepted.
- Get an unconditional offer: it must state the specialization, the programme dates and the total cost.
- Register on the MoFA scholarship form: during the application window, with every document as a PDF.
- Sit the tests and interview: the interview is compulsory.
- Wait for the decision: MoFA says review and approval usually take 3 to 5 months, with updates by email or SMS.
- Accept and send your IBAN certificate: then arrange your visa and travel with the cultural attaché.
To change a submitted application you have to call the MoFA call centre (800 44444), which deletes the old one so you can file again.
Documents
| Identity and family | Academic | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Passport copy (page with unified number) | Grade 10 and 11 transcripts | Medical examination certificate |
| Family book copy | Grade 12 first-term transcript (attested where needed) | Good conduct certificate |
| Emirates ID (both sides) | Unconditional university offer | CV |
| Birth certificate | English test certificate | Parental approval (under 22) |
| Colour photograph | National service certificate (males) |
UAE scholarships for international students
If you are not Emirati, these three are the funded options in the UAE that I could confirm on official pages. All of them are university scholarships, and you apply through admission.
| University | Level | What it pays | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi | Master’s and PhD (STEM) | Full or partial tuition, accommodation, insurance, visa and travel; PhD awards add a monthly stipend | Tick scholarship interest on the graduate application; merit based |
| Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI (MBZUAI) | MSc and PhD in AI fields | Tuition, campus housing, insurance, visa; AED 8,000 a month (MSc) or AED 10,000 (PhD) | Full-time admission to most programmes comes with the scholarship |
| NYU Abu Dhabi | Undergraduate | Need-based grants for all non-Emirati students, set by your family’s finances | File the CSS Profile with your application |
Khalifa University scholarships
Khalifa University funds international master’s and PhD students on merit, looking at grades, research potential and fit with its priorities. Its International Graduate Student Program, run with the Institute of International Education, lists US$2,200 a month for master’s students and US$2,700 for PhD students, plus tuition, annual return airfare and health insurance. Chinese PhD applicants have a separate CSC joint scholarship with a 10 February deadline for the autumn intake. Keep a high CGPA once enrolled, because continued funding depends on it.
MBZUAI scholarships
MBZUAI’s master’s and PhD programmes in machine learning, computer vision, NLP, robotics and related fields are tuition free for admitted full-time students, with the stipends in the table above. The fee-based Master in Artificial Intelligence is the exception, with only a few scholarships. In the last cycle with published dates (2024/25), the portal opened on 1 October, the main deadline was 15 January and late applications ran to 31 May, all UAE time. Check the admissions page for the 2027 dates. PhD applicants need three referees and a research statement; MSc applicants need two referees.
NYU Abu Dhabi financial aid
NYU Abu Dhabi says all its financial aid for non-Emirati students is based on need, and aid is open regardless of citizenship. You submit the CSS Profile once, before admission: by 10 November for Early Decision I, 10 January for Early Decision II and 1 February for Regular Decision (11:59 p.m. US Eastern time). If your parents are separated, both usually have to file.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, government scholarships tend to follow the same pattern as the UAE: citizens get the government awards and international students get university ones. Our guides to Qatar government scholarships, Kuwait scholarships and the King Abdulaziz University scholarship in Saudi Arabia cover the options that do accept international applicants.
FAQ about the UAE MoFA scholarship
Can international students apply for the UAE MoFA scholarship?
No. It requires UAE nationality, a UAE passport and a family book, and it leads to service in the UAE diplomatic corps.
What is the UAE MoFA scholarship 2027 deadline?
The next window runs from 1 May to 30 May 2027, the same dates as the 2026 round, which closed on 30 May 2026.
Does the MoFA scholarship pay a monthly stipend?
The official pages confirm only that MoFA pays all tuition. They do not mention a stipend, so ask the ministry before you rely on one.
Is there a fully funded scholarship in the UAE for international students?
Yes, at graduate level. MBZUAI and Khalifa University fund tuition, housing and living costs for admitted master’s and PhD students, and NYU Abu Dhabi gives need-based aid to undergraduates.
For awards international students can actually apply for, see our guides to the Khalifa University scholarship and UAE scholarships for international students.
Sources and updates
Eligibility, grade bars, documents, steps and obligations come from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ scholarship page and its FAQ; the 2026 window, the nine specializations and the 115 universities come from MoFA’s news release of 15 April 2026. Khalifa University details come from its scholarships page for UAE national and international students and the IIE Khalifa University International Graduate Student Program page. MBZUAI figures come from its graduate admissions overview, and NYU Abu Dhabi deadlines from its scholarships and financial aid page. Checked on 24 October 2026. I will update this post when MoFA publishes the 2027 call.
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.
