Aerial photo of a Dubai city highway curving between high-rise residential towers.

United Arab Emirates Check current round

Abu Dhabi University Scholarship Programme

Abu Dhabi University (ADU) runs a tiered scholarship programme that is open to international students, not just Emiratis — a useful distinction, because several UAE public awards are nationals-only. The awards are tuition waivers rather than cash: the Chairman's Scholarship sits at the top and can cover up to 100% of tuition along with application, registration, student services and health fees, while the broader academic, athletic and graduate merit lines cover a partial percentage of tuition. Postgraduate applicants are typically assessed on Bachelor's CGPA (a 3.5/4.0 or above is the usual gate for the merit-based graduate award), undergraduates on their school-leaving percentage. Coverage runs for a maximum of four years or until graduation, whichever comes first, and you must keep a minimum CGPA each term to retain it. For Sri Lankan students, ADU is worth a serious look: teaching is in English, the campuses are in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, and the flight home is under five hours. Just remember the waiver applies to tuition only — accommodation, the UAE student visa and medical insurance, and living costs in Abu Dhabi remain your own. Scholarship bands are reviewed each intake, so confirm the current percentage tied to your grade with ADU admissions before you build a budget around it.

Rolling intakes (autumn 2026 / spring 2027) — scholarship assessment happens alongside admission, so apply early in the intake window

Abu Dhabi University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

savings

Value

Partial to 100% Tuition Waiver

schedule

Duration

Up to 4 Years (or to graduation)

public

Open To

International + UAE Students

info How this award actually works

account_balance

Who awards it

Abu Dhabi University — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

how_to_reg

How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

payments

What it covers

Tuition Fee Waiver (partial up to 100% under the Chairman's Scholarship). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

handshake

Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

school

Strong Academic Record

Undergraduate waivers are banded by your school-leaving percentage — the top bands need results in the 90s. The merit-based graduate scholarship requires a Bachelor's CGPA of at least 3.5/4.0. Sri Lankan A/L and local-degree results are converted to ADU's scale during admission assessment.

public

International Applicants Welcome

Unlike several UAE federal schemes, ADU's scholarship programme is open to students from all nationalities, including Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka. You still need a UAE student visa, which ADU sponsors once you are enrolled and fees are settled.

trending_up

Maintain Your CGPA to Keep It

Waivers are reviewed each term. Fall below the minimum CGPA attached to your award and the waiver can be reduced or withdrawn — you then pay full tuition for the remainder. Budget for that risk rather than assuming four guaranteed years.

info

Tuition Only — Not a Living Stipend

The award reduces tuition. Accommodation, food, transport, health insurance and visa costs in Abu Dhabi or Dubai are yours to fund. Plan a realistic monthly living budget on top of the discounted tuition figure.

account_tree Application Process

Apply for admission to ADU first

Submit your ADU application online with attested transcripts. Sri Lankan certificates normally need attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo and then the UAE Embassy — start this early, it is the step that most often delays UAE admissions.

Be assessed for a scholarship band

Most ADU scholarships are assessed from your admission file rather than a separate contest. Ask the admissions officer explicitly which band your grades place you in and get it in writing in your offer letter.

Accept the offer and confirm the waiver terms

Your offer should state the waiver percentage, the CGPA you must maintain, and the maximum coverage period. Query anything vague before you pay a deposit.

Arrange your UAE student visa

ADU sponsors the student residence visa after enrolment. You will need a medical test, Emirates ID registration and health insurance. Factor these fees in — they are separate from tuition and are not covered by the waiver.

Why Abu Dhabi University?

ADU is one of the UAE's larger private universities, teaching in English across campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, with business, engineering, IT, health sciences and arts faculties. It holds international programmatic accreditations in several schools and draws a heavily international student body, so Sri Lankan students rarely feel isolated. The Gulf's proximity — a short flight, a familiar diaspora, and a large Sri Lankan community in the Emirates — makes it a lower-risk first step abroad than a move to Europe or North America.

3

Campuses (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai)

English

Language of instruction

4 yrs

Maximum scholarship coverage

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

calculate