Al Qasimia University Scholarship 2026: The Complete Guide for Indian Students

Quick Overview

Every year, thousands of Indian students search for a fully funded scholarship to study in the UAE, and most of them have never heard of the al Qasimia university scholarship. Every fact in this guide is drawn directly from official AQU admissions and scholarship pages, not paraphrased from secondary sites, so you know exactly what's confirmed and what isn't before you commit time to an application.

Before you continue to qualify for the bachelor's scholarship, you must be 16 to 20 years old, have completed Class 12 within the last 2 years, and be applying from outside the UAE. If any of these don't apply to you, the eligibility breakdown further below explains your options, including the master's pathway, which has different rules.

A quick breakthrough of the eligibility for the students who wants to apply for the scholarship are as follows:

Key Takeaways

• The Al Qasimia University scholarship covers 100% tuition, monthly stipend, free accommodation, health insurance, round-trip airfare, visa, UAE residency, and Emirates ID - but only for students applying directly from outside the UAE. 
• Master's scholarship is worth AED 99,000 in tuition alone: Each master's program runs 33 credit hours at AED 3,000 per credit hour. This fee is fully waived for scholarship recipients who also serve as Research and Teaching Assistants.
• Bachelor's applicants must be 16 to 20 years old and have completed Class 12 within the last 2 years. Students who took a gap year of more than 2 years after Class 12 are not eligible for the bachelor's scholarship.
• Minimum grade requirements vary by college: 70% for Arts, Communication, Holy Quran, and Foundations of Religion; 75% for Sharia and Islamic Studies; 80% for Economics and Management. 
• Seats are limited and competitive. Higher grades, more recent graduation, and younger age are the priority order for selection. 
• The UAE does not accept India's apostille route. The UAE requires a full traditional attestation chain - Board/State attestation, then MEA, then UAE Embassy. Using the apostille route will increase the chance of rejecting the application.
• Document attestation takes 6 to 8 weeks minimum. Indian students outside major metro cities should begin collecting and attesting certificates at least 2 to 3 months before the application portal opens.

Introduction: About Al Qasimia University

Al Qasimia University (AQU) is a national university established in 2013 under Royal Decree No. (2) of 2013. It is located within University City, Sharjah, one of the UAE's most concentrated academic places, home to over a dozen of institutions in a single area. 

The university is fully accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. Its primary goal is to teach students about Islamic and Arabic studies  along with modern subjects with classical Islamic-Arabic scholarship, drawing students from across the world. AQU hosts approximately 1,000 students from over 75 countries. That international mix is not by chance. The university's admission policy clearly focuses on getting students from countries outside the UAE. This makes it one of the UAE universities where international students are the main intake.

The university runs five undergraduate colleges: the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Economics and Management, the College of Communication, and the College of the Holy Quran. Al Qasimia University also has a college for postgraduate students that are housed under the College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. The campus includes separate residential buildings for male and female students, a library with over 150,000 titles, computer labs, art studios, a mosque, an auditorium, sports facilities including a gymnasium and football field, and on-campus dining.

For Indian students who are exploring study options in Sharjah, AQU provides something different from most UAE universities. It offers an Arabic-medium academic environment shaped by Islamic values, where international students gets a scholarship to study in the UAE with no charge tuition cost for international students who gets a scholarship to pursue higher studies in the UAE.

What the Al Qasimia University Scholarship for International Students Covers

This funding package is available exclusively to international students admitted from outside the UAE. If you are currently living or working in the UAE, you do not qualify under this scholarship program. It is designed specifically for students travelling from their home country, which makes it directly applicable to Indian students applying from India.

AQU's scholarship covers the following, as confirmed on the official AQU scholarship pages:

• Full tuition fee waiver: The university covers 100% of tuition fee for the whole programme. For masters students this means AED 99,000 per programme who gets this by paying AED 3,000, per credit hour for 33 credit hours.
• Monthly stipend: All students who get a scholarship get an amount of money each month. This amount is decided by the university. (The university does not say how much money students get on its official website.The amount of money is only confirmed after you are admitted to the university). The university keeps paying this amount during summer for students who come from, outside the UAE even though it is not necessary to study in summer. 
• Free accommodation: Housing is provided inside or outside the university campus in Sharjah for single international students who are not dependent on anyone already residing in the UAE. The university determines the nature and location of the housing. If a student marries during the scholarship period, the university is no longer obligated to provide accommodation.
• Round-trip airfare: Once a student completes 50% of their study plan, the university bears the cost of a return flight to the student's home country, subject to permitted timelines in the university's academic calendar.
• One-way ticket upon graduation: After graduating, the university provides a one-way ticket back to the student's home country.
• Health insurance: Health coverage is provided to all international scholarship students in accordance with the university's adopted policies and regulations.
• Visa, UAE residency, and Emirates ID: All costs and administrative procedures for the student visa, UAE residency permit, and Emirates ID issuance are fully managed and funded by the university. This is one of the most valuable practical benefits of this program, eliminating an otherwise complex and expensive process for Indian students.
• On-campus transportation: The university provides transportation within the campus only. Off-campus commuting is not included

Important: The official AQU scholarship page states that "if the student does not show up on time, the visa will be cancelled." If you accept an offer, you must arrive within the university's specified timeframe; there is no grace period built in.

One critical distinction for master's students: the scholarship at the postgraduate level is directly tied to undertaking duties as a Research and Teaching Assistant (RTA) at the university. This is not an optional arrangement; it is a condition of the master's scholarship. Bachelor's students are not subject to this requirement.

Rules for Maintaining the Al Qasimia University Scholarship

Winning the scholarship is one thing. Keeping it is another. The university's official pages list the following as mandatory continuation conditions. These are not guidelines; violations result in scholarship review, penalty enforcement, or cancellation.

Applicable to Bachelor's Scholarship Students:

• Enrol in every semester without dropout or interruption.
• Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of not less than 2.00 out of 4.0 during regular semesters. A GPA drop below this threshold triggers the scholarship's penalty regulations immediately.
• Do not engage in any paid employment during the study period. A violation results in immediate scholarship cancellation.
• Do not leave the university or the UAE without prior written permission from the university, supported by an acceptable reason.
• If placed in the Intensive Arabic Language Program, complete it within a maximum of one academic year, achieving a passing grade of (C) or higher. Only after completion will you be assigned to a degree specialisation, subject to available seats.
• Comply with all university regulations, institutional policies, and ethical and behavioural conduct standards

Applicable to Master's Scholarship Students:

• All of the above general behavioural and attendance conditions apply.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0 out of 4.0 throughout the program, or the minimum threshold set by the College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research if it is set higher.
• Fulfil Research and Teaching Assistant duties as required by the university's governing policies and procedures.
• Obtain all necessary approvals from UAE competent authorities for employment as an RTA before commencing studies.

Note: The university reserves the right to amend scholarship conditions or suspend the scholarship scheme entirely in accordance with its approved regulations and institutional requirements.

Al Qasimia University Scholarship Courses: Programs Available

The scholarship applies for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

Bachelor's Programs (typically 129 to 135 credit hours):

• Bachelor in Jurisprudence and its Foundations
• Bachelor in Foundations of Religion
• Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature
• Bachelor of Arts in Civilisation and Islamic History
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics
• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
• Bachelor in Exegesis and Qur'an Sciences
• Bachelor of Qur'anic Readings

Master's Programs (33 credit hours each; confirmed on the AQU Tuition Fees page):

• Master of Jurisprudence and its Foundations, College of Sharia and Islamic Studies
• Master of Arabic Language and Literature, College of Arts and Humanities
• Master's Program in Qur'anic Exegesis and Hadith, College of the Holy Qur'an

The tuition value for each master's program, as stated on the official fees page, is AED 99,000 (AED 3,000 per credit hour x 33 credit hours). Students who receive the Research and Teaching Assistant scholarship have this fee waived entirely.

The medium of instruction across all programs is primarily Arabic. Students applying to the Bachelor of Arts in Economics must hold a valid IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent). Students applying to the Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication must hold a valid IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent). All other programs do not have a published English language requirement, though non-Arabic speaking students will be subject to an Arabic placement test upon arrival.

Bachelor's Al Qasimia University Scholarship: Eligibility and How to Apply

The university's bachelor's admission criteria were reviewed in alignment with Ministerial Resolution No. (19) of 2024 on admission standards for UAE higher education institutions. The following requirements apply in full.

General Eligibility for the Bachelor's Scholarship:

• Must have a General Secondary Certificate, or its equivalent, from a school that completes 12 academic years, including 3 years of secondary education (equivalent to Class 10, 11, and 12 in India).
• The high school certificate must be equivalent to the UAE General Secondary Certificate.
• The certificate must be obtained within the last 2 years at the time of application. Indian students who have graduated more than two years ago cannot apply for the bachelors scholarship. 
• Applicants must be at least 16 years old and not older than 20 at the time of application.
• Must not have been previously asked to leave from AQU or any other university or higher institute for academic or disciplinary reasons.
• Applicants must take an Arabic Language Placement Test upon arrival to check for language proficiency. Students who do not achieve the required level will be placed in the Arabic Language Program at the Language Centre for one to two semesters, and are required to pass with a minimum grade of (C). They are then assigned to their chosen college, depending on the college's admission capacity. 
• The college gives priority to the applicants in the following order: applicants with higher grades then to those who graduated more recently and finally to younger applicants. 
• International students from outside the UAE are admitted on full scholarships as per the official AQU admission page.

Programme-Specific Grade Thresholds (from official AQU Bachelor Admission Requirements):

• College of Arts and Humanities, College of Communication, College of the Holy Quran, and College of the Foundations of Religion: minimum 70% in the General Secondary Certificate.
• College of Sharia and Islamic Studies: minimum 75%.
• College of Economics and Management: minimum 80% from recognised commercial schools or institutes.
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics: additionally requires a valid IELTS 5.0 (or equivalent).
• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication: additionally requires a valid IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent).
• All programs require successful completion of a personal interview.

Steps to Apply for the Bachelor's Scholarship

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

The following documents are required as listed on the official AQU How to Apply, Bachelor page. For Indian students, every document involving educational certificates must go through India's multi-stage attestation process. Begin this process at least 2 to 3 months before you intend to apply.

• Original Secondary School Certificate (your Class 12 board certificate)
• Original academic transcripts for Class 10, Class 11, and Class 12
• Attestation of all certificates: first by the issuing State's Board / Ministry of Education, then by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India, and then by the UAE Embassy in India. If no UAE Embassy operates in your city, attestation by the Embassy of any Arab country operating in India is accepted.
• Legal translation of all foreign certificates into Arabic or English, attested by the above-mentioned authorities
• A letter that says the Ministry of Education in India recognizes your school/board  and the students eligibility to enrol for public universities in India. 
• Legal Arabic translation of your passport, attested by the Ministry of External Affairs (India) and the UAE Embassy in India.
• A copy of your valid passport, with minimum 2 years' remaining validity at the time of application
• 12 recent coloured passport-size photographs, size 3x4 cm, with a white background
• A valid police clearance certificate / good conduct certificate from India, with legal translation into Arabic and English
• A copy of your birth certificate, with legal translation if not in Arabic or English
• A  fitness certificate from a government hospital in India. This certificate is to confirm that you are free of diseases which must also be attested by the Ministry of External Affairs in India.(Note: The medical fitness certificate should not be, than 3 months old when you submit it). 
• For Economics applications: a valid IELTS 5.0 certificate (or equivalent)
• For Mass Communication applications: a valid IELTS 4.5 certificate (or equivalent)

India-specific note on attestation: Since India joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2023, many documents can now be processed through the apostille route which is done by the Ministry of External Affairs. However the United Arab Emirates does not accept this apostille route. The United Arab Emirates requires that India documents go through the traditional attestation process.  This process includes getting attested by the Board or the State by the Ministry of External Affairs and finally by the United Arab Emirates Embassy. 

This attestation chain is consistently the single biggest source of delay and rejected paperwork for Indian applicants. If you want help sequencing it correctly the first time, Study From UAE's counsellors can guide you through the Board/State, MEA, and embassy steps in the right order

Step 2: Register and Submit Your Application

• Visit the official AQU admissions portal.
• Alternatively, applications may be submitted through UAE missions around the world or through any method announced by the Recruitment and International Relations Committee for applying.
• All fields marked with an asterisk (*) should be filled as incomplete applications will not be considered for further process.
• Upload all files correctly: photographs in JPG format, all other documents in PDF format. All uploads must be clear and in colour.
• List your preferred colleges in order of priority on the application form.

Step 3: After Submission

• Check your email and the application portal all the time, for information and updates regarding the status of the application.  
• Accepted students are distributed among colleges based on GPA ranking and preference priorities,as per the college's approved intake capacity.
• On acceptance, complete all visa, residency, and housing procedures as directed by the university. Do not delay your arrival; if you do not show up on time, your visa will be cancelled.

Master's Al Qasimia University Scholarship: Eligibility and How to Apply

This scholarship operates differently from the bachelor's pathway. It is not a blanket policy for all admitted international students; it is a competitive Research and Teaching Assistantship awarded on the basis of departmental nomination, competitive ranking, and approval by the College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research. The scholarship is worth AED 99,000 in tuition alone, with all the same additional benefits (accommodation, stipend, airfare, insurance, visa, and Emirates ID) applying on top.

Eligibility Requirements for the Master's Scholarship (official AQU source):

• Must hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised university, awarded outside the UAE, with official degree equivalency obtained from the competent UAE authority.
• Cumulative bachelor's GPA must be not less than 3.0 out of 4.0, or its equivalent. The relevant college council may set a higher minimum GPA where program requirements warrant.
• Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered for conditional admission in accordance with Graduate Studies Council regulations and applicable Ministry of Higher Education decisions.
• Must hold a bachelor's degree in a field that qualifies for the intended master's specialisation, unless the Department and College Councils recommend and the Graduate Studies Council approves admission outside the original field.
• Must submit two academic recommendation letters from faculty members, preferably from the graduation department, or as required by the relevant department.
• Must not be concurrently enrolled in two postgraduate programs at the same university.
• Scholarship recipients must be fully dedicated to full-time study and must serve as a Research and Teaching Assistant in accordance with the university's governing policies. Prior to commencement, UAE authority approval for employment as an RTA must be obtained.
• The academic department nominates candidates based on approved selection criteria. The College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research approves the final primary and reserve candidate list.
• Continuation requires maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 throughout the program.
• The department that deals with your application may ask you to take some classes before you can start and these classes are usually taken over one or two semesters. 
• Applicants must submit a detailed CV (curriculum vitae) supported by relevant documentary evidence to support the saying.
• Applicants must satisfy any additional requirements announced by the academic program or funding body when the application cycle opens.
• The university reserves the right to amend scholarship conditions or suspend the scheme in accordance with its approved regulations.
• All applications are assessed competitively. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an award.

Steps to Apply for the Master's Scholarship

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

The following are required per the official AQU How to Apply, Master page:

• Attested bachelor's degree certificate
• Official academic transcript or certified statement of courses taken during the bachelor's program, showing grades and credit hours for each course
• Attestation of all certificates by the Ministry of Education or Ministry of Higher Education (as applicable in India), followed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and then the UAE Embassy in India. If no UAE Embassy is present, attestation from the Embassy of any Arab country operating in India is accepted.
• Legal certified translation of all certificates and documents (if not in Arabic or English), attested by the above authorities
• Legal certified translation of the passport into Arabic, attested by the MEA and the UAE Embassy
• A copy of your valid passport, with minimum 2 years' remaining validity
• 12 recent coloured passport-size photographs, size 3x4 cm, with a white background
• Two academic recommendation letters from faculty members in your graduation department
• A detailed CV supported by documentary evidence
• A valid police clearance / good conduct certificate from India, with legal translation into Arabic and English
• A copy of your birth certificate, with legal translation if not in Arabic or English
• A medical fitness certificate issued by a government hospital in India, confirming freedom from infectious diseases, attested by the MEA. Must have been issued within the last 3 months.
• For applicants currently inside the UAE: a copy of a valid Emirates ID and employer approval to enrol in the master's program (where applicable; does not apply to applicants from India)
• Any additional requirements announced when the specific application cycle opens

India-specific note: All Indian university degrees must be attested by your university registrar, then by the State's HRD/Education Department, then by the MEA in New Delhi, and then by the UAE Embassy. This is the mandatory chain for UAE; apostille certification (now available in India since 2023) is not accepted as a substitute for UAE embassy attestation.

Step 2: Register and Submit Your Application

• Visit the official AQU admissions portal: https://www.alqasimia.ac.ae/en/AdmissionRegistration/Pages/Registration_Type.aspx
• Fill in all fields marked with (*). Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Upload photographs in JPG format and all other documents in PDF format. All files must be clear and in colour.
• Note that admission is competitive and based on ranking among all applicants. Submitting the application is only an initial step; it does not constitute final admission. Priority is not determined by submission time.

Step 3: After Submission

• Monitor your email and the application portal for updates.
• Accepted students are distributed among the university's colleges within approved intake numbers, based on preference priorities and GPA ranking.
• The formal admission and scholarship decision is issued by the Graduate Studies Council on recommendation of the Department's Graduate Studies Committee.
• After acceptance, complete all visa, residency, and housing procedures as directed by the university.

Bachelor's vs. Master's Al Qasimia University Scholarship: Key Differences

Below is the quick comparison of the scholarship for applicants who wants to apply for bachelors or masters degree at Al Qasimia University: 

What Indian Students Must Know Before Applying for the Al Qasimia University Sharjah Scholarship

Before you begin your application to AQU's scholarship program, there are several practical realities specific to Indian students that no official page will tell you, but that make the difference between a submitted application and a successful one.

1. The UAE does not accept apostille from India

Since India joined the Hague Apostille Convention in February 2023, many Indian students now get their documents apostilled through the MEA. This is accepted in over 120 countries. However the United Arab Emirates is not one of these countries. The United Arab Emirates requires people to get their documents attested their way. (This means you need to get your documents attested by the Board or the State first. Then you need to get them attested by the Ministry of External Affairs and then to get them attested by the United Arab Emirates Embassy. If you use the apostille route for your American University of Qatar, application documents will be rejected). 

2. You do not qualify if you are already in the UAE

The scholarship is explicitly restricted to students "admitted to the university from outside the UAE only," as stated on the official scholarship pages. Indian students currently on a work permit, student visa, or tourist visa in the UAE are ineligible. You must be applying and travelling directly from India.

3. The Arabic language requirement is real and applies to nearly all Indian students

The primary medium of instruction at AQU is Arabic. Indian students, generally all of whom are non- Arabic speakers, will have to appear for the test upon arrival. Depending on the Arabic proficiency, the applicant might be required to complete the Arabic Language Program for up to two semesters before being assigned to their chosen college. (Applicants are suggested to begin basic Arabic study before arrival).

4. The two-year high school certificate rule affects Indian students disproportionately

Gap years are common in India; students often take one or two years between Class 12 and university applications. For the AQU bachelor's scholarship, this is a hard disqualifier. The official AQU admission policy states that students who have completed Class 12 more than two years ago, are not eligible for the bachelor's scholarship. 

5. There is no published fixed deadline, but early preparation is decisive

The al Qasimia university scholarship 2026 deadline is not a fixed date published in advance. The university opens admissions for the Fall semester each year, with specific dates announced on their official website. Because intake is limited and competitive, AQU's Board of Trustees having approved 400 undergraduate scholarships across the university's five colleges for the 2023/2024 academic year (per the university's own Media Center announcement), early preparation of documents gives an  advantage over applicants who start late. The attestation process alone can take 6 to 8 weeks in India if you are not in a major metro city with a well-resourced MEA office.

This is exactly the kind of paperwork bottleneck Study From UAE helps Indian applicants get ahead of. If you'd rather not navigate the MEA-to-embassy attestation chain solo, our team can walk you through document prep and the AQU application alongside it.

For an understanding of funding options while waiting for AQUs next cycle to open, the scholarships guide on Study From UAE lists many fully funded programs for Indian students in UAE. These programs are available in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The guide covers merit-based scholarships which helps Indian students find funding options. AQUs cycle may take some time to open. Meanwhile students can explore these funded scholarships. They are offered in emirates. 

Application Deadline and Final Steps

AQU's intake deadline is not fixed in advance and is announced through the university's Academic Calendar each year. Admissions open for the Fall semester, with specific intake dates communicated via the official AQU website and through UAE diplomatic missions worldwide.

What this means practically for Indian students: begin your document preparation now, especially the multi-stage attestation chain, so that you are ready to submit the moment the portal opens. The students who are caught unprepared are those who begin gathering documents after the portal opens. By then, it is typically too late to obtain attested certificates, translations, police clearance, and medical certificates within the required timelines.

Note: Visit the official application portal and check the Academic Calendar regularly for intake dates. For programme-level details, campus life, and a comparison of AQU with other universities across the UAE, visit the Al Qasimia University profile on Study From UAE.

Conclusion

This scholarship is one of the most complete scholarship packages available to Indian students seeking a fully funded education in the UAE. It covers tuition worth up to AED 99,000 for master's students, free accommodation in Sharjah, a monthly stipend, health insurance, round-trip airfare, and full management of your visa, residency, and Emirates ID, all funded and handled by the university.

It asks for something in return: full-time academic commitment, consistent GPA performance, adherence to university policies, and a willingness to study in an Arabic-medium environment. For Indian students whose background aligns with Islamic studies, Arabic language, economics, or communication, this is one of the strongest value exchanges available in Gulf higher education today.

The application is free, the process is online, and the support structure once admitted is exceptional. What it requires from you right now is preparation, specifically, starting the attestation process before the intake window opens.

Need help getting your application right? Study From UAE works with Indian students through the entire process, document attestation, the AQU application form, interview preparation, and post-acceptance visa and travel steps, so you don't have to figure out the embassy chain or the portal on your own.