Aside from dealing with the language barrier and adapting to a new country, Iranian students also face financial challenges when it comes to paying tuition and other living expenses abroad. Well, you will be glad to know that there are several scholarship opportunities for Iranian students to study at various universities and colleges worldwide.
If you are an Iranian student looking for financial aid opportunities to fund your studies abroad, then read this article to the end. We will highlight the top scholarship opportunities available to help Iranian students take control of their future and move closer to achieving their educational dreams.
Which country offers the best scholarships for Iranian students?
If you are looking for a country with the best scholarship opportunities for Iranian students, you will be glad to know that there are several, including Germany, Australia, and the USA. For example, the United States has a wide range of scholarship and fellowship programs offered by the U.S. State Department and other organizations for Iranian students, like Fulbright and Marshall Scholarships.
Additionally, Germany offers plenty of scholarships through its DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), with more than 70 master’s and doctoral degree programs designed specifically for international students.
Best Scholarships for Iranian Students
1. Queen’s International Scholarships – Middle East and North Africa
Queen’s University Belfast offers various scholarship opportunities for international students from the Middle East, including the Islamic Republic of Iran.
For example, the Queen’s Excellence Award offers £2,000 to international students enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program with an excellent academic record. Applicants who maintain a minimum GPA of 75% receive the award for consecutive years until they complete their program.
Additionally, there are also the Queen’s Management School Scholarships awarded to international students from the Middle East and Northern African countries, including students from Iran. The scholarship offers £ 5000 for students enrolled in postgraduate programs at the Queen’s Management School.
2. DAAD Scholarship for Postgraduate Courses
- Scholarship Program Link
- Eligible Degree: Master’s, Ph.D.
- Scholarship Amount: full tuition
- Offered By: German universities
This is a full-tuition scholarship that provides financial assistance to outstanding international students pursuing master’s degrees or Ph.D. in Germany.
The funding covers full tuition and takes 12 to 42 months, though this varies with the program of study. Additionally, successful applicants receive health insurance, travel allowance, and €934 for master’s students or €1,200 for doctoral candidates. In certain cases, students may be given a monthly subsidy to cater to their rent and take care of an accompanying family member.
Iranian students with at least two years of professional experience are eligible to apply. Other requirements include having a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject and a minimum German language level of B1 for German programs or 80 points in TOEFL iBT for English courses.
3. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship – Non-EEA/non-EFTA students
The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship is a great option for Iranian students looking to pursue higher educational pursuits abroad. The scholarship is offered to students applying to a full-time master’s program at Leiden University, except the School of Law, and those applying for a Master of Science program.
This is a partial scholarship awarded during the program of study, and successful applicants can either receive €10,000 or €15,000 of the tuition fee. Some students may be awarded a total tuition fee scholarship minus the statutory tuition fee.
Eligible Iranian students must demonstrate outstanding previous academic excellence, by being among the top 10% of students in their previous program. Additionally, you must prove that you have sufficient funds for your study costs since this is not a full scholarship. You can apply for the scholarship online during your application to the University of Leiden by attaching your scholarship motivation letter. Note that, there is an application fee for applying to the scholarship.
4. Islamic Development Bank – International Ph.D. Scholarship Program
The Islamic Development Bank’s International Ph.D. Scholarship Program is designed for international students who come from IDB member countries, Iran included. It is a merit-based scholarship aimed at contributing to the development of human resources and institutions in the IDB member countries in fields relevant to sustainable development.
This is a fully funded opportunity for Ph.D. students pursuing research areas like Infrastructure Development, Health, Water Resource Management, Agriculture, and Alternative Energies.
To qualify for the scholarship, you must be a permanent employee of a research center or academic institution in your country and have a maximum of 35 years. Additionally, you must have a relevant academic background in your area of research and have a proposed research area approved by the University of Birmingham.
5. Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarship
- Scholarship Program Link
- Eligible Degree: Master’s, Doctoral Thesis
- Scholarship Amount: $40,000 per year for 2 years
- Offered By: Dalhousie University – Canada
The Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarship is offered to Iranian students studying at Dalhousie University or those applying to enroll in a master’s or doctoral program. It was established by Abdul Bader who was born in Iran but later gained permanent residence in Canada.
The scholarship award is $40,000 per 12-month academic year for a full-time graduate or post-graduate degree program. However, the scholarship can be renewed depending on your progress review at the end of the year.
The scholarship is awarded to one successful applicant every year who meets the eligibility criteria. This includes having an outstanding academic record in the past two academic years of above 3.7/4.3. While this scholarship is also open to other international students, Iranian students are given the first priority.
While there are several scholarship opportunities for Iranian students abroad, I hope the above scholarships will help you kickstart your search for one that suits your program of study and country of interest. Whether you are looking for basic financial assistance or something more involved, these scholarship opportunities will help you achieve your educational dream abroad. It’s never been a better time for Iranian students to take advantage of scholarships for study abroad and gain the valuable experience that comes with it.
Know more about scholarship awards and grants by checking out our Scholarships Page about different information on scholarships and universities across the globe!
