UAE Scholarships for Nepali Students: Dubai & Abu Dhabi (2026)
Government and university scholarships open to Nepali students in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — coverage, eligibility, and how to apply.
Scholarships are what make a Dubai or Abu Dhabi degree genuinely affordable for Nepali students. Because branch campuses compete hard for strong applicants, merit scholarships that cut tuition by 10-50% are common, and a handful of Abu Dhabi institutions offer need-based aid covering close to the full cost. This guide explains which awards are open to Nepali students, what they cover, who qualifies, and how to apply.
For the destination overview, read our complete guide to studying in the UAE, and to see how a scholarship changes your real budget, use our UAE cost breakdown.
Types of UAE Scholarships
UAE funding falls into three broad buckets, and most Nepali students benefit from the first one.
- University merit scholarships — automatic or application-based tuition reductions based on your grades, awarded by branch campuses. The most accessible and widely available.
- Need-based financial aid — limited but generous, mainly at NYU Abu Dhabi, where aid can cover most or all of the cost of attendance for outstanding admitted students.
- Government & federal scholarships — programmes like the UAEU Chancellor's scholarship or research-focused awards at Khalifa University and MBZUAI, usually for postgraduate or research study and highly competitive.
Scholarships Open to Nepali Students
The table below summarises the main awards Nepali students can realistically target. Coverage and deadlines change each cycle, so treat these as indicative and confirm details on the official university website.
| Scholarship | Coverage | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Heriot-Watt Dubai Merit Scholarship | Up to 50% (UG) / up to 15% (PG) tuition | High pre-university grades; some awards exclude engineering |
| UOWD Academic Excellence Award | Partial tuition (varies by programme) | High GPA at admission and continued performance |
| Birmingham Dubai Chancellor's Merit Scholarship | Fixed AED tuition reduction | Strong predicted/achieved grades |
| Middlesex Dubai Study Grant / Merit Awards | Fixed AED awards reducing tuition | Merit-based; regional and high-achiever tiers |
| NYU Abu Dhabi Financial Aid | Up to full cost of attendance (need-based) | Outstanding admitted students demonstrating need |
| UAEU Chancellor's / Government Scholarships | Partial to full tuition (research focus) | Strong academics; mainly postgraduate/research |
For example, Heriot-Watt Dubai publishes its current merit tiers and discounts on the official Heriot-Watt Dubai scholarships and discounts page. Always check the live page for your intake.
Eligibility: What UAE Scholarships Look For
Most UAE merit awards are decided on your academic recordat the point of admission, so your +2 or bachelor's grades matter most. Common factors include:
- Strong grades: top-tier merit awards often require around 90%+ in Grade 12 (or an equivalent high GPA)
- English proficiency: a qualifying IELTS/PTE score is usually needed for both admission and scholarships
- Early application: several campuses offer early-bird or early-application discounts on top of merit awards
- Programme limits: some awards exclude high-cost programmes such as engineering, or differ between undergraduate and postgraduate levels
- Continued performance: renewable scholarships require you to maintain a minimum GPA each year
To hit the IELTS scores that unlock both admission and funding, prepare with our IELTS preparation guide.
How to Apply for UAE Scholarships
- Apply for admission early. Many merit scholarships are assessed automatically when you apply, so submit a complete application well before the intake deadline (often around December for the next year).
- Submit strong documents. Attested transcripts, a solid IELTS/PTE score, and a clear statement of purpose strengthen both admission and scholarship decisions.
- Tick the scholarship box. Some awards are automatic; others need a separate scholarship form or essay — read the instructions carefully.
- For NYU Abu Dhabi, complete the financial-aid application alongside your admission application to be considered for need-based aid.
- Compare your net cost. A 30% award at a mid-priced campus can beat a smaller award at a premium one — run the numbers with our cost guide.
You can also explore funding across every destination on our scholarships for Nepali students hub, and have our counselors build a scholarship plan for you — book a free counseling session.