Top Scholarships in UAE for Indian Students 2026

UAE has a cosmopolitan environment and superlative infrastructure. Numerous world-top institutions have their campuses in Dubai. Those who wish to pursue their higher education in Dubai will gain real international exposure along with a blend of Western and Asian cultures. In this article, we will cover some of the top scholarships in UAE for international students.

Candidates studying in the UAE benefit not only from its high-quality teaching and learning but also from established links to potential employers, novel and up-to-date facilities and excellent support services. There are international campuses of some of the world's top institutions in the UAE which provide quality education at a lower cost than at their home country campuses. Since the cost of education at the universities in the UAE is low, the cost of living is pretty high. For this reason, students remain on the lookout for financial aid from the university or from government agencies to help them curb these expenses and the cost of education. It's rightly said that once you decide to study in the UAE, your first and foremost concern will be regarding funds. However, there are numerous scholarship options available to Indian students willing to study in the UAE, especially Dubai. This article presents various scholarships to study in the UAE for international students, especially Indian students. Meanwhile, you may check the Fully funded Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad - for they cover various countries and courses and you might get the chance to study in the UAE without having to pay any tuition fees.

1. Outstanding Academic Excellence Scholarships

This scholarship is provided by the University of Wollongong in Dubai. The scholarship is offered at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels. The scholarship is made available by the university at the start of every semester. Only entry-level students are entitled to it, and the benefits offered range from 20% to 10% payment of tuition fees. The living and study-related expenses are not covered under it. Though a single student is entitled to just one scholarship, candidates may apply for as many scholarships as they wish but that shall also be subject to their meeting specific eligibility requirements. This scholarship provides a 10% - 40% contribution to their tuition fees. 

2. Scholarships for Undergraduate Programmes at BITS Pilani, Dubai

Offered by BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, the scholarship is basically meant for the Bachelor's level. BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus (BPDC) is the branch campus of the internationally reputed Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS Pilani), India and is the largest Engineering institution in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). Established in the year 2000 in alliance with ETA-NET, it aims at offering quality higher engineering education to the residents of the UAE and other Gulf countries. B.E. Scholarships cover 10% - 70% of the tuition fee for a year, based on a Grade 12 aggregate of 70% and above or a BITSAT score of 200 and above. M.E./M.B.A. scholarships cover 20% of the tuition fee for a year on a B.E. aggregate of 75% and above. A hostel concession of 25% is also given to B.E. students with a grade 12 aggregate of 70% or above and to ME/MBA students with a B.E. aggregate of 80% or above.

3. Masdar Institute Fully Funded Master Scholarships

This master's level scholarship is offered by Masdar Institute. The institute recognises applications from capable and competent local as well as international students. Approval into the programs is subject to academic qualifications and English proficiency, since all the lectures, ranging from laboratory sessions to written or oral exams, will be conducted in English. This scholarship awards a 100% waiver of tuition fees, and students will be reimbursed for all the required textbooks, laptops, GRE and TOEFL exam or test fees, and housing. Students also receive a monthly stipend and get an annual return ticket home if necessary.

4. International Student Tuition Scholarships

Offered by the University of Wisconsin Stout for Undergraduate and graduate levels, these scholarships are available to skilled and competent international students who are subject to their academic excellence at UW-Stout in addition to their participation in international cultural activities and access to funds. UW-Stout offers scholarships to qualified international students based on their academic achievement or equivalent grade point average (GPA), financial need, and their continued participation in qualifying cultural and community service activities. Graduate students are awarded $6,000 per academic year with a GPA of 3.2 or higher. Meanwhile, undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are awarded $5,000 per academic year.

5. Master Research Teaching Scholarship (MRTS)

Offered by Khalifa University, this scholarship is for qualified international students who are pursuing a full-time graduate program. It covers the entire tuition fee and also provides medical insurance coverage for students sponsored by the university as per the rules. The monthly stipend provided is AED 4,000. Please note that this scholarship does not cover the student accommodation costs.

6. Zayed University Merit Scholarship

This academic merit scholarship is offered by Zayed University to international students on the basis of their academic performance in the final year of high school. Up to 50% of the tuition fee may be covered with this scholarship. Additional costs such as food, accommodation, or conveyance won't be covered. Students applying for the same should have obtained a minimum average of 95% or equivalent, along with an IELTS score of 6.0 (minimum 5.5) or TOEFL iBT score of 80.

7. SP Jain Centre of SPG Management Global MBA Program

The scholarship offered by S P Jain is very selective and it also offers low-interest loans to commendable and deprived candidates. The applications for these scholarships and loans are accepted after the applicants have been enrolled in the GMBA program. 
Level of Study: Postgraduate. All participants receiving scholarships must maintain a required GPA and abide by the Code of Conduct during the course of the program. it is mainly meant for Postgraduate students.

8. HH Sheikh Hamdan Scholarships

The high school scholarship is offered by Abu Dhabi University under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Abu Dhabi University (ADU) Board of Trustees and Governors. Various top performers from high schools in the UAE have been awarded the HH Sheikh Hamdan scholarships by the university. The scholarship covers not only the 4-year education program but also the tuition and administrative fees. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Scholarship is offered by Abu Dhabi University to empower outstanding students and inspire them to pursue their educational objectives. The maximum coverage period of this scholarship is four years, or upon graduation, whichever is sooner. Scholarship application process for this fully funded scholarship begins after a student is formally admitted to ADU and assigned a unique student ID number. This ID number is used to securely log in to a university account that has a section for Financial Aid and Scholarships.

9. The SKP Scholarship (Pathak Scholarships)

This graduate-level scholarship is offered by Exeter College, University of Oxford. This is a generous gift made by Mr Krishna Pathak (a Friend of the College), and the scholarship is associated with a Clarendon Award. This award is meant for Indian graduates resident in India or Dubai who aspire to undertake a graduate degree at Exeter College, University of Oxford. This scholarship is given to students who have an undergraduate degree from an institution in India, and who also have an offer of admission to study for a DPhil at Oxford University. This scholarship is awarded in conjunction with awards from Oxford University’s Clarendon Fund, and together the SKP and Clarendon awards will fund all course fees and a grant to cover living expenses. SKP scholarships are awarded for one year and will be renewable for the remaining years of DPhil fee liability subject to satisfactory academic progress being made.

10. Multicultural Student Scholarship (MSS)

The graduate-level scholarship is offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The amount awarded comprises a four-year scholarship valued at $10,000. Candidates will be entitled to an amount of $2500 every year for four years, but that will be subject to their meeting the eligibility requirements of a 3.0 GPA, and they must be enrolled in 12 or more credits each term.

11. Khalifa University Scholarships (Abu Dhabi)

Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi offers fully and partially funded merit-based scholarships for international students - including Indian students. These scholarships are awarded for all levels of programmes, including undergraduate, postgraduate, and research (PhD). The Khalifa University Scholarships benefit students in various ways, including:

• A 100% tuition fee waiver
• Free campus housing
• Medical insurance
• Airfare tickets
• Monthly stipends for select graduate tracks

12. MBZUAI Scholarships (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Scholarships)

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) in Abu Dhabi offers fully funded scholarships to all accepted full-time international students - including Indian students. Prospective students have until Dec 15, 2026 to apply for the MBZUAI Scholarships for the next winter intake. The benefits covered in the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence Scholarships include:

• A 100% tuition fees
• Free accommodation
• A monthly stipend
• Health insurance
• UAE visa sponsorship.

Tips to Apply for Scholarships in UAE for Indian Students

Scholarships to study in the UAE are very competitive; many students from around the world are seeking them, and everyone is putting their best efforts into polishing their scholarship applications. Therefore, Indian students must follow some extra tips to just stay in line and keep moving towards their goal of getting a scholarship for the UAE. Check the tips below that can really help you ace this practice.

1. Apply Early: Apply using Class 12 pre-board or predicted scores early, as many scholarships are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis before final CBSE/ICSE results arrive
2. Track Dual Intake Windows: Most major UAE scholarships open during the Fall (September) intake - with primary application windows closing between January and April. Minor scholarship pools open for the Spring (January) intake.
3. Aim to get above 90-95% marks in your Class 12th board exams.
4. Top-tier fully funded universities (like NYUAD or Khalifa University) frequently require competitive SAT, ACT, IELTS, or TOEFL scores. Take these tests at the earliest, as soon as you decide on your university and course.   

This was all about top scholarships in the UAE for Indian students. If you seek assistance to study in the UAE or anywhere else abroad, reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services for free. 

More related articles about studying in the UAE:

• All about UAE Student Residence Visa
• Popular courses in UAE for international students
• Living in UAE as an international student
• Cost of Living in Dubai 2026