Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027 in UK | Fully Funded Master’s Scholarship

 

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027 in the UK is now open for applications from eligible students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine who want to pursue a one-year master's degree at a UK university.

The scholarship is designed to support outstanding candidates with strong academic backgrounds, leadership potential, relevant work or voluntary experience, and clear career goals connected to the development of their home country or region.

For the 2027/28 academic year, applications are open until 30 October 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time. The Saïd Foundation states that it offers approximately 20–30 new scholarships each year.

About the Saïd Foundation Scholarship

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship Programme aims to promote education and development in the Middle East by providing postgraduate study opportunities in the UK.

The programme primarily supports one-year master's degrees at UK partner universities. There are no general restrictions on academic subjects, although applicants are expected to explain how their proposed course will contribute to the development of their home country or region.

Applicants can identify up to three postgraduate courses and universities in their application, listed according to preference.

Scholarship Benefits

Successful Saïd Foundation scholars receive a comprehensive funding package that can include:

• Full tuition fees
• Full maintenance/living-cost support for the duration of the course
• Arrival allowance
• UK visa costs
• Immigration healthcare surcharge
• One economy return flight to the UK
• Study at an eligible UK university
• Access to the Saïd Foundation's wider professional and alumni network

The Foundation notes that separate funding arrangements apply to students selected to study at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge, as well as Chevening partner scholars.

The Foundation also states that it cannot provide financial support for accompanying spouses or children and advises scholars to travel to the UK unaccompanied.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarship is not open to applicants of every nationality.

To be considered, applicants must:

• Hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality.
• Normally be permanently resident in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon or Palestine.
• Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second-Class (2:1) degree, or be in the final year of their undergraduate degree.
• Have relevant work and/or voluntary experience.
• Have a clear career path connected to returning to and contributing to their home country or region.
• Demonstrate leadership potential.
• Have applied for an eligible course at a Saïd Foundation partner university.
• Meet the Foundation's English-language requirements.
• Submit all required documentation.

There is no age limit for applicants, and the Foundation does not specify a minimum number of years or hours of work experience. However, the experience must be relevant to the proposed course.

Important Residence Exception

The Foundation is more flexible with Syrian applicants because of current circumstances in Syria. Syrians temporarily living outside the target countries for study or work may still be eligible if they are normally resident in a target country.

Palestinians living in Israel may also apply, while Palestinian candidates normally resident in Gaza who have been displaced to other countries since 2023 are also eligible under the Foundation's current guidance.

English Language Requirement

Applicants must provide evidence of meeting the Foundation's English-language requirement when submitting the scholarship application.

The Foundation currently accepts:

• IELTS Academic: minimum overall score of 6.0, with at least 6.0 in each band.
• Duolingo: minimum overall score of 105, with at least 105 in each component.
• TOEFL iBT: accepted subject to the Foundation's specified minimum scores and test-date rules.

For the 2027/28 scholarship, English-language certificates must be dated after 1 September 2025. Applicants must also satisfy the English-language requirements of their chosen UK university, which may be higher.

Eligible Master's Programmes

The Saïd Foundation primarily supports one-year master's degree programmes at UK partner universities.

There are no restrictions on academic subjects, but applicants must explain why their chosen course is important for the development of their home country or region.

The Foundation does not normally fund:

• Undergraduate degrees
• PhD programmes
• Two-year master's programmes
• Study at universities outside the UK

Distance-learning master's programmes may be considered only in exceptional circumstances, and programmes lasting more than two years are not considered.

Applicants should normally choose a course offered by a Saïd Foundation partner university. A non-partner university may only be considered where the desired course is not available at a partner institution and the applicant provides a strong justification.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the required documents before submitting their application.

The current Foundation guidance lists:

• High school marks/certificate
• University transcripts
• University graduation certificate, if already graduated
• Current passport or national ID
• Valid English-language test certificate
• Offer letter(s) or evidence of application to the selected UK master's course
• Three reference letters
• Updated CV of no more than two pages

All three references must be submitted with the scholarship application. References cannot be added after submission.

The three referees should represent different areas of the applicant's background: one academic, one professional and one voluntary.

Do I Need a University Offer Before Applying?

Not necessarily.

The Foundation allows applicants to submit their scholarship application before receiving a university offer. However, applicants should apply to their chosen master's courses when applications are open and provide evidence of their university applications.

If a selected university course is not yet accepting applications before the scholarship deadline, applicants can indicate this in the scholarship application and subsequently provide evidence that they have applied once the course opens. For the current 2027/28 cycle, such evidence must be uploaded by 29 January 2027.

Application Deadline

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027/28 application deadline is:

30 October 2026 at 5:00 PM UK time.

The Foundation's official application page confirms that the 2027/28 scholarship applications are currently open.

Applicants should not wait until the final day because they need to obtain three valid references, prepare their English-language certificate and gather the other supporting documents before submitting the application.

How to Apply

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Confirm that you hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality and meet the Foundation's residence, academic, experience and leadership requirements.

Step 2: Research UK Master's Courses

Identify suitable one-year master's programmes at Saïd Foundation partner universities.

Step 3: Apply to Your University Courses

Submit applications to your selected UK master's programmes where applications are open.

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents

Prepare your academic documents, passport or national ID, CV, English-language certificate and three references.

Step 5: Complete the Saïd Foundation Application

Create an account on the Foundation's application portal and complete the online scholarship application.

Step 6: List Your Study Choices

Provide details of up to three postgraduate courses and universities, in order of preference.

Step 7: Submit Before the Deadline

Review your information carefully and submit the completed application before 5:00 PM UK time on 30 October 2026.

Shortlisted candidates are expected to be interviewed in March 2027.

Important Note for Applicants

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship is sometimes advertised as a scholarship for "international students." However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that applicants from every country are eligible.

The current Foundation eligibility rules specifically identify Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine as its target nationalities and countries of residence, subject to the Foundation's stated exceptions.

Therefore, applicants from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda or South Africa are not eligible under the current Saïd Foundation Scholarship rules unless they fall within an explicitly recognised eligibility category.

Conclusion

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship 2027 in the UK provides a fully funded pathway for eligible students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine to pursue one-year master's studies in the UK.

With funding covering tuition, living costs, arrival support, visa-related costs, healthcare surcharge and return airfare, the programme can substantially reduce the financial barriers associated with postgraduate study in the UK.

However, applicants should carefully check the nationality and residence requirements before investing time in the application. Eligible candidates should also prepare their three references, English-language evidence and university applications well before the 30 October 2026 deadline.

Official Application: 

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