Saïd Foundation Scholarships 2026

Who can apply

Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality, and permanent residence in one of those places (temporary absence for study or work is allowed); Palestinians living in Israel may apply
An undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK Upper Second Class (2:1) or above; a final-year undergraduate student may apply
Some relevant work or voluntary experience is required, though no minimum number of hours or years is set
No age limit
Undergraduate and PhD study, and study outside the UK, are not considered; the Foundation no longer offers PhD scholarships
Must apply to one or more of the Foundation's UK partner universities; a non-partner university is only considered if the chosen course isn't offered by a partner
Scholars sign a binding undertaking to apply the degree back in one of the four target countries

A specific purpose, not a general master’s scholarship

The Saïd Foundation funds a one-year master’s degree at a UK partner university, but only for a specific purpose: developing people who will return to Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine and use what they learned there. That shows up throughout the eligibility rules, not just as a mission statement. You need permanent residence in one of the four target countries, you sign a binding undertaking to apply the degree back home, and there’s no funding at all for PhDs or study outside the UK.

What full funding covers, and its limits

The award itself is genuinely fully funded where it applies: tuition, full living costs, an arrival allowance, visa and healthcare surcharge fees, and one return flight, though not for a spouse or children, who the Foundation states plainly it cannot support financially. Around 20 to 30 new scholarships are made each year, so treat this as competitive rather than a formality once you clear the eligibility bar.

The application clock, and what you need ready before you submit

The process runs on a fixed annual clock: applications open 1 September and close 30 October, with interviews in March and final decisions by early June, all for a course starting the following autumn. You apply to the Foundation and separately to your chosen university, and you need three references and proof of relevant experience ready before you submit, since incomplete applications aren’t considered.

Four decades of the same regional mission

This isn’t a recent initiative. The Foundation’s own page states it has run educational scholarships and training since 1984, with a consistent mission across four decades: empowering people through education specifically to support the development of the Middle East, targeted at individuals with leadership potential who can become drivers of positive change in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. If you’re a Palestinian applicant specifically and this one’s eligibility rules don’t fit your situation, the Ireland-Palestine Scholarship Programme (IPSP) is a separate, more narrowly targeted option worth checking.

Saïd Foundation Scholarships