Here is an at-a-glance summary of major scholarship programs supporting Syrian refugee students. This fact sheet is part of a package that includes the article “Scholarship Options for Syrians Expand” and an infographic comparing applications to scholarships available.
Name of Program: Bridging Learning Gaps for Youth
Name of Organization: UNESCO
Number of Scholarships: 1,018 scholarships for study in Jordan and Lebanon, including 30 – 40 percent for the local population
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s-degree programs, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
Sources of Support: Governments of Kuwait, South Korea, and the European Union.
Name of Program: DAFI (German acronym for “Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative”)
Name of Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Number of Scholarships: 1,800 scholarships (increasing to 2,200 by beginning 2017);
6,500 students applied for 700 new places in Turkey this fall
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s-degree programs
Source of Support: German government
Name of Program: Edu-Syria
Name of Organization: German Jordanian University, a public institution in Jordan whose students do their final year of undergraduate study in Germany
Number of Scholarships: 5,000 applicants for 300 scholarships. (Currently recruiting for 700 bachelor’s-degree scholarships for study beginning February 2017)
Type of Scholarship: 200 in bachelor’s-degree programs and 100 in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Associated program of 3,100 places for 12-week English (and French) language and academic skills training planned with British Council
Source of Support: European Union
Name of Program: Higher Education for Syrians
Name of Organization: SPARK, a Dutch nonprofit organization that promotes higher education and entrepreneurship in conflict-affected countries
Number of Scholarships: 18,000 applicants for 4,000 scholarships. (10,000 planned over next four years)
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s-degree programs and TVET. Includes scholarships for study at 6 higher education institutions in rebel-held areas of Syria
Sources of Support: Dutch Foreign Ministry; Education Above All Foundation, Qatar; and the European Union’s Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (Madad Fund)
Name of Program: HOPES
Name of Organization: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and partners
Number of Scholarships: 100 (500 planned for 2017)
Type of Scholarship: Mostly master’s-degree programs; bachelor’s-degree programs in Turkey. (Academic counseling for 42,000 young people, and English-language courses for 4,000 young people planned)
Source of Support: The Madad Fund—European Union’s Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis
Name of Program: Scholarships for Syrians
Name of Organization: The Lebanese Association for Scientific Research (LASeR)
Number of Scholarships: 600 scholarships. For this fall’s 240 new scholarships: 700 applicants.
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s degree programs
Source of Support: SPARK and several foundations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait
Scholarship Programs Mainly Working Outside the Middle East
Name of Program: Jusoor Scholarship Program
Name of Organization: JUSOOR (Arabic for “Bridges”), a U.S.-based association of Syrians living outside their country
Number of Scholarships: 158 full or partial scholarships for study in 15 countries, with the majority of places in the United States. Approximately 100 applications received for each place
Type of Scholarship: Various degree levels
Source of Support: Donations from individuals and foundations
Name of Program: IIE Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis
Name of Organization: Institute of International Education (IIE), a New York-based non-profit organization that manages scholarships, training, exchange and leadership programs
Number of Scholarships: 333 full or partial scholarships since 2011 at some 60 U.S. colleges and universities that are members of the consortium
Type of Scholarship: Various degree levels
Source of Support: The higher-education institutions that enroll the refugee students provide the scholarships
Name of Program: Leadership for Syria
Name of Organization: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Number of Scholarships: 221 scholarships; 5,000 applications. (Students all began their study programs in 2015; no new scholarships are being provided).
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s-degree, master’s-degree and Ph.D. levels at 60 German universities
Source of Support: German government
Name of Program: Welcome, and Integra
Name of Organization: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Number of Scholarships: German higher education is tuition-free. These two programs are providing various forms of support (German-language training, foundation courses, counseling, tutoring, etc) for approximately 5,000 Syrian refugee students, but that number is expected to increase many-fold in the coming months
Type of Scholarship: Bachelor’s-degree programs
Source of Support: German government
Name of Program: Student Refugee Program
Name of Organization: World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a nonprofit organization that supports international development projects worldwide, and development education activities in Canadian universities
Number of Scholarships: 90 places; more than 300 applicants
Type of Scholarship: Various levels; the program offers refugees a unique combination of a scholarship for university study and resettlement in Canada.
Source of Support: Higher-education institutions provide scholarship for students they accept; Canadian government provides transportation funding to bring refugees to Canada