MOE Scholarship Program Information & Regulations

Planning for study
  1. A student must determine the specialization most suited for his/her needs and future career goals, taking into consideration the field of study, level of qualification, period and intended place of study. A student should also determine the desired kind of education and the field of study.
  2. Most universities and vocational education and training courses stipulate that a student should have a good level of proficiency in English in order to be accepted for enrollment in such universities.
  3. Therefore, a scholar must take into consideration the period required for studying English and be well-prepared both psychologically and educationally to successfully pass this requirement and obtain the average required to start the academic program.  Many students may experience frustration during this period. But with determination and regular attendance, success can be achieved.
Scholarship Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to students awarded with a scholarship to go to study abroad at the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s expense:

  1. A scholar must be a UAE national.
  2. A scholar must be of good conduct.
  3. A scholar must have the General Secondary Certificate or its equivalent with 80% for both Science and Arts streams and 90% for those who wishing to study medical sciences. In the event where there are many applicants, the highest average shall be taken into account with a Common Educational Proficiency Assessment (CEPA) average of at least 150.
  4. A scholar wishing to continue to Masters and Doctorate Degrees must hold a Bachelors degree with a minimum overall grade of “Good”.
  5. Academic degrees obtained prior to the respective study stage must be authenticated as soon as they are awarded by overseas universities or academic institutions inside the UAE.
  6. A scholar must obtain a preliminary approval for a sabbatical leave from his/her place of work once s/he is granted a scholarship.
  7. A scholar must enroll in full-time study.
  8. A specialization required to be studied must be among those specified by the Ministry on annual basis, such as (medical sciences, engineering sciences, genetics, and environmental sciences).
  9. Scholarships are restricted to the countries specified by the Ministry.
  10. Students’ parent consent is obligatory.
Cancellation of Scholarship

A scholarship or bursary shall be cancelled by virtue of the Minister’s decision based on the articles provided for in federal law on scholarships, if the student:

  1. Fails to commence the scholarship or academic aid within three months from the date of issue of the dispatch decision unless the delay is for a legitimate reason acceptable to the Ministry.
  2. Gets married to a non-Muslim foreigner during the period of his study.
  3. Fails without excuse acceptable to the Ministry to attain the minimum number of credit hours for three terms during his/her scholarship term, in the case of semester studies, or if s/he fails for two years in the case of the studies pursued on a yearly basis.
  4. Is accused of misconduct or conduct prejudicial to the UAE’s reputation abroad.
  5. Practices a destructive activity that contradicts with the teachings of the Islamic religion or the UAE traditions, customs, ideals and values.
  6. Obtains a scholarship from another authority without the Ministry’s approval.
  7. Changes his/her specialization or type of study for which s/he was dispatched or if s/he changes the scholarship country without the Ministry’s approval.
  8. Is absent from study without a justification approved by to the Ministry.
  9. Provides the Ministry with incorrect information.
Changing Specializations/Major or Educational Institutions

It is very important for students to realize the consequences of changing an educational institution both for them and the sponsor in terms of the difficulties that they may encounter with the university from which they intend to transfer, such as eligibility, loss of time, interruption of study and incurring unnecessary additional charges.

If a student wants to change his/her specialization and educational institution, this requires a revision of the original decree.  It is therefore extremely important to make the appropriate decision in choosing the area of specialization and educational institution at the beginning of overseas study.

A desire to transfer will also affect the sponsor, which in most cases will incur additional expenses as a result of scholar’s desire to change his/her specialization or educational institution.

Therefore, MOE would like to reaffirm the importance of committing to the primary educational institution and scholar’s specialization, except in cases of extreme necessity and after obtaining the Ministry’s approval in advance of any change.

The Ministry’s regulations of changing specializations are as follows:

  1. The scholar presents a request explaining the reasons that pushed him/her to change the major, along to a letter from their university that indicates they are elegible for the new major and affirms graduation date, through  MOE e-services portal. 
  2. S/he provides a study plan to the Academic Advisor at the Cultural Division.
  3. S/he has to continue the major which was the basis for the scholarship until the Ministry approves/disapproves the change of major.
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