Frequently Asked Questions
Applying for Financial Aid services:
I probably don’t qualify for financial aid. Should I apply for aid anyway?
Yes. Many students mistakenly think they don’t qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. Applying for financial aid is free and there is no good excuse for not applying.
Do I need to be admitted to ZU before I can apply for financial aid?
Yes, you need to be an active student in ZU to apply for Financial aid services.
Can I apply for financial aid if I haven't applied for admission to Zayed University?
No, you need to be an active student to apply for any financial aid services.
Do I have to attend the university to qualify for financial aid?
Yes, you are required to be an active student to apply and receive any aid.
How do I apply for financial aid services?
1. Check the deadline to apply for th services.
2. Read the Conditions For Obtaining Aid Services.
3. Check you eligibility for aid services.
4. Prepare the required documents needed to create an appliction.
5. Submit a request/appliction for the needed aid on Smart Financial Aid Appliction or ZU e-Service.
Why can’t I submit my financial aid application before the announced deadline?
You cannot submit an application before the deadline because the documents that you submit will expire after 3 months and your documents need to be valid for at least the first Two months during the academic year.
Do I have to apply every year?
Yes. You need to submit a new Monthly Stipend aid application each academic year because:
1. Many documents that you have submitted expired.
2. Your financial circumstances change which changes your eligibility for financial aid significantly, especially if you have a different number of family members or your family income changed.
How is eligibility determined?
Financial aid eligibility is determined by several factors:
1- Checking if the documents that you submitted are valid. If the document that you submitted is not valid it will be rejected and you will be given one week to upload a valid document.
2- Calculation your family information to determine your family average income per family member is. We take into consideration values as income, number of family members, monthly installments, etc.
3- Your GPA
How much does it cost to submit for financial aid services?
The financial aid services are free.
Dose ZU have all of the paperwork required to process my financial aid appliction?
Log into http://fa.zu.ac.ae and check the following:
1- Make sure you have submitted an appliction for the current academic year.
2- Make sure that you have upload any rejected documents. The appliction with the status “Missing documents” is the appliction that you need to upload the documents too.
My parents are separated, which parent do I file for financial aid with?
If you are under 21, you need to submit documents for the parent that has custody of you.
If you are 21 and above, you need to submit documents for the parent that has custody of you or whom you live with for more than 6 months.
What are the common mistakes people make in applying for financial aid?
- Failing to submit an appliction within the announced deadline.
- Failing to submit the requested documents within the one week deadline.
- Not completing a draft appliction within 7 days.
- Not adding all family members in the appliction.
Will I receive financial aid during summer?
For Educational Devices Aid, you can receive the aid but your Current Status needs to be Active.
For Monthly Stipends Aid, you will be informed about when the aid will finish.
Is it mandatory to check and read emails sent by the Student Support Unit?
Yes, as the e-mail is the official medium for communication, students have to follow the Unit’s instructions sent via e-mail.
Should the required documents for Financial Support be updated annually?
Yes, data needs to be updated annually. if students do not update their documents, then their names will be removed from the Financial Support program.
What happens if data’s update is delayed?
If Student does not update his /her personal data , with no justified valid reason with evidence, then Financial Support will be suspended. Financial Support will remain suspended unless the student submits his /her justified reasons.
I don’t have a bank account yet, can I still apply for financial aid?
Yes, you can apply without the bank account information. The bank account is not required until your Monthly Stipends Aid request is approved.
About Monthly Stipends Aid:
What happens if students do not attend to receive their Monthly Stipends at the fixed dates and times announced by the Student Support Unit?
If students do not attend to receive their Monthly Stipends for two consecutive months on the set date, their names will be deleted from the Financial Support program, unless they submit based-proof justified reasons for their non-attendance.
Is it possible to deposit the Monthly Stipend of Student into the Guardian’s bank account?
No, bank account should be under the Student’s name. In case the student is below 17 years old, then he/she should contact the Student Support Unit for assistance.
Are students allowed to have support from two organizations at the same time?
No, students should receive support from one entity only. In case students receive support from a different organization, they should then return the Financial Support they have received from Zayed University.
What should I do if Monthly Stipend is suspended?
In case of suspension, you must check with the Student Support Unit as to clarify reasons for suspension.
How many courses do I need to be registered for to get financial aid?
You need to be actively registered in at least one class to be able to receive the aid.
What are the consequences if I withdraw from my courses?
You will lose your financial aid.
About Educational Devices Aid:
What brand and specifications of educational device will I receive?
You will be given the educational device according to the below approved table from the colleges:
Colleges | Degree | Laptop brand |
---|---|---|
College of Arts and Creative Enterprises (CACE) |
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation Design Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art Bachelor of Sciences in Multimedia Design |
Windows Mac Windows Mac Mac |
College of Business (COB) |
All degrees |
Windows |
College of Communication and Media Sciences (CCMS) |
Concentrations in Media Production and Storytelling Concentrations in Integrated Strategic Communications Concentrations in Tourism and Cultural Communications |
Mac Windows Windows |
College of Education (COE) |
All degrees |
Windows |
College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) |
All degrees |
Windows |
College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) |
All degrees |
Windows |
College of Technological Innovation (CTI) |
All degrees |
Windows |
College of Interdisciplinary Studies |
All degrees |
Windows |
If I change my major, will the Student Support Unit change my educational device?
No, educational devices are only given once during your study at the University.
Can I receive a new educational device if I ever lose or damage mine?
No, educational devices is only given ONCE during your study at the University, Student Support Unit will not pay for any repair or replacement.
In case my educational device is not working for any reason, will I receive a temporary device till mine is fixed?
Yes, if the device will take more than one day to be fixed at the IT Happiness Center, then a temporary device will be provided for the student until his/her educational device is fixed.
Do I keep my device after graduation?
Yes, the educational device becomes the property of the student and needs not be returned
About Samrt Fiancial Aid appliction:
I get the below message what should I do?
Upload the required mentioned documents in the list.
The Emirates ID that I upload is getting rejected, Why?
It can be rejected due to the following reasons:
1-It is not clear.
2-It has expired.
3-You did not scan both sides of the ID in one file. Example below:
The Certificate from Ministry of Community Development that I upload is getting rejected, Why?
Make sure that it is issued in the last 3 months and it is from the Ministry and that it is clear. Example below:
The passport that I upload is getting rejected, Why?
It can be rejected due to the following reasons:
1-It is not clear.
2-It has expired.
3-You did not scan the information page and the Unified Number page or the Visa in one file. Example below:
The Current bank statement that I upload is getting rejected, Why?
It can be rejected due to the following reasons:
1-It is not clear.
2-You did not include all pages.
3-Make sure that your bank statement includes the (6) last previous months.
4- If the Guardian does not work, please upload the not working certificate for the court in its place.
I get “Record exists for selected Aid item(s)!” , like the below image, what should I do?
This means that you already started working on an application and it is saved as draft, see below. Work on the save as draft application and don’t create new one.
I get an email asking me to complete my application, Why?
This email is sent to remind you to complete your application as it is still not submitted. Visit the provided link and compete your application.
I have submitted an application but I still get an email asking me to complete my application, Why?
You have created more than one application in the system. After you have made sure that you have submitted an application, ignore the emails regarding the application that are not submitted; thet will expire after few days.
I received an email informing me that a document is rejected, Why?
The uploaded document does not match the system requirement, therefore it was rejected. Upload the document correctly.
I received an email informing me of the application status change, Why?
The system informs you with the application status change to enable you to follow up with your application. Read the comments in the email and do the needful if needed.
How can I know that my application is submitted?
The system will send you an email informing you that the application is submitted and the application status is “Submitted”.
When checking the system, I do not know what does the application status mean and what should I do?
Below are the status and their explanations:
Status Name |
Description |
What should I do |
Draft |
The application is saved as draft for future edit. This application is not sent to the Office. |
Complete the application. |
Submitted |
Your application is submitted and was forwarded to the designated officer. |
If the officer does not take the necessary action according to the Service Time, please create an Enquiry with full information. |
Review |
Application is under review and student will be informed by updating the application status. |
|
With Board for Voting |
Your application is sent to the board to be voted on. |
If the status was not changed for more than one week, please create an Enquiry with full information. |
Approved |
The application is approved and an email will be sent to student’s ZU email account requesting Student IBAN or informing him/ her of the time and location to receive the laptop. |
Read the email sent by the office to receive the aid. |
Rejected |
The application is rejected because it does not meet the Office conditions. |
If you need more information please check the History and eligibility of the application. If you think that the eligibility has wrong information please Make an Enquiry with full information. |
Missing Documents |
The uploaded documents are rejected because they don›t meet the Office conditions. |
Visit the application and upload the rejected documents. |
Awarded |
The Aid is awarded to the student. |
Check the Receive Aid section in the main menu. |
Expired |
This application was not submitted within 7 days of its creation. |
Create new application. |
Ready |
Your application has been reviewed. |
If the officer does not take the necessary action according to the Service Time, please create an Enquiry with full information. |
Student Category Changed |
The student category has been changed. |
Visit the application and upload the new required documents. |
Completed |
The end of the financial support disbursement period. |
Not applicable. |