TL;DR: Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi offers competitive, merit-based postgraduate scholarships for outstanding graduate students. For the Spring 2027 intake, applications are open for PhD programmes only until 28 September 2026. Scholarship interest is indicated inside the admission application. Benefits may include full or partial tuition, a monthly stipend (PhD), accommodation, textbooks, medical insurance, and visa/travel support. Start from the Khalifa University postgraduate application portal.
Quick facts
- Programme: Khalifa University postgraduate scholarships (Master’s and PhD awards; current open window is PhD only)
- Institution: Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Level: PhD for Spring 2027 applications now open; Master’s scholarships are described on the official scholarships page for future/other intakes
- Host country: United Arab Emirates
- Eligibility: UAE national and international applicants who meet graduate admission requirements
- Funding type: Competitive, merit-based (full or partial package depending on the award)
- Application deadline (Spring 2027 PhD): 28 September 2026
- Application fee: 200 United Arab Emirates dirham (AED), inclusive of value-added tax (VAT)
- How funding is requested: Indicate scholarship interest when you submit your admission application (no separate general scholarship form for the standard awards)
What the funding covers
According to Khalifa University’s postgraduate scholarships page, awards are based on academic achievement, research potential, field of study, and alignment with the University’s strategic priorities. Recipients must maintain strong academic standing.
PhD scholarships
Depending on the scholarship awarded, PhD benefits may include:
- Full or partial tuition fee coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Enrolment in pension (United Arab Emirates nationals only)
- Textbooks
- Accommodation
- Medical insurance
- Visa processing support and travel assistance to/from the United Arab Emirates (for students residing abroad)
- Support for conference participation (subject to funding)
- International research internship (subject to funding)
- Teaching experience and career development
Master’s scholarships
Master’s awards (when offered for an intake) may include full or partial tuition, textbooks, accommodation, medical insurance, and visa/travel support for students residing abroad. The Spring 2027 window currently advertised on the admissions page is for PhD programmes only.
China Scholarship Council joint PhD route
A separate China Scholarship Council (CSC) and Khalifa University joint PhD scholarship is available for highly qualified Chinese nationals admitted to full-time PhD study in Engineering or Science. Official benefits for that route include a monthly stipend of 9,200 AED from Khalifa University (plus additional CSC support), full tuition, accommodation or an allowance of up to 2,000 AED per month, textbooks, visa fee coverage, medical insurance, and conference support subject to approval. That route is for Fall intake only, with a CSC-side deadline of 10 February of the same academic year. Confirm current CSC rules on the official CSC application site linked from Khalifa University’s scholarships page.
Eligibility
You must meet Khalifa University graduate admission requirements and be admitted (or under consideration) through the official postgraduate application. Core PhD requirements published by the University include:
Regular PhD (with a Master’s degree)
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 out of 4.0, or equivalent
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum CGPA of 3.25 out of 4.0, or equivalent
Direct PhD (without a Master’s degree)
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 out of 4.0, or equivalent
- Minimum quantitative score of 150 on the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE), taken at a test centre (GRE Home Edition is not accepted); all three GRE sections must be attempted
- Direct Bachelor’s to PhD study must be full-time
Requirements for both PhD routes
- English proficiency: Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) score of 91 taken at a test centre (Home Edition not accepted), or overall academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5, or an approved equivalent; limited exemptions are described on the admissions page
- At least two referee recommendations (online form)
- Statement of purpose (500-1,000 words)
- Research statement (500-1,000 words)
- Admission interview
Applicants with degrees from outside the United Arab Emirates must also follow the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education recognition/equivalency process described on the admissions page. Incomplete applications are not considered.
Fields of study
Khalifa University offers interdisciplinary Master’s and PhD programmes across engineering, computing, mathematical sciences, and medicine and health sciences. Doctoral programmes listed on the official postgraduate programmes page include (among others) Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Systems and Management, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer and Information Engineering, Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences, and Public Health. Always confirm the live programme list on the University website before you apply.
Key dates
- Spring 2027 PhD applications close: 28 September 2026
- Current open window: PhD programmes only for Spring 2027 (as stated on the postgraduate admissions page)
- CSC-KU joint PhD (Fall only): application deadline 10 February of the same academic year (separate CSC process after a Khalifa University offer)
How to apply
- Choose your PhD programme and review admission requirements on the official postgraduate admissions page.
- Review scholarship details on the postgraduate scholarships page and plan to indicate scholarship interest in your admission application.
- Prepare documents: degree certificates and transcripts, English test results, Curriculum Vitae (CV), statement of purpose, research statement (PhD), passport photo, passport copy, and any United Arab Emirates residence documents if applicable. GRE is required for Direct PhD applicants.
- Pay the 200 AED application fee (inclusive of VAT) and submit the online application via the postgraduate portal.
- Upload all required files on the Status Page after submission and complete any interview steps requested by the University.
For admission questions, the University lists [email protected]. Technical issues with the online application can be raised with the Information Technology helpdesk via the contacts on the admissions page.
FAQ
Is every Khalifa University graduate scholarship fully funded?
Not necessarily. The University states that benefits may include full or partial tuition fee coverage and other supports depending on the scholarship awarded. Do not assume a fixed stipend amount unless it is stated for your specific award (for example, the CSC-KU joint route publishes a 9,200 AED monthly stipend from Khalifa University).
Can international students apply?
Yes. Official scholarship pages address both United Arab Emirates national and international students, and visa/travel support may be available for students residing abroad.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
For the standard Master’s and PhD scholarships, applicants should indicate interest in scholarship consideration when submitting the admission application. The CSC-KU route also requires a separate CSC funding application after a Khalifa University offer.
What is the Spring 2027 deadline?
Applications for Spring 2027 admission to PhD programmes only are open until 28 September 2026, according to the official postgraduate admissions page.
Are Master’s programmes open in this window?
The admissions page currently states that Spring 2027 applications are open for PhD programmes only. Master’s scholarship information remains on the scholarships page for other cycles; check the live admissions notice before applying.
