SAID FOUNDATION
SCHOLARSHIPS
Guidance for Applicants
These notes are intended to answer your questions about the Foundation
and its scholarship criteria.
The Said Foundation offers twenty postgraduate scholarships annually to
outstanding individuals who demonstrate the potential to become leaders and
innovators of change.
Scholarships are primarily offered for one year postgraduate courses but in
exceptional circumstances it may be possible to consider applicants for two
year courses
The Foundation also offers, exceptionally, one or two PhD/DPhil scholarships
a year at Oxford and Cambridge universities only. There are different
eligibility criteria for these awards. For full details of Oxford and Cambridge
scholarships see “Guidance Notes for Applicants to Oxford and Cambridge”
on the Said Foundation website.
Scholarship criteria for 2015/16
All applicants must meet the Foundation’s scholarship eligibility criteria. For
the academic year 2015/16 the criteria are as follows:
Applications are restricted to candidates who are Syrian, Lebanese,
Jordanian or Palestinian (including Palestinians inside Israel);
Applications for study at universities outside the United Kingdom
cannot be considered;
Scholarships are offered for postgraduate courses of up to one
year’s duration. In exceptional circumstances, applications for two
year postgraduate courses may be considered. Applications from
PhD candidates can only be considered for Oxford and Cambridge
universities (see Guidance Notes for Applicants to Oxford and
Cambridge for eligibility criteria);
Applications from candidates who will be thirty five years old or more
at the beginning of the 2015/16 academic year cannot be
considered;
Evidence that the applicant meets his/her proposed university’s
English language conditions is required by the Foundation;
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Only candidates with the equivalent of a UK 2.1 degree or higher will
be eligible;
;
Applicants must give details of the courses for which they have
applied in the UK;
Successful applicants are required to sign a binding undertaking to
apply the skills and knowledge they have gained in one of the
Foundation's target countries (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and
Palestine);
Candidates are not required to have work experience but priority will
be given to those who have some work experience and who can
demonstrate that their studies will benefit their field of work on return
to the Middle East. If the applicant lacks work experience the
Foundation can consider experience gained from voluntary or
community activities or participation in activities whilst at university;
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have the potential
to be leaders in their field.
Applying to the Foundation
Each application is carefully considered by trustees and staff of the Foundation
and external assessors. The Foundation bases its decisions on the candidate’s
academic excellence, the usefulness of the subject to the applicant’s country, the
applicant’s leadership potential, future career intentions and their practical ability to
make use of the knowledge to be gained in the UK on their return to the Middle
East.
The Application Procedure
You may apply if you are from one of the Foundation’s target countries: Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan or Palestine (this includes Palestinians in Israel). Applications
must be submitted online by 12 December 2014.
Applicants living outside the Foundation’s target countries
Priority is given to candidates permanently living in the target countries. The
Foundation will, however, consider Syrians residing elsewhere due to current
circumstances in Syria.
Partner Universities
The Foundation has joint scholarship schemes with the University of Birmingham,
the University of Cambridge, Durham University, the University of East Anglia, the
University of Essex, the University of Exeter, the University of Glasgow,
Goldsmiths College, The Institute of Education (University of London), King’s
College London, the University of Leeds, the University of Leicester, London
School of Economics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the
University of Loughborough, the University of Nottingham, the University of
Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Royal Holloway, the School of Oriental and
African Studies, the University of Southampton, the University of St Andrews,
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University College London and the University of Warwick. You MUST apply to
these universities if they have courses meeting your needs.
Oxford and Cambridge universities
Applicants for Oxford and Cambridge should complete separate application forms
available on the university websites and should apply by the following deadlines:
University of Cambridge
Deadline: 2 December 2014 (or the course deadline, whichever is earlier).
University of Oxford
Deadline: 23 January 2015 (for most courses but please check the university
prospectus)
Shortlist and interviews
The Foundation conducts interviews for candidates it has shortlisted. Interviews
will take place in February/March in Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine. Shortlisted
Syrian candidates may be asked to travel to Lebanon or Jordan for an interview. In
exceptional circumstances, candidates may be interviewed by Skype.
Due to the high level of competition for scholarships, the Foundation has to reject
excellent candidates each year. Being shortlisted and called for interview does not
guarantee that you will be awarded a scholarship. If you meet the Foundation’s
criteria, however, it is possible to reapply for a scholarship
Selection
The Foundation’s Board of Trustees makes the final selection by mid-April and you
will be informed by the Foundation of the outcome of your application thereafter.
The Trustees’ decision is final and there is no right of appeal.
If you are invited to an interview you must provide evidence that you meet your
proposed UK university’s English language requirements.
Please do not use your contacts to lobby for your scholarship application. This will
not help, and may harm, your application.
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