Graduate Student Financial Support

Zayed University courses
Graduate Student Financial Support

Zayed University awards scholarships to first-time graduate applicants. Students who apply by regular decision and submit required credentials by the application deadlines posted on the Graduate Studies website, will be automatically considered for scholarships at the point of admission. However, students who wish to be considered for Zayed University's graduate scholarships are strongly encouraged to submit their applications for graduate program admission early.

*While the majority of new graduate students will receive a scholarship, there is a cap on the total amount of scholarship funding that can be awarded per year by Zayed University.

**Scholarship awards are competitive; there is no guarantee that submitting an application by the deadline and meeting eligibility will result in a scholarship award offer.

Graduate Merit Scholarships

Zayed University provides graduate merit scholarships to attract highly qualified students for study leading to a master’s degree. These scholarships are awarded to graduate students based on academic merit as determined from academic performance in senior baccalaureate courses. All entering graduate students are considered for this award.

Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

To be eligible to receive this award, students

  • must submit a complete admission application prior to the published application deadline; and,
  • must receive an offer of full admission to a Zayed University graduate degree program. 

Students

  • may not hold other major awards totaling ≥ AED 25,000 (excluding any other Zayed University scholarship);
  • must have a CGPA of 3.20 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) or its equivalent in the baccalaureate degree; and,
  • must maintain a Good Academic Standing (i.e. CGPA ≥ 3.0) once enrolled at Zayed University.

The total value of the awarded merit and alumni scholarships must be no greater than 10% of the estimated total tuition revenues.

The level of award is determined according to the applicant’s cumulative GPA (CGPA) in the baccalaureate degree as follows:

  • 3.20 ≤ CGPA 3.60: 10% of tuition costs
  • 3.60 ≤ CGPA < 3.80: 25% of tuition costs
  • 3.80 ≤ GPA: 40% of tuition costs

Conversions from other systems to Zayed University letter grades are guided by the World Education Services data.

Award payments are

  • made in the form of financial credits against the recipient’s tuition; and,
  • are applied proportionally to the student’s account at Zayed University each semester.

Award payments terminate if the recipient:

  • fails to maintain a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, or
  • receives financial support other than a Zayed University scholarship, or
  • withdraws from the program, or
  • takes unauthorized leave of absence, or
  • is dismissed for academic or other reasons.

The award is normally offered at the time of admission and is subject to final approval of the Vice-President.

Zayed University Alumni Graduate Scholarships

Zayed University alumni who receive full admission to a Zayed University graduate degree program are eligible for a scholarship valued at up to 10% tuition costs.

Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

To be eligible to receive this award, students

  • must submit a complete Zayed University graduate program admission application prior to the published application deadline;
  • must receive an offer of full admission to a Zayed University graduate degree program; and,
  • must hold a Zayed University baccalaureate or master's degree.

Zayed University alumni graduate scholarships:

  • cannot be deferred.

The total value of the awarded merit and alumni scholarships must be no greater than 10% of the estimated total tuition revenues.

All Zayed University alumni qualify for this award.

Award payments are valued at 10% of tuition costs.

 Award payments are

  • made in the form of financial credits against the recipient’s tuition; and, 
  • are applied proportionally to the student’s account at Zayed University each semester.

Award payments terminate if the recipient:

  • withdraws from the program, or
  • takes unauthorized leave, or
  • is dismissed for academic or other reasons.

The award is normally offered at the time of admission and is subject to final approval of the Vice-President.

 

Graduate Teaching, Research and Administrative Assistantships (Not Available for Spring and Fall 2024

Qualified graduate students may be eligible for limited and competitive Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) or Graduate Administrative Assistantship (GAA) support on a part-time basis while studying full-time.

The individual duties of the awardees may vary depending on the type of Assistantship they hold, the project they are assigned to work on or the unit their assignment is affiliated with.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) enhance the learning experience of Zayed University undergraduate students by complementing the activities of the course instructor.

GTA duties may include but are not limited to:

  • facilitating discussion sections or tutorials;
  • asssiting in laboratory sessions;
  • holding weekly office hours;
  • developing teachign materials;
  • limited grading of homework, exams or projects;
  • proctoring examinations;
  • distributing and copying reading materials;
  • preparing answer keys or supplementary notes; and,
  • GTA recipients may be requested to attend the instructor's lecture regularly. This time is uncompensated.

Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) work with Zayed University faculty to conduct research.

GRA duties may include but are not limited to:

  • conducting literature reviews or library research;
  • conducting interviews;
  • collecting or analyzing data; and,
  • preparing articles, reports or presentations.

Furthermore,

  • GRA recipients assist and report to the faculty supervisor, and
  • GRA recipients are not independent researchers and are not directly responsible for the outcome of their research.

Graduate Studies Deanship in collaboration with the Colleges, the Center for Educational Effectiveness and the University Library will provide a pre-experience workshop and orientation program for GTA and GRA recipients each semester.

Graduate Administrative Assistants (GAA) will be assigned to assist in administrative or academic units of the university by performing duties related to the administrative functions of their unit.

GAA duties may include but are not limited to:

  • assisting in events;
  • providing customer support;
  • performing searches and documenting findings;
  • organizing statistics/information; and,
  • contributing to the development of reports and presentations.
Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

Incoming and current students enrolled in graduate degree programs at Zayed University are eligible to apply for these awards. However, the selection is limited and competitive and not all applications may be successful.

Students receiving a GTA/GRA/GAA award:

  • must pay their tuition fees every semester according to the University's policies and procedures;
  • may not hold any form of employment on- or off-campus during the term of award;  
  • must register in 9 or more credit hours each semester during the term of award; and,
  • are expected to work a minimum of 20hr/week for a full Assistantship, or 10hr/week for a half Assistantship.
  • The duration of a GTA/GRA/GAA appointment is a maximum of two years.
  • Zayed University employees are not eligible for GTA/GRA/GAA support.
  • A student may hold only one Graduate Assistantship at a time.
  • Students who have conditional admission of any type are not eligible until they matriculate as regular students in their program.

GTA/GRA/GAA appointments may be terminated with one month’s notice if the recipient

  • fails to maintain Good Academic Standing (i.e. CGPA ≥ 3.0), or
  • fails to adequately perform assigned duties.

GTA/GRA/GAA applicants must submit the following documents to Graduate Studies Deanship by the published deadline:

Recipients will receive a financial compensation package that covers the average cost of tuition and basic cost of living expenses.

The financial compensation will be dispensed to the recipients in monthly stipends as follow:

GTA recipients will receive a monthly stipend from the College:

  • Full GTA, max. 20hr/week; compensation = AED 12,000/month
  • Half GTA, max. 10hr/week; compensation = AED 6,000/month

 GRA recipients will receive a monthly stipend from the Research Grant:

  • Full GRA, 20h/week; compensation = AED 12,000/month
    • Half GRA, max. 10hr/week; compensation = AED 6,000/month

 GAA recipients will receive a monthly stipend from the College/Office:

  • Full GAA, 20h/week; compensation = AED 6,000/month
    • Half GRA, max. 10hr/week; compensation = AED 3,000/month

*Health insurance may be available to qualified students according to university regulations.

GTA and GAA applications are reviewed by the respective units and each selected applicant is approved for an award by the head of the unit, the Dean of the College and the Dean of Graduate Studies. 

GRA applications are reviewed by the respective Principal Investigators (PI) of the funding grants, and each selected applicant is approved for an award by the respective PI, the Assistant Provost for Research and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Tuition Assistance for Zayed University Employees

Limited and competitive scholarship support is provided for qualifying full-time Zayed University employees to assist in completing a Zayed University master’s degree program that directly supports their career development. The amount of tuition assistance may be up to 50% of the total tuition cost of the applicant’s chosen master’s degree program.

Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

Zayed University employees who meet all the following criteria may apply for support under the benefit:

  • are classified as “staff” according to Zayed University policies;
  • are not in their probation or on leave period;
  • have a regular full-time employment contract;
  • have worked at Zayed University for a minimum of 2 years up to the published master’s degree program admission deadline;
  • have been rated as “meet expectations” or better on the last annual evaluation;
  • are recommended by their immediate supervisor; and,
  • have received an offer of full admission to a Zayed University master’s degree program.
  • Studies taken under the employee benefit shall normally support the applicant’s career development.
  • Tuition assistance may be combined only with a Zayed University Alumni Scholarship award.
  • Assistance is only applicable to the tuition costs of courses required for the selected master’s degree program.
  • Candidates may only submit one application each fiscal year.
  • A tuition assistance may not be deferred or transferred.
  • A tuition assistance award to study in one program may not be transferred to support studying in another program without the prior written approval of the Deanship of Graduate Studies.

Recipients must:

  • remain in Good Academic Standing and must meet all their remaining financial obligations or risk having their tuition assistance award cancelled;
  • pay the remaining balance of tuition and fees according to the university’s published schedule of payment of each semester/term;
  • adhere to all applicable university policies and procedures; and,
  • maintain a minimum annual employee performance standing of "meet expectations" or better for their awards to continue.

A tuition assistance award is considered cancelled immediately upon the employee’s leaving employment at the University. 

Eligible Zayed University employees intending to apply for support under this program must first obtain full admission to a Zayed University graduate degree program.

Applicants must submit the following documents to Deanship of Graduate Studies by the published application deadline:

  • completed and signed Zayed University Employee Graduate Scholarship Program Application form;
  • completed and signed Zayed University Employee Graduate Scholarship Program Supervisor Support form; and,
  • copy of Zayed University master’s program admission letter.

A reference /recommendation letter from the applicant’s immediate supervisor must be sent confidentially and directly to the Deanship of Graduate Studies.

A Committee, to be appointed by the Vice-President, will review all qualified applications and recommend applicants for awards and the award amount/percentage for each one.

Besides the applicant’s credentials, the selection process will consider factors such as the applicant’s position requirements, benefits to the university, staff recruitment and retention issues, and current and potential future roles of the applicant.

The amount of tuition assistance may be up to 50% of the total tuition cost of the applicant’s chosen master’s degree program as recommended by the Review Committee and Vice President.

The tuition assistance is to be paid from funds made available by the university administration.

The award is subject to final approval by the Vice-President.

Tuition Discount for Sponsored Graduate Students

Graduate students may qualify for discount on tuition fees if they are part of a group of students who are sponsored by an entity that has a valid written agreement with Zayed University

Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

To be eligible to receive this award, students must

  • meet all applicable conditions and requirements of the sponsorship agreement and the University.

Tuition discount may be combined with graduate merit or alumni graduate scholarships, where applicable.

Students must be admitted and enrolled as a group in a particular semester in one or more master’s degree programs at Zayed University.

The discount granted to sponsored students may be for a maximum of 20% of tuition fees and as specified in the relevant official agreement between the sponsor and Zayed University. 

The discount granted to sponsored students and award payment will be as specified in the relevant official agreement between the sponsor and Zayed University. 

The award is subject to final approval of the Vice-President.

ICT Fund

The ICT Fund, a subsidiary of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), seeks to strengthen the technological education of UAE citizens by introducing the “Betha program” to help develop a generation well versed in science and technology, and who can lead the UAE’s future in the ICT industry.

The ICT Fund offers scholarships for distinguished UAE citizens who want to pursue Zayed University’s Master of Science in Information Technology (Cyber Security) program.

For inquiries, please email info@tra.gov.ae or call 800 12

https://tdra.gov.ae/en/ictfund/funding-categories/education/scholarships

Award Eligibility
Award Limitations
Award Determination Protocol
Award Payment
Award Approval

To be eligible to receive this award, recipients

  • must be a UAE citizen and provide family book as proof;

  • achieved at least a CGPA of 3.00 and above for baccalaureate degrees with considering at least 9 credit hours;

  • must have English language proficiency;
  • must receive an offer of full admission to the Zayed University Master of Science in Information Technology (Cyber Security) program; students with conditional or provisional admission are not eligible;

  • have relevant work and research experience in ICT areas (information and communication technology, computer science, information security, etc.); and,

  • (For Males) a no objection letter from the National Service Authority or letter of completion.

For more information about "Betha program" policies, click here

Recipients must

  • abide by the university and program for which scholarship has been awarded;

  • not transfer to any other university or specialization unless with the written approval of the ICT Fund;

  • must comply with all rules, regulations and instructions issued by the ICT Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the scholarship;

  • willing to serve in any organization related to the ICT sector within the UAE for two years after graduation (The ICT Fund may assist in finding job opportunities but there is no guarantee); and,

  • have not been a recipient of a scholarship or financial assistance from any other entity.

If you are eligible for the ICT Fund scholarship ("Betha program"), please consult the following web link for more information:

https://tdra.gov.ae/en/ictfund/funding-categories/education/scholarships

Application Link: https://digital.tdra.gov.ae/en/Auth/Login

 


 

 

The scholarship will cover the tuition fee of AED 96,000 in full and recipients will be granted a monthly salary of AED 10,000.

In case of employment, the recipient will be entitled for the scholarship that will cover the tuition fee of AED 96,000 in full without the monthly salary of AED 10,000.

The award is normally offered at the time of admission and is subject to final approval of the ICT Fund Committee.