The Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/2028 is now open for students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine who want to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the UK. The scholarship provides full financial support, including tuition fees, living costs, visa and healthcare surcharge fees, an arrival allowance, and one economy return flight.
Applications for the 2027/28 scholarship cycle opened on September 1, 2026, and the deadline is October 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM UK time.
About the Saïd Foundation Scholarship
The Saïd Foundation has provided educational scholarships since 1984. Its scholarship programme focuses on supporting talented individuals from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home countries and the wider region.
For the 2027/28 cycle, the Foundation is offering scholarships for one-year master’s degree programmes at UK universities. There are no specific restrictions on academic subjects, but applicants must explain how their chosen field of study can contribute to the development of their home country.
The Foundation normally expects applicants to apply to one or more of its UK partner universities. Applications to non-partner universities may only be considered where the proposed course is not available at a partner institution, and applicants must explain the reason for their choice.
Applications open: September 1, 2026
Application deadline: October 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM UK time
Course application evidence deadline: January 29, 2027
Interviews: March 2027
Final selection: May 2027
Successful candidates informed: Beginning of June 2027
What the Scholarship Covers
The Saïd Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded award. According to the Foundation, successful scholars receive:
- Full tuition fees
- Full maintenance and living costs for the duration of the course
- An arrival allowance
- Visa fees
- Healthcare surcharge fees
- One economy return flight to the UK
The Foundation also has separate funding arrangements for scholars studying at the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge, as well as candidates selected through the joint Saïd Foundation/Chevening arrangement.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. To be considered, you must:
- Be a Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian national and normally reside in one of these countries.
- Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second Class (2:1), or be in the final year of your undergraduate degree.
- Have relevant work and voluntary experience.
- Have a clear career path for after completing your studies and returning to your home country or region.
- Demonstrate leadership potential.
- Have applied for an eligible master’s course at a Foundation partner university, unless there is a valid reason for choosing a non-partner university.
- Meet the Foundation’s English-language requirements.
- Submit all required documents with the application.
There is no age limit for applicants, and the Foundation does not require a specific number of years of work or voluntary experience. However, applicants must have some relevant experience.
English Language Requirement
Applicants must provide evidence of meeting the Foundation’s English-language requirement when submitting their application.
The accepted minimum scores include:
IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, with at least 6.0 in each band
Duolingo: 105 overall and at least 105 in each band
TOEFL iBT: minimum requirements specified by the Foundation depending on when the test was taken. For the 2027/28 scholarship, English-language certificates must be dated after September 1, 2025. Applicants must upload the certificate with their scholarship application, and it cannot be added later.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare their documents before starting the application. The Foundation requires:
- High school certificate or marks
- University transcripts
- University graduation certificate, if applicable
- Current passport or national ID
- English-language test certificate
- University offer letter or evidence that the applicant has applied for the chosen master’s course
- Three reference letters
- An up-to-date CV of no more than two pages without a photograph.
The three references must come from different referees. Ideally, one should be academic, one from a current or recent employer, and one from voluntary activities. Where a professional reference is not available, the Foundation may accept another academic or voluntary reference.
What Can You Study?
The Foundation does not restrict applicants to particular academic subjects. Instead, applicants need to explain why their selected course is relevant and how the knowledge gained could contribute to their home country.
The scholarship is specifically for one-year master’s programmes in the UK. It does not fund undergraduate or PhD programmes, and two-year master’s programmes are not normally accepted.
How to Apply for Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/2028
Applying for the Saïd Foundation Scholarship involves several important steps:
Step 1: Check your eligibility
Make sure you meet the nationality, academic, experience, leadership, course, and English-language requirements before starting the application.
Step 2: Choose a suitable master’s course
Look through the Foundation’s UK partner universities and identify an eligible one-year master’s programme that matches your academic background and career plans.
Step 3: Apply to your chosen university
You do not necessarily need to have received a university offer before submitting your Saïd Foundation application. However, if the course is already accepting applications, you should submit your university application and provide evidence of it.
Step 4: Prepare your documents and references
Gather your academic records, identification, English-language certificate, CV, and three reference letters. All three references must be uploaded before submitting the scholarship application.
Step 5: Complete the Saïd Foundation application
Submit the online scholarship application before the deadline and make sure all required information and documents have been included.
Step 6: Provide university application evidence if necessary
If your chosen university’s course is not yet open for applications, you can still submit the scholarship application. In that situation, evidence that you have applied to the course must be uploaded to the scholarship portal by January 29, 2027, once applications open.
Step 7: Attend an interview if shortlisted
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in March 2027. Final selections are expected to be made by May 2027, with successful candidates informed by the beginning of June 2027.
Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/2028 – Official Page
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Saïd Foundation Scholarship fully funded?
Yes, the Foundation states that its scholarships cover tuition fees, living and maintenance costs, an arrival allowance, visa and healthcare surcharge fees, and one economy return flight.
Can I apply if I have not received a university offer yet?
Yes, you do not necessarily need to have received an offer before submitting the scholarship application. However, you should apply to your chosen course if applications are open and provide evidence of your university application.
Can I apply for a PhD through the Saïd Foundation?
No, the Foundation currently offers scholarships for one-year master’s degree programmes and does not offer scholarships for PhD studies.
Is there an age limit?
No, the Foundation states that there is no age limit for applicants.
Can applicants from Nigeria apply?
No, the Saïd Foundation Scholarship is currently limited to applicants who hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese, or Palestinian nationality and normally reside in one of those countries.
ALSO CHECK:
One Young World Leading Scholarship 2027
University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027
University of Edinburgh Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/28
WaterAid Africa Engineering Scholarship 2026