UK Saïd Foundation Scholarships 2027-2028: Fully Funded Master's Scholarships

The Saïd Foundation Scholarships 2027–28 provide fully funded opportunities for outstanding students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine to pursue one-year Master's degrees at eligible universities in the United Kingdom.

The scholarship programme is designed for academically strong candidates with leadership potential, relevant work or voluntary experience and a clear commitment to contributing to the development of their home country or the wider region after completing their studies.

For the 2027/28 cycle, applications opened on 1 September 2026 and will close at 5:00 p.m. UK time on 30 October 2026. The Foundation expects to offer approximately 20–30 new scholarships.

The Saïd Foundation provides fully funded scholarships covering major costs associated with studying in the UK.

Benefits include:

• Full tuition fees
• Full maintenance and living costs for the duration of the Master's course
• Arrival allowance
• UK visa costs
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• One economy-class return flight
• Support for the duration of the eligible Master's programme

A separate funding arrangement applies to scholars selected for study at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge and to Saïd/Chevening joint scholars.

The Foundation does not provide financial support for accompanying spouses or children.

The Saïd Foundation Scholarships are available for:

• One-year Master's degrees
• Full-time postgraduate Master's programmes
• Eligible one-year Master's courses at UK universities

The Foundation does not provide scholarships for:

• Undergraduate degrees
• PhD programmes
• Two-year Master's programmes

Exceptional distance-learning Master's programmes may be considered in limited circumstances, provided they do not take more than two years.

There are no restrictions on academic subjects under the Saïd Foundation Scholarship programme.

Applicants can therefore apply for Master's courses across a wide range of disciplines, provided they can explain how their chosen field will contribute to the development of their home country or region.

Possible fields include:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Architecture
• Arts
• Artificial Intelligence
• Business Administration
• Business and Management
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Finance
• Health Sciences
• International Development
• International Relations
• Law
• Management
• Marketing
• Medicine and Health-related fields
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Technology
• Urban Planning
• Transport and City Planning
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Refugee and Migration Studies
• Clinical and Medical Sciences
• Humanities
• Languages and Linguistics
• Media and Communications
• Political Science
• Science
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences

The Saïd Foundation Scholarship is specifically available to applicants holding one of the following nationalities:

• Syria
• Jordan
• Lebanon
• Palestine

Applicants should normally be permanently resident in one of these target countries.

The Foundation has additional flexibility for Syrian applicants because of the current circumstances in Syria. Palestinians normally resident in Gaza who have been displaced to other countries since 2023 may also be eligible. Dual nationals can apply if they hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality.

Applicants for the Saïd Foundation Scholarships 2027–28 must generally:

• Hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality.
• Normally reside permanently in one of the Foundation's target countries.
• Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to at least a UK Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) degree.
• Be in the final year of an undergraduate degree if the degree has not yet been completed.
• Have relevant work and/or voluntary experience.
• Have a clear career path after completing the Master's degree.
• Demonstrate leadership potential.
• Have applied for an eligible Master's course at a Foundation partner university.
• Meet the Saïd Foundation's English-language requirements.
• Meet the admission requirements of the selected UK university.
• Submit all required documentation.

There is no age limit and no minimum number of years or hours of work or voluntary experience. However, applicants must have some experience relevant to their chosen field.

English Language Requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of meeting the Foundation's English-language requirement.

Accepted options include:

• IELTS Academic: minimum 6.0 overall and 6.0 in each band
• Duolingo English Test: minimum 105 overall and 105 in each band
• TOEFL iBT: minimum 80 overall and 20 in each band for tests taken before 21 January 2026
• TOEFL iBT tests taken from 21 January 2026: minimum 4.5 overall and 4.0 in each band under the Foundation's current stated scale

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 than the Foundation's minimum.

Applicants must submit the required documentation with their online scholarship application.

Documents include:

• High school marks or certificate
• University transcripts
• University graduation certificate
• Current transcripts if still completing the undergraduate degree
• Current passport or national ID card
• English-language test certificate
• University Master's offer letter, if already available
• Evidence that the applicant has applied to the selected Master's course
• Three reference letters
• Updated CV of no more than two pages
• Personal and academic information required by the online application form

The three references must normally include:

• One academic reference
• One reference from a current or recent employer
• One reference from voluntary activities

If an applicant cannot obtain one of these types, the Foundation may accept another academic or voluntary reference. References must be uploaded before submitting the application; late references are not accepted.

UK Universities and Courses

Applicants should apply to one or more of the Saïd Foundation's partner universities.

Current partner universities include:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• University for the Creative Arts
• Durham University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Essex
• University of Exeter
• University of Glasgow
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Imperial College London
• King's College London
• University College London
• University of Leeds
• University of Leicester
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• Loughborough University
• University of Nottingham
• University of Oxford
• Royal College of Art
• Royal Holloway, University of London
• SOAS University of London
• University of Southampton
• University of Sussex
• University of Warwick
• University of York

A non-partner university may be considered only when the applicant's chosen course is not available at a Saïd Foundation partner university. Applicants must provide a strong justification in the scholarship application.

Applicants should follow these steps:

• Check the Saïd Foundation eligibility requirements.
• Choose an eligible one-year Master's programme in the UK.
• Prioritise a course at one of the Foundation's partner universities.
• Apply directly to the selected UK university or universities.
• Prepare the required academic, personal and professional documents.
• Arrange three valid reference letters.
• Obtain an acceptable English-language test certificate.
• Complete the Saïd Foundation online scholarship application.
• Provide details of up to three proposed postgraduate courses in order of preference.
• Upload all required documents and references.
• Submit the scholarship application before 5:00 p.m. UK time on 30 October 2026.
• If a selected university course is not yet open for applications, submit the university application as soon as it opens.
• Upload evidence of having applied to the first-choice course by 29 January 2027 where applicable.
• Attend an interview in March 2027 if shortlisted.

Applicants do not need to have received a university offer before submitting the Foundation scholarship application. However, they should have applied to the university course if applications are open.

Important Dates

For the 2027/28 scholarship cycle:

• Applications open: 1 September 2026 at 9:00 a.m. UK time
• Application deadline: 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UK time
• Eligibility and assessment: Early November 2026 to end of January 2027
• Deadline for evidence of university applications: 29 January 2027
• Interviews: March 2027
• Final selections: May 2027
• Successful candidates notified: By the beginning of June 2027

Applicants should make sure that all required references and documents are uploaded before submitting the scholarship application.

The Saïd Foundation assesses applications competitively.

Selection considers:

• Academic excellence
• Relevance and usefulness of the chosen subject to the applicant's home country
• Leadership potential
• Commitment to serving the community
• Future career goals
• Practical ability to use the knowledge gained in the UK after returning to the Middle East
• Overall quality and feasibility of the proposed study plan

Eligible applications are assessed by Saïd Foundation staff and external experts. Shortlisted candidates are invited to interviews in March 2027.

The Foundation's Board of Trustees makes the final selection.