Khalifa University PhD Scholarships

Benefits & funding

• International students, research path (carries a work commitment): Tier I is full tuition, a basic stipend of 20,000 AED per month and an additional allowance of 20,000 AED per month; Tier II is full tuition, 20,000 AED and an additional 10,000 AED; Tier III is a 75 percent tuition waiver and 20,000 AED; Tier IV is a 50 percent waiver with university accommodation.
• International students, study path (no work commitment): Tier I is full tuition and 4,000 AED per month; Tier II is a 75 percent waiver and 2,000 AED; Tiers III and IV are 50 percent and 25 percent tuition waivers with no stipend.
• UAE nationals, research path: Tier I is full tuition, a pensionable stipend of 25,000 AED per month and an additional allowance of 35,000 AED; Tier II is full tuition, 25,000 AED and an additional 15,000 AED; Tier III is full tuition and 25,000 AED; Tier IV is a 75 percent waiver with accommodation.
• UAE nationals, study path: full tuition with 10,000 AED or 5,000 AED per month at Tiers I and II; 50 percent and 25 percent tuition waivers at Tiers III and IV.
• Benefits shared across tiers: textbooks, medical insurance for full-time students, university accommodation where the tier provides it, UAE visa fees, mobilization and demobilization flights for students coming from abroad, and support to attend international research conferences.
• UAE national recipients on the research path are registered with the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund.
• Research path recipients commit to work for Khalifa University or a nominated entity after graduation, for a period equal to the length of their studies.

Eligibility

• Open to UAE nationals and to international students of any nationality; the award follows admission to a Khalifa University PhD program.
• Regular PhD route: a bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 and a master’s degree with at least 3.25 out of 4.0.
• Direct PhD route without a master’s degree: a bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of at least 3.5 out of 4.0 and a GRE quantitative score of at least 150.
• English proficiency of TOEFL iBT 91, academic IELTS 6.5 overall, or an accepted EmSAT score.
• Two referee recommendations, a statement of purpose of 500 to 1,000 words, a research statement of 500 to 1,000 words, a CV, certified degree certificates and transcripts, and an admission interview.
• A degree earned outside the UAE needs an equivalency certificate issued by the UAE Ministry of Education.
• Full-time enrollment is required for every tier except study path Tiers III and IV, which allow part-time study.
• Scholarship eligibility is reassessed each year; meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an award, and places are limited.

Application process

1. 1
   Choose a PhD program and submit the postgraduate admission application through the Khalifa University application portal, with the 200 AED application fee.
2. 2
   Indicate interest in scholarship consideration inside that application; there is no separate scholarship application.
3. 3
   Upload the required documents: certified degree certificates, transcripts showing the grading scale, English test scores, the GRE report, a CV, the statement of purpose, the research statement, passport documents and, for a non-UAE degree, the Ministry of Education equivalency certificate.
4. 4
   Have two referees submit recommendations through the online form, and attend the admission interview.
5. 5
   If an award is offered, sign the scholarship contract before the end of the Add/Drop period of the first semester.

Program timeline

1. 14 September 2026

   Spring 2027 PhD applications close.

2. Successful applicants begin the PhD in Abu Dhabi.

   Spring 2027

3. First semester, before the end of Add/Drop

   recipients sign the scholarship contract.

4. Every year of study

   scholarship eligibility is reassessed.