Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships 2026-27: A Complete Guide

Securing funding is an important step towards studying at a world-class institution, Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a diverse range of scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year to support outstanding students across its programs. These financial aids are designed to reward academic excellence, support specific demographics, and encourage early application, covering a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research), and foundation programmes in fields like Engineering, Business, Computing, Design, and Psychology. The coverage and benefits typically involve partial tuition fee waivers, which can range from a percentage discount to significant awards that may cover up to 100% of the tuition fees for certain merit-based or dedicated scholarships, though they generally do not include living expenses, accommodation, or other incidental costs.

In this complete guide, we provide a detailed breakdown of the major Heriot-Watt University Dubai scholarships for 2026-27, their specific eligibility criteria, application processes, and the full range of benefits you can expect to receive.

Types of Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships

Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a variety of scholarships and discounts for both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, which can generally be categorised based on the awarding criteria:

Here is a table highlighting the main categories and specific types of scholarships and discounts offered by Heriot-Watt University Dubai for the 2026-27 intake.

Scholarship Category	Specific Scholarship or Award Type	Eligibility Criteria
Merit-Based Awards	Undergraduate Merit Scholarship	High academic achievement in high school (e.g., CBSE/IB/A-Levels results).
	Undergraduate Engineering Merit Scholarship	Exceptional high school results, specifically for Engineering programs (can reach up to 100% waiver).
	Postgraduate Merit Scholarship	Strong academic performance in the previous undergraduate degree.
Early Application/Timed Awards	Future Made for Success Scholarship	Early application and payment of the tuition fee deposit by a set deadline.
	Diwali Community Award	Fixed-value award for timely application/deposit for specific intakes (e.g., January).
Subject/Programme Specific	Petroleum Engineering Scholarship	For new students enrolling in the postgraduate Petroleum Engineering programme.
	Tomorrow’s Leaders MBA Scholarship	For high-potential MBA applicants with significant professional work experience.
	Shaping ‘Women Entrepreneurs’ Scholarship	Targeted award for female applicants to the MBA programme.
General Discounts/Bursaries	Alumni Discount Scheme	For Heriot-Watt University graduates progressing to a postgraduate programme.
	Family Scholarship	For immediate family members concurrently enrolled at the Dubai campus.
	Sports and Community Engagement Scholarship	Recognition of achievement in sports or community activities.
	Full Advance Fee Payment Discount	Discount for paying the annual tuition fees in full by an early deadline.

List of Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships for International Students

Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a robust selection of scholarships and discounts for international students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These awards are primarily based on academic merit or early application.

Here is a list of important scholarships for international students, including their coverage and eligibility:

Scholarship/Award Name	Level of Study	Coverage	Eligibility Criteria
Undergraduate Merit Scholarship	Undergraduate	Up to 50% of the first-year tuition fee.	Excellent academic results in high school (e.g., specific high percentages in Grade 12 exams). Requires a minimum ‘C’ grade to retain annually.
Undergraduate Engineering Merit Scholarship	Undergraduate (Engineering only)	Up to 100% of the first-year tuition fee.	Exceptional academic results, specifically for Engineering programmes. Requires a minimum ‘C’ grade to retain annually.
Global College Programme Merit Scholarship	Foundation (Degree Entry)	Varies (Partial tuition fee waiver).	Strong high school results for entry into the Degree Entry Programme.
Postgraduate Merit Scholarship	Postgraduate (MSc)	Up to 15% of the net tuition fee.	Strong academic performance in the previous undergraduate degree (e.g., First Class Honours or equivalent high CGPA).
Tomorrow’s Leaders MBA Scholarship	MBA	Up to 50% of the MBA tuition fees.	Minimum 5 years of full-time professional work experience. Requires a separate essay application and interview/panel assessment.
Petroleum Engineering Scholarship	Postgraduate (MSc Petroleum Engineering)	25% tuition fee waiver.	For new students enrolling specifically in the Postgraduate Petroleum Engineering programme.
Future Made for Success Scholarship	All Levels (Foundation, UG, PG)	Fixed AED 6,000 award.	Early application and payment of the tuition fee deposit by the specified deadline.
Diwali Community Award	All Levels (Foundation, UG, PG)	Fixed AED 5,000 award.	Application and tuition fee deposit payment by the specific deadline for the January intake (often stackable with Future Made for Success).
Alumni Discount Scheme	Postgraduate	20% tuition fee discount.	Heriot-Watt University graduates (from any campus) progressing to a postgraduate programme.
Family Scholarship	All Levels (Concurrent Enrollment)	AED 3,000 award.	Two or more immediate family members concurrently enrolled at the Dubai campus.

Also Read: How to Study in Dubai for Free?

Details of Top Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships

Studying at Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarships can be very beneficial, but tuition fees can be a problem. Luckily, the university offers several scholarships to Indian and International students. Here are the top 5 Heriot-Watt University Dubai scholarships.

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Undergraduate Merit Scholarship

This is a merit-based tuition fee reduction awarded to students entering an undergraduate program, excluding Engineering, who demonstrate high academic achievement in their pre-university qualifications, such as achieving 90% or above in CBSE Grade 12 for the highest tier of the award (up to 50%). The scholarship amount is calculated on the net tuition fee of the first year, after deducting any other discounts, and is typically distributed equally across all annual instalment payments. To retain the scholarship in subsequent years of study, recipients must maintain a minimum overall grade of C in all courses each academic year at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, with the decision on the award and year of entry made at the discretion of the academic head based on a comprehensive evaluation of academic scores and English language proficiency.

Benefits	Up to 50% tuition fee waiver on net fee (based on grades). Renewable annually if ≥ C grade maintained.
Degree Level	Undergraduate (UG)
Eligibility	High academic performance in pre-university (e.g., ≥ 90% in CBSE for top tier). Must be a new student.
Application Process	Automatic consideration upon submission of the program application and academic transcripts.
Deadlines	Varies by intake

Heriot-Watt Dubai Undergraduate Engineering Merit Scholarship

Exclusively designed for students enrolling in Undergraduate Engineering programs, this merit scholarship offers a greater potential reduction, with students achieving Above 90% in high school qualifications (e.g., CBSE Grade 12) potentially qualifying for a 100% tuition fee waiver. Lower academic bands, such as 75-79.9%, typically qualify for smaller but significant discounts, such as 25%. Similar to the general Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, the award is calculated on the net tuition fee of the first year and disbursed equally across annual payments, and requires the recipient to maintain a minimum overall grade of C in all courses each academic year to ensure continuation of the scholarship for the duration of the program.

Benefits	Up to 100% tuition fee waiver on net fee (based on grades). Renewable annually if ≥ C grade maintained.
Degree Level	Undergraduate (UG) Engineering only
Eligibility	High academic performance in pre-university (e.g., ≥ 90% in CBSE for 100% award). Must apply for an Engineering program.
Application Process	Automatic consideration upon submission of the program application and academic transcripts.
Deadlines	Varies by intake

Heriot-Watt University Dubai Postgraduate Merit Scholarship

This scholarship is targeted at applicants for Master’s programs and is based on the applicant’s strong undergraduate academic results, typically offering a tuition fee reduction of up to 15% on the full program tuition, though higher awards up to 50% may be possible depending on the program and exceptional merit. For instance, entry into a general Master’s program may require an undergraduate degree equivalent to a CGPA of 6.5/10 or 3.0/4.0, while more competitive or specialist programs like Robotics and Global Sustainability Engineering may require a higher standard, such as a Second Class Upper (2:1) equivalent with a CGPA of 6.5/10 or 3.5/4.0. The final decision on the scholarship amount is at the discretion of the academic head or regional recruitment director, evaluating undergraduate degree grades, work experience (if applicable), and English language requirements.

Benefits	Up to 15% tuition fee waiver (sometimes higher, up to 50%). Value based on prior academic merit.
Degree Level	Postgraduate Taught (PG)
Eligibility	Strong undergraduate academic results (e.g., CGPA ≥ 6.5/10 or ≥ 3.0/4.0). Must meet program entry requirements.
Application Process	Automatic consideration based on academic documents submitted for the program application.
Deadlines	Varies by intake

Heriot-Watt Dubai Future Made for Success Scholarship

The Future Made for Success Scholarship is a specific, fixed-amount award, typically granted as an AED 6,000 contribution towards tuition fees for applicants who apply and submit their tuition fee deposit within a specified early-application window (e.g., between September 20 and October 31 for an upcoming intake). Unlike the merit scholarships which require high grades for eligibility, this award functions more as an early-bird incentive for students enrolling in various programs. It is important to note that this award generally cannot be combined with other major discounts or scholarships offered by the university, such as the Undergraduate Engineering Merit Scholarship.

Benefits	AED 6,000 off the tuition fee (fixed amount).
Degree Level	Foundation, Undergraduate, & Postgraduate
Eligibility	Apply and pay the tuition fee deposit within the specified early-application window. Cannot be combined with some other awards.
Application Process	Automatic award for eligible students who meet the application/deposit payment timeframe.
Deadlines	Varies by intake

Edinburgh Business School Shaping Women Entrepreneurs MBA Scholarship

A highly competitive, merit-based scholarship for female candidates residing in the GCC, offering up to 50% of the MBA tuition fees for the full or part-time MBA program starting in the specified intake (e.g., January). Eligibility requires the candidate to be fully self-funded and to have received and accepted an unconditional offer and paid the deposit. The scholarship demands a separate application which includes an 800-word essay detailing their entrepreneurial vision and impact, with shortlisted applicants potentially being invited to a panel or telephone interview to assess their potential to contribute to the business school and the entrepreneurial landscape.

Benefits	Up to 50% of MBA tuition fees.
Degree Level	MBA (Full-time or Part-time)
Eligibility	Female, GCC resident, self-funded, with an unconditional offer and paid deposit for the MBA.
Application Process	Requires a separate scholarship application form, including an 800-word essay and a possible interview.
Deadlines	After December 31, 2025 (for Jan 2026 intake)

Tips for a Successful Heriot-Watt University Dubai Scholarship Application

Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a mix of scholarships—some are automatic (Merit/Future Made for Success) and some require a separate application (e.g., MBA Scholarship). Tailoring your strategy based on the scholarship type is important.

• For Merit Scholarships, aim for academic results that exceed the highest published percentage/CGPA requirements, as competition is intense.
• Apply for admission as early as possible. For the Future Made for Success award, pay your tuition deposit before the initial advertised deadline to qualify.
• Ensure all academic transcripts and certificates are officially certified, translated (if necessary), and included in your application packet.
• Have your official IELTS, TOEFL, or other accepted English proficiency test score ready and submitted, as this is a non-negotiable step for admission.
• For essay-based scholarships (like the MBA award), break down the criteria (e.g., ‘entrepreneurship,’ ‘leadership’) and directly address each one in your writing.
• In essays, replace generic statements with measurable results (e.g., “Led a team that increased club membership by 40%”).
• Clearly explain why Heriot-Watt’s Dubai campus and your chosen program are the perfect match for your specific career goals in the region.
• Choose a referee who can speak to your academic excellence or professional skills relevant to the scholarship you are targeting.
• Check and double-check all documents for spelling, grammar, and consistency. Errors signal a lack of attention to detail.
• If you meet the merit criteria for an automatic award, follow up with the Admissions Office to confirm the scholarship has been successfully applied to your offer letter.

Why Study at Heriot-Watt University Dubai?

Heriot-Watt University Dubai offers a unique set of benefits for international students, combining a respected British education with the dynamic opportunities of the UAE. Here are important points detailing how the transfer process works for students at the Dubai campus:

• You must be enrolled as a student at Heriot-Watt University Dubai in a program that is also offered at the destination campus (UK or Malaysia).
• The transfer is seamless because you continue to study the same UK curriculum and coursework, maintaining consistency across all global campuses.
• Go Global is an inter-campus transfer, not a traditional exchange or study abroad program, so you don’t need to re-apply for university admission.
• Applications are generally submitted to the Go Global office one semester in advance of the planned transfer date (e.g., apply in Semester 1 to transfer in Semester 2).
• You typically need to maintain good academic standing (a certain minimum GPA/grades) at the Dubai campus to be approved for the transfer.
• The university provides end-to-end support for the visa process for the destination country (UK or Malaysia), including documentation and checking services.
• You will pay the tuition fees of the destination campus for the period you study there. Note that UK fees are generally higher than Dubai or Malaysia fees.
• The university assists with securing accommodation at the destination campus, often prioritizing Go Global students for on-campus housing.
• You can choose to study abroad for a single semester, a full year, or even transfer permanently to complete your degree, depending on your program structure and preference.
• Regardless of which campus(es) you study at, you receive a single degree certificate from Heriot-Watt University, which does not specify the campus location.

Also Read: Study in UAE For International Students

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