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

United Arab Emirates Fall 2027 intake: applications close 30 April 2027; Spring 2027 intake: closed November 2026

Khalifa University Undergraduate Merit Scholarship

The Khalifa University Undergraduate Merit Scholarship covers up to 100% of tuition (AED 110,000/year = LKR 9.6M/year), plus a monthly student allowance of AED 2,000 (LKR 174k/month), on-campus accommodation, and full medical insurance — for outstanding international undergraduate applicants. Awards are tiered by academic profile: typically 50% tuition for solid A/L results (3 Bs), 75% for 2 As + 1 B, and 100% + stipend for 3 As at A/L (or IB 38+/45). Khalifa University is the UAE's top STEM university; programmes include engineering across all disciplines, computer science, mathematics, physics, and chemistry — entirely taught in English. The campus is in Abu Dhabi, just over 1 hour from Dubai, with full residential facilities.

Khalifa University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

50% / 75% / 100% Tuition + Stipend

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Duration

4 Years (renewable)

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Extras (100% tier)

AED 2,000/mo + Accommodation

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Khalifa UG Admission

You must be applying to (or admitted to) one of Khalifa University's undergraduate programmes — all engineering disciplines, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biomedical engineering. All programmes are taught entirely in English.

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Strong A/L or Equivalent

Top award tier (100% + stipend) requires 3 As at A/L (or IB 38+/45, or SAT 1450+ / ACT 32+). Mid-tier awards (50-75%) for 2 As or strong second-upper profiles. Subject choices must align with the intended undergraduate field — e.g. Combined Maths + Physics + Chemistry for engineering.

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International Applicant

Open to UAE citizens, GCC nationals, and international students. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible. The scholarship is not capped by nationality quota — purely merit-based.

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Renewable with 3.0+ GPA

Scholarship is renewable each year subject to maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0+/4.0 (the 100% tier typically requires 3.5+ to maintain). Falling below the threshold reduces the award; the dropping pattern is published in Khalifa's award terms.

account_tree Application Process

Apply via Khalifa portal

Submit your Khalifa UG application via the online admissions portal by 30 April 2027 (Fall) or 30 November 2026 (Spring). Application fee AED 600. Required: A/L statement, school transcripts, IELTS/TOEFL, two recommendations, personal statement.

Take Khalifa entrance exam (if required)

Khalifa requires the SAT, ACT, or its own Khalifa Entrance Exam (KUEE) for admission. Sri Lankan A/L applicants typically take the SAT (1450+ target) or sit the KUEE in Abu Dhabi or remotely.

Automatic merit consideration

All admitted UG candidates are automatically reviewed for scholarship tier. There is no separate scholarship application. Awards are based on academic record, test scores, and personal statement quality.

Offer + UAE visa

Successful applicants receive an offer letter specifying scholarship tier. Khalifa handles UAE student visa processing — students travel to Abu Dhabi to start the programme in August (for Fall) or January (for Spring).

Why Khalifa UG?

Khalifa University is the UAE's top-ranked research university and the leading regional centre for STEM education. Its undergraduate programmes are taught entirely in English with a 1:11 faculty-to-student ratio, full residential campus life, and direct industry partnerships with ADNOC, EDGE, Etisalat, and Mubadala. For Sri Lankan A/L students seeking strong STEM education close to home (4-hour flight) with substantial scholarship support, Khalifa is one of the most cost-effective options globally.