6 Financial Aid and Scholarships in Kuwait for International Students

Kuwait is one of the Middle Eastern countries that offers international students an excellent, safe and advanced place to study a degree abroad. Studying in Kuwait will place you in a unique, historical Arab country with a history of tolerance and growth.

If you are studying, planning to study, or conduct research at Kuwait’s higher educational institution or research institute, you may want to apply for scholarships, grants, or other forms of financial assistance in Kuwait to cut your study, living, or research expenses. There are many Kuwait scholarships for international students offered each year. These include Kuwait university scholarships.

1. Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education Scholarship Program (MOHE)

These are annual study seats allocated by partner countries to Kuwaiti students who hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, and the seats offered by Kuwait to non-Kuwait students in the implementation of cultural agreements with the State of Kuwait according to programs of assistance and foreign relations to obtain degrees. The MOHE scholarship program is intended to strengthen the links and cooperation between brotherly and friendly countries and provide various fields of study for Kuwaiti students in specialties needed for the State of Kuwait as well as an exchange of cultures and experiences between countries.

Successful candidates of the MOHE scholarship program will benefit from the following:

• • Free tuition, university housing, and treatment in most donor countries
  • Some donor countries provide annual airfare ticket and nominal monthly allowance
  • The Kuwait Ministry of Higher Education provides monthly financial allowances, annual airfare tickets, and travel preparation allowance for the accepted student in those countries

2. Kuwait Ministry of Private Education Scholarships

These are fully-funded Kuwaiti government scholarships offered to recent high school graduates (Kuwaiti, Non-Kuwaiti, and Diploma). The scholarships cover tuition expenses up to the time of graduation at a private higher education institution in Kuwait. In order to be eligible for the Private Education Scholarship, students must meet specific conditions set by the Private University Council (PUC) of the Ministry of Higher Education.

3. Gulf University Financial Assistance

A number of various scholarships and other forms of financial assistance offered to students studying or planning to study at Gulf University in Kuwait.

• • GUST Scholarships: Every semester GUST offers a limited number of internal GUST Scholarships. The scholarships cover full payment of tuition fees (maximum KD 2250 per semester) or a specific percentage of tuition fees. Selection for GUST Scholarships is highly competitive and only a limited number of students will be awarded scholarships. In order to apply for a GUST Scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:
    • Completion of 30 credit hours or more
    • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50
    • Current registration for a minimum of 15 credits
    • No pending disciplinary action

GUST Scholarships are valid for one academic term. Students who maintain the criteria outlined above are eligible to reapply for a GUST Scholarship. Applications for GUST Scholarships may be found in the Counselor’s Office.

• • GUST Summer Scholarship Program to UMSL & FIU: The GUST Summer Scholarship program was specifically established and funded to reward outstanding GUST students with opportunities for personal and academic growth. Each year, GUST offers its students a limited number of competitive Summer Scholarships to enrich their academic experience through international study. GUST currently has cooperation agreements with two internationally recognized academic institutions in the United States of America for student exchanges.
    • UMSL (Think UMSL): GUST’s Summer Scholarship Program for summer study at the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) provides for tuition at UMSL (up to 6 academic credit hours), round-trip airfare, accommodation in St. Louis, and a support allowance. Interested students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
      • Be a full-time GUST student
      • Must have earned and completed 60-90 credit hours by the end of Spring semester
      • Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher
      • Must be in good standing as per GUST Student Code of Conduct
      • Must not have a financial hold on his or her account
      • Hold a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79-80 (internet-based)
    • George Washington University (Think GW): GUST’s Summer Scholarship Program for summer study at the George Washington University in Washington D.C. provides full or partial tuition at the university (for 6 academic credit hours) and a support allowance. Interested students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
      • Be a full-time GUST student
      • Must have earned and completed 60-90 credit hours by the end of Spring semester
      • Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher
      • Must be in good standing as per GUST Student Code of Conduct
      • Must not have a financial hold on his or her account
      • Hold a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79-80 (internet-based)

Interested students are required to submit a completed application form, personal statement, official transcript, and two letters of recommendation from GUST faculty. Announcements for the annual summer scholarships are made in November of each year, and the annual scholarship deadline for applications in mid-February has been set for each academic year.

• • Student Employment: Students interested in part-time employment at GUST should obtain an application form from the GUST Counseling Office. All applicants will be required to submit a completed application form along with a copy of their most recent transcript. In order to be eligible for student employment at GUST, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Students may work for a maximum of 12 hours per month. Additional work hours must be approved by the GUST Counseling Office.

4. CRP – ICGEB Research Grants

The International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) offers funding opportunities through the Collaborative Research Program (CRP) – ICGEB Research Grants, which is a dedicated source of funding aimed at financing projects addressing original scientific problems of particular relevance for the host country and of regional interest. The Program provides support for research projects in basic science, human healthcare, industrial and agricultural biotechnology and bioenergy. The Program supports the ICGEB’s the Member States – each Member State can endorse up to 3 standard Research Grant applications, plus up to 2 Early Career Return Grants for each call. The call for applications is launched annually, and the deadline for submissions is April 30 in each year.

Applicants for research grant proposals (identified as “CRPs”) should hold positions at universities or research institutes in any of the ICGEB Member States.

A special category of CRP – ICGEB Early Career Return Grants is intended to fund young researchers with an outstanding track record, who have spent a minimum of 2 years abroad and have recently returned to an ICGEB Member State to establish their own independent laboratories. Applicants for Early Career Return Grants should be no more than 40 years of age at the time of application. Applicants should have returned to an ICGEB Member State (except Italy) no more than 2 years prior to submitting the application.

Grants are awarded to contribute to the implementation of outstanding scientific research projects. An important element of successful applications is the feasibility of the proposed project within the designated time frame (maximum 36 months). The maximum annual contribution from ICGEB is 25,000 EUR. Funds can only be used to cover expenditures that are directly relevant to the project. This may include purchasing consumable items, scientific literature, and basic standard laboratory equipment. Travel and training costs can also be covered.

5. AUK Academic Scholarship and Financial Aid

University scholarship and financial aid opportunities for students at the American University of Kuwait.

• • AUK Continuing Students Academic Scholarship Program: AUK will award a number of merit-based academic scholarships to its most academically deserving, currently enrolled students. Scholarship applications will e evaluated on various academic measures, including but not limited to the cumulative undergraduate grade point average and earned credit hours. Students who are awarded this scholarship must register for 12 credit hours or more, and maintain a minimum of 3.50 GPA by the end of each term.
  • AUK Financial Aid: Offered to exist students of AUK, who have earned at least 24 credits and good academic standing with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. AUK Financial Aids only cover tuition (not university fees) for two semesters (not including summer), for 12 credits per semester. Financial Aid is only partial and depends on the student’s financial status. Students are required to submit a complete application form for AUK Financial Aid.

6. LLM Scholarships at KILAW

LLM Scholarships at the Kuwait International Law School (KILAW) were established in accordance with the School’s aim to provide the community with outstanding professionals in the field of legal sciences and carry out the approach for the strategic plan set for the student scholarship and incentives program. KILAW grants scholarships to distinguished students who finish the KILAW LLB program and who get a grade point average of 3.30 or above. These scholarships are intended to encourage students to pursue their study at KILAW in the LLM program, with the condition to fulfill the following requirements:

• • The applicant must be a graduate of the Kuwait International Law School
  • Obtaining the LLB in the regular period of time
  • The student should not be employed while being paid the scholarship
  • The student should be free from any disciplinary action during the study
  • He or she should not have received a grade point average warning in any semester or be prevented from taking a final exam
  • He or she has to pass an interview with KILAW’s administration
  • The student must undertake to follow the study seriously until the end of the program or he / she will be required to pay tuition fees
  • During Master’s study, the student’s grade point average should not be lower than 2.67
  • The student should be accepted as a teaching assistant (optional)