Althuraya cambridge scholarship

AlThuraya Foundation has been partnering with the Cambridge Trust since 2017 to offer the AlThuraya Cambridge Scholarship to offer the opportunity for MENA students to pursue a master's degree at the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility for Our Programmes

  • Applicants should be normally a national of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen; and a resident in one of the aforementioned countries, with the exception of refugees. Applicants with dual citizenships will not be considered.

  • Evidence of academic, research and/or professional merit (demonstrated through reference letters)

  • Demonstration of future promise (demonstrated through a letter of intent, interviews, and other required essays)

  • Proof of financial need

  • Applicants must already be granted acceptance in one of our partner/listed universities (for a Master's Program)

  • Applicants must have not obtained a degree outside the MENA region.

APPROVED MASTER'S PROGRAMS

HOW TO APPLY

Find the right course for you! First log in to the University of Cambridge course directory. Then, use the filters to limit the courses displayed to a certain domain or degree. Click on the course you are interested in to read the details and read an overview about the course and check the entry requirements. If you are still interested, click on Apply Now.

Create an account on the applicant portal. After clicking Apply Now, you will be transferred to the applicant portal. Register yourself and create an account.

Login to the applicant portal and start filling your application. Choose a course start date and click on apply for this course. Note that to be considered for funding you should apply for courses starting in the Michaelmas Term (1 OCT to 19 DEC).

In order to apply you have to submit the following:

  • Academic Transcript | A document certified by your undergraduate university providing complete list of all subjects you have completed and the marks you received in each one of them.
  • Two Academic References | You need to give details of two referees who can provide academic references in English. They will be contacted by the university and asked to submit a reference on the online referee portal. Make sure your referees provide the references before the application deadline or otherwise your application will not be considered.
  • CV | a chance to demonstrate your educational background, certifications, skills, work experience, volunteering experience, and research experience. 
  • IELTS/TOEFL | This is evidence of your competence in English. Check here for more details on who has to provide a language test and which tests are accepted. Make sure the version of the test you take is compatible with visa requirements so you do not need to take the exam twice. 
  • Personal Statement | This is dependent on the course, but a personal statement usually ranges between 3000 to 5000 characters. You have to highlight why you are applying for this course, talking about relevant experiences and your short-term and long-term plans. Try to demonstrate a genuine interest in the subject and avoid clichés like “I want to make the world a better place”.
  • Research Summary | When applying for a Master’s degree, you do not necessarily have to write a research summary (unless otherwise specified in the course you are applying for). However, it would be better if you could use the research summary section in your application to mention your research interests. This will demonstrate your motivation and will help the university choose a suitable supervisor for you.
  • Colleges | The University of Cambridge is a collegiate system comprised of 31 colleges. As a Cambridge student, you will also be a member of a college where you may dine, socialise, or seek pastoral support. Make sure to make some time to pick a college that suits you. Don't worry too much; there can't be a wrong choice. You also have an option of making an open application. Visit this page for advice on how to choose.
Cambridge Town

APPLYING FOR ALTHURAYA CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP

No separate application is required for our scholarship, only the application to the University of Cambridge. Just make sure you fill the Cambridge Trust section in your application. Choose that you wish to be considered for funding then write why you believe you should be considered for Cambridge Trust awards. List all awards for which you consider yourself eligible including AlThuraya Foundation scholarship. For more details, visit this site. Check this link for more details on your eligibility for other Cambridge Trust awards.

DEADLINES

Applications for the Michaelmas term generally open 13 months before the course start date and the funding deadlines are around December and January. Note there is a difference between a Course Deadline and a Funding Deadline. To be considered for funding make sure you submit your application by the funding deadline.

Cambridge University

WHAT'S NEXT?

After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmatory email from the graduate admission. You can track the progress of your application through your applicant portal account. Applications are reviewed in sequence by the department, degree committee, and the graduate admission office (GAO). The department invites promising candidates for an interview to discuss their application further. Interviews can be done on phone or through video conferencing. Successful candidates are then recommended to the degree committee which has to approve the department’s decision and recommend the candidate to the GAO. Then the GAO checks the candidate meets the University of Cambridge entrance requirements. The University of Cambridge accepts only students who achieved a minimum of an upper second class (2:1) honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent. The decisions are usually made in February and March after which a successful candidate receives a conditional offer of study.

DECISION

We come up with the list of candidates who received a conditional offer and are eligible to receive our award by late March or early April. The Selection Committee then contacts the students asking them to provide additional details including CV, cover letter, and filling a financial form. Students should provide the details within ten days from the date they were contacted. An interview date is scheduled on the same week following the submission. AlThuraya Foundation then makes the decision with Cambridge Trust, but the final word comes from Cambridge Trust.

Cambridge