TL;DR: Canadian University Dubai (CUD) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, offers partial tuition scholarships (typically 10% to 50% tuition waivers), not fully funded packages that cover living costs. Award types include Academic Excellence, Schools Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) discounts, Sports, Financial Hardship, Special Needs, and Special Talent. Students of any citizenship who meet CUD admission requirements may apply. The next clear scholarship deadline on the official page is 20 December 2026 for the spring semester; the fall deadline of 7 July has already passed for the cycle shown.
Overview
Canadian University Dubai runs a structured scholarship programme to reward strong academics and to support students facing financial or other barriers. Figures and rules below come from the official CUD scholarships page. Awards apply to tuition for credit-bearing courses only and generally exclude summer semesters.
- Host: Canadian University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Funding type: Partial tuition waiver (not fully funded living costs)
- Typical range: 10% to 50% of tuition, depending on award and results
- Nationality: Open to all citizenships that meet CUD admission requirements
Scholarship types and amounts
Academic Excellence Scholarship
For high-achieving new and returning students. New students are assessed on United Arab Emirates Secondary School Certificate (or equivalent) averages; returning students on semester cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
| New students (high school average) | Tuition waiver | Returning students (CGPA) | Tuition waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85% to 89.9% | 20% | 3.85 to 3.89 | 20% |
| 90% to 94.9% | 30% | 3.90 to 3.94 | 30% |
| 95% to 98.9% | 40% | 3.95 to 3.97 | 40% |
| 99% to 100% | 50% | 3.98 to 4.0 | 50% |
| – | – | 3.8 to 3.84 | 10% (returning only) |
Fall-semester Academic Excellence awards can remain valid for one year if CGPA and enrolment rules are met. Spring awards are valid for one semester only. Applicants need at least 12 credit hours for Academic Excellence eligibility.
Schools Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Scholarship
Recent graduates from listed partner schools in the United Arab Emirates can receive a 20% tuition scholarship for undergraduate programmes (first academic year under MoU terms). School staff and immediate family may receive a 15% tuition benefit. These MoU awards are not combinable with other scholarships or discounts under the stated rules. Confirm the current partner-school list on the official CUD scholarships page.
Sports Scholarship
For elite athletes who have competed successfully at least at city level. Tuition waiver up to 40%. Valid one semester; reapply each semester. High school applicants need at least 70% academic achievement; returning students need CGPA 3.0+. Community service of up to 15 hours per month may be required.
Financial Hardship Scholarship
Case-by-case support for students facing financial hardship, with tuition waiver up to 40%. Valid one semester. High school applicants need at least 75%; returning students need CGPA 2.8+. Supporting documents (such as rental contracts, bank statements, and family income evidence) are required and kept confidential.
Special Needs Scholarship
Tuition reduction up to 40% for eligible students with documented special needs. Current students need a minimum CGPA of 2.0. An up-to-date professional diagnosis is required.
Special Talent Scholarship
For outstanding talent outside sport, with tuition waiver up to 40%. One-semester awards; reapply each term. High school applicants need at least 70%; returning students need CGPA 3.0+. Portfolio or achievement evidence and recommendations are required.
Eligibility (official rules)
- Open to students of any citizenship who have met all Canadian University Dubai admission requirements.
- Generally awarded to full-time students enrolled in four academic courses or more per semester (exceptions may apply for Financial Hardship and Special Needs).
- Scholarships apply to credit courses only; not foundation or non-credit courses, and not summer semesters under the main rules.
- Students must maintain the CGPA required for their award type to continue funding.
- If more than one reduction applies, students choose the highest-value option.
- Remaining tuition and housing fees must still be paid promptly.
Canadian University Dubai states that scholarship or fee-reduction decisions cannot be appealed.
Deadlines for 2026
- Fall semester scholarship deadline: 7 July (already passed for the cycle shown on the official page).
- Spring semester scholarship deadline: 20 December 2026.
- Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
Separate admission deadlines for Fall 2026-27 and later intakes are published on Canadian University Dubai admissions pages. Scholarship and admission calendars are not identical, so check both. See also our guide to deadlines and time zones.
How to apply
- Confirm you meet Canadian University Dubai admission requirements for your intended programme.
- Choose the scholarship type(s) you qualify for and gather the documents listed on the official page for that award.
- Complete the relevant scholarship application form (from the CUD site or Student Affairs).
- Email the form and supporting documents to [email protected] by the deadline (or submit via Student Affairs as instructed).
- For university admission itself, use the official portal: Official application page.
Always follow the latest instructions on Official scholarships page. Aggregator sites are not the application channel. For a general process overview, see How to apply.
What is covered (and what is not)
- Covered: A percentage discount on current tuition for eligible credit courses.
- Not covered by these waivers alone: Full tuition in most cases, summer tuition under main rules, housing, incidental fees, and living costs unless a separate arrangement says otherwise.
Honesty check: This is a partial funding package. Plan a budget for the remaining tuition share plus living costs in Dubai. Compare labels in our fully funded vs partial guide.
Fields of study
Awards attach to eligible Canadian University Dubai credit-bearing programmes rather than a single named major. Applicants should match a CUD undergraduate (or other admitted) programme, then apply for the scholarship category they qualify for. Confirm programme lists and intake dates on the official Canadian University Dubai site.
FAQ
Is the Canadian University Dubai scholarship fully funded?
No. Official awards are partial tuition waivers, commonly 10% to 50% depending on category and results. Living costs and remaining tuition are your responsibility.
Who can apply?
Students of any citizenship who meet Canadian University Dubai admission requirements and the specific criteria for the award type (grades, CGPA, sport or talent evidence, hardship documents, and so on).
What is the next deadline?
For scholarship applications tied to the spring semester, the official deadline listed is 20 December 2026. The fall scholarship deadline of 7 July has already passed on the current official page.
Where do I apply?
Send scholarship forms and documents to [email protected] (or via Student Affairs as directed). Use the Canadian University Dubai application portal for admission. Official page: Official scholarships page.
Can I combine multiple scholarships?
You may apply for more than one if eligible, but if several reductions apply you choose the highest-value option. Some MoU awards are explicitly not combinable.
Do scholarships cover summer semester?
Under the main guiding principles, scholarships are not valid for summer semesters. Separate limited study-scholarship offers may appear for specific terms; check the official page for any time-bound promotions.
Source: Official Canadian University Dubai scholarships page. Details can change without notice; verify on the university site before you apply.
