Sharjah University Scholarships

What Are the Main Sharjah University Scholarships for Indian Students?

Key Takeaways

 University of Sharjah scholarships operate as structured tuition discounts. The highest available discount is 50% for students scoring 90% and above in their high school examinations.

American University of Sharjah President’s Scholarship is the most relevant fully funded option for Indian students applying from India. It covers 100% of tuition, lab fees, on-campus housing, a monthly stipend, medical insurance, and three round-trip air tickets. Only up to 20 students are awarded this scholarship per year.

The Ruler of Sharjah approved 2,005 scholarships for students at UOS and AUS combined in a single academic year, reflecting the emirate’s commitment to accessible education.

AUS Merit Scholarships are assessed automatically during admissions for students with 95% and above in Grades 10 and 11. No separate application is needed.

UOS undergraduate tuition ranges from AED 45,045 to AED 66,854 per year depending on the programme. A 50% High School Discount on a Computer Science degree at UOS (AED 60,703/year) saves you over AED 30,000 in your first semester alone.

AUS undergraduate tuition for 2026–27 is AED 110,876 per year. A 20% Merit Scholarship saves you approximately AED 22,175 each year.

Both alumni and non-alumni Indian students are eligible for a 30% postgraduate discount at UOS for 2025–26, subject to GPA maintenance.

Introduction

Are you an Indian student trying to understand what financial support is actually available at Sharjah universities? The Ruler of Sharjah approved 2,005 scholarships and financial grants across Sharjah’s universities in a single academic year, and the University of Sharjah has produced over 46,000 alumni across the UAE, GCC, and Arab countries. 

The numbers tell you something real: structured financial support for Sharjah university scholarships exists, it is officially governed, and students with strong academic records - whether CBSE, ISC, or state board - have a clear path to access it.

This guide covers every available option in under 10 minutes. You will find exact figures, eligibility criteria, verified deadlines, and a real savings example built on official tuition data. Let us begin.

Why Sharjah Is a Strong Choice for Indian Students

Sharjah is home to both the University of Sharjah (UOS) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) - two of the UAE’s most established institutions with international accreditations across engineering, business, health sciences, and the arts. UOS currently enrolls 21,174 students from 96 nationalities as of Fall 2025. AUS hosts students from approximately 90 nationalities and ranked 272nd globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 - its highest position ever, climbing 60 places in a single year. UOS climbed 106 places to rank 328th globally in the same edition, making both institutions among the fastest-rising universities in the Arab region.

Sharjah’s GDP reached AED 145.2 billion in 2023, growing at 6.5% year on year, driven by non-oil sectors including manufacturing, trade, and construction. The emirate recorded $1.5 billion in capital investment in the first half of 2025 - a 361% rise from the same period in 2024. Key employment sectors for graduates include manufacturing, business services, healthcare, logistics, media through Sharjah Media City (Shams), and technology through the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTI Park), located directly within University City beside the UOS campus.

University of Sharjah (UOS) Scholarships and Discount Structure

The University of Sharjah officially provides tuition fee discounts rather than conventional scholarships. This is an important distinction. The discount structure is governed by the University Chancellor’s Decision, which is reviewed and updated each academic year and published on sharjah.ac.ae.

High School Discount

If you scored 90% or above in your Class 12 examination and graduated within the last five years, you qualify for a 50% discount on your first semester tuition at UOS. This applies to all undergraduate programmes except Medicine and Dental Medicine. Students who already hold a sponsorship of 50% or above are excluded.

Here is what that means in real numbers: Computer Science at UOS costs AED 60,703 per year. Your first semester fee is AED 30,351. The High School Discount reduces that to AED 15,175 for your opening semester - a saving of over AED 15,000 before you attend a single class.

Distinction Discount

Once you are enrolled, your performance each semester directly determines a discount for the following semester. The thresholds, per the official UOS guidelines, are:

• Term GPA 3.95 to 4.00 earns a 40% discount on tuition
• Term GPA 3.90 to 3.94 earns a 30% discount
• Term GPA 3.80 to 3.89 earns a 15% discount

A minimum of 15 credit hours per semester is required. This discount does not apply in your final academic term.

Programme-Specific Discounts

The University of Sharjah scholarships for STEM students deserve particular attention. UOS offers a 50% tuition discount for the first year across two semesters for students enrolled in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Petroleum Geosciences under the College of Sciences. Non-national students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to keep this discount from the second year onward. A minimum of 12 credit hours per semester is also required.

A 50% discount applies equally to all undergraduate programmes in the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies, with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 required to retain it beyond the first year.

Siblings Discount

If your sibling is already a registered student at UOS, you are eligible for a 10% tuition discount. This discount is not automatic. You must apply through UOS E-Services after registration and before the end of the term.

Postgraduate Discounts

For Indian students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree at UOS, the 2025–26 guidelines offer a 30% discount on the first semester tuition for both alumni and non-alumni. The GPA required to maintain the discount differs:

• Alumni pursuing a master’s degree need a term GPA of 3.4 or above
• Alumni pursuing a doctoral degree need a term GPA of 3.6 or above
• Non-alumni pursuing either a master’s or doctoral degree need a term GPA of 3.8 or above to retain the discount beyond the first semester

Note that certain postgraduate programmes are excluded from these discounts. Verify your specific programme’s eligibility on the UOS official admissions page.

One Important Rule

If you qualify for more than one type of discount at UOS, only the highest applicable discount will be applied. You cannot stack two discounts on the same semester fees.

American University of Sharjah (AUS) Scholarships for Indian Students

The American University of Sharjah scholarships for international students are more varied and include genuine fully funded options. AUS was founded in 1997, is ranked among the top five UAE universities for international student ratio by QS World University Rankings 2025, and currently enrolls 6,727 students.

Undergraduate tuition at AUS for the 2026–27 academic year is AED 110,876 per year. The scholarships below significantly change the financial picture for Indian students.

President’s Scholarship

This is the most significant award for Indian students applying from India. It is open specifically to students who completed their secondary education outside the UAE - which means CBSE, ISC, and state board students in India qualify directly.

The scholarship covers 100% of tuition and lab fees, an application fee waiver, on-campus housing, a monthly living stipend, student medical insurance, and three round-trip air tickets during the study period. All of this is confirmed on the official AUS financial grants page (aus.edu).

Up to 20 scholarships are awarded per year. The scholarship is open to all nationalities who completed secondary school outside the UAE, which means it draws applications from across South Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond - not just India. AUS does not publish a total applicant count or an acceptance rate for this award. Selection is based on academic excellence and broader achievements including leadership, community involvement, and extracurricular participation. Given that 20 awards are distributed globally each year, this is a competitive scholarship that rewards students who demonstrate both strong academics and a well-rounded profile. Students who do not qualify for the President’s Scholarship should review the Merit Scholarship and Need-Based Financial Grant options, both of which have broader eligibility. The scholarship is renewable each year based on maintaining the academic and conduct requirements set by AUS. The full renewal criteria are listed at aus.edu/scholarship.

The application deadline for the President’s Scholarship is the first Thursday of March each year. For the Fall 2025 intake, the deadline was April 17, 2025.

Chancellor’s Scholarship

This scholarship is important to understand clearly because it is often confused with the President’s Scholarship. The Chancellor’s Scholarship is open to students who completed their secondary education inside the UAE. Indian students applying from India are not eligible for this award. Students who completed their schooling at a UAE-based institution - for example, a CBSE school within the UAE - are the intended applicants.

It covers 100% of tuition and lab fees, an application fee waiver, on-campus housing, and medical insurance. The deadline is the first Thursday of March each year.

Merit Scholarships

AUS Merit Scholarships cover 10% to 20% of tuition and lab fees. To be eligible, you must have achieved an average of 95% or above in Grades 10 and 11 of secondary school. Grade 12 results are not used in the evaluation for this award.

No separate application is required. Merit Scholarships are automatically assessed when AUS processes your admission application. They are subject to available funding and are not guaranteed. AUS reserves the right to discontinue the offer at any stage of the admissions process.

Here is a practical example: AUS tuition for 2026–27 is AED 110,876 per year. A 20% Merit Scholarship reduces that by AED 22,175 every year - a saving of roughly AED 88,700 over a standard four-year undergraduate degree.

Sharakah School Scholarship

This award covers 45% of tuition, lab fees, and on-campus housing on a shared basis. It is available through partner schools under the Sharakah Programme. Your school must nominate you through a school committee - you cannot apply independently. The student must have achieved a minimum high school average of 90% or above in at least two of the last three years or in the final year of secondary school. Students who receive this award are not eligible to also receive an AUS Merit Scholarship or financial grant. This scholarship is offered only in fall semesters.

To find out if your school in India is a Sharakah partner school, contact your school administration directly or reach out to the AUS Scholarship Office before applying.

Need-Based Financial Grant

AUS also offers financial grants for students with demonstrated limited resources. The grant covers 5% to 50% of tuition and housing fees, depending on individual financial and academic circumstances. Students who are approved and plan to live in shared or double rooms on campus also receive partial assistance toward residential hall fees. This grant is available to first-time, transfer, and returning students.

Outstanding Academic Performance Scholarship

This award is for currently enrolled AUS students, not new applicants. Students who have completed 60 credit hours and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or above by the end of their second year are eligible. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition and lab fees for the fall of the third year. Selection is based on nominations from AUS colleges and schools.

Graduate Assistantships

For Indian students pursuing postgraduate studies at AUS, Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant roles are available. These come with tuition waivers and a monthly stipend. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 is required to maintain eligibility.

University of Sharjah Scholarship Requirements for Indian Students

Whether you are applying to UOS or AUS, here are the key University of Sharjah scholarship requirements Indian students need to prepare:

 A valid passport with at least six months’ validity

•  Attested Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate, authenticated by the UAE Embassy in India and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
•  English language proficiency scores - IELTS (typically 5.5 to 6.5 depending on programme) or TOEFL equivalent; UOS also accepts EmSAT
• Statement of Purpose for postgraduate and some scholarship-specific applications
•  For the AUS President’s Scholarship, evidence of broader achievements such as leadership activities and community contributions
•  Proof of financial resources for need-based grant applications at AUS
•  PhD applicants at AUS must submit a PhD Assistantship Application Form alongside the main application

Think of document attestation like getting your school-leaving certificate verified at the state education board before applying for a government job. It takes a few steps, but the process is systematic once you know the order.

Note: Document requirements, IELTS band requirements, and application deadlines change each academic year. Always verify the current checklist on the official UOS and AUS admissions pages before submitting.

Scholarships for UAE Residents at Sharjah Universities

If you are already living in the UAE as a student or dependent, you need to understand one critical distinction. The scholarships for UAE residents at AUS are specifically split by where you completed your secondary education, not by your current residential status.

If you are an Indian student who completed Class 12 at a UAE-based school, you are eligible for the Chancellor’s Scholarship at AUS. If you completed Class 12 in India and are now living in the UAE, you are eligible for the President’s Scholarship because your secondary education was completed outside the UAE.

For UOS, all tuition discounts are available to all registered students regardless of nationality or residence. UOS residents on campus can also request the Siblings Discount through E-Services if a family member is simultaneously enrolled in the same academic year.

How to Apply for Sharjah University Scholarships

Applying for Sharjah University scholarships for Indian students follows a clear path once you know what to prepare.

• Step 1: Identify the university and programme that fits your academic profile and career goals. You can compare options across Sharjah and other emirates at studyfromuae.com.
• Step 2: Check your eligibility based on your high school percentage and the grades used for evaluation (Grades 10 and 11 for AUS Merit; 90% in Class 12 for UOS High School Discount).
• Step 3: Gather and attest your documents. Your Class 12 certificate needs authentication from the relevant board, the UAE Embassy in India, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Step 4: For AUS, create an account on apply.aus.edu, complete the admission application, and follow the scholarship-specific instructions on the page. For the President’s Scholarship, the deadline is the first Thursday of March each year.
• Step 5: For UOS, submit your application through the main UOS admissions portal. The High School Discount is assessed at admission; the Siblings Discount must be requested separately through E-Services.
• Step 6: Monitor your email closely. For AUS enrolled students applying for financial grants, scholarship decisions are announced after semester grades are released - not at the time of application.
• Step 7: Once admitted, coordinate with the university’s international student office for your student visa and Emirates ID. The Study in Sharjah guide on Study From UAE covers post-admission steps in detail.

Common Mistakes Indian Students Make

A strong application can still fail because of avoidable errors. These are the most common ones:

• Submitting your board marksheet without official attestation when the university requires it
• Applying for the AUS Chancellor’s Scholarship from India, when it is only open to UAE-based secondary school graduates
• Using Grade 12 results to assess Merit Scholarship eligibility at AUS, when only Grades 10 and 11 are evaluated
• Missing the AUS President’s Scholarship deadline - the first Thursday of March each year
• Ignoring GPA maintenance requirements and losing your UOS discount after the first semester
• Not requesting the UOS Siblings Discount through E-Services, assuming it is applied automatically

Is a Sharjah University Degree Worth the Investment?

You deserve a direct answer to this question, not a vague reassurance.

AUS undergraduate tuition is AED 110,876 per year. A President’s Scholarship eliminates this entirely, plus covers housing and a monthly stipend. A 20% Merit Scholarship reduces annual costs by AED 22,175. Over four years, that is a saving of approximately AED 88,700 - without accounting for the housing and stipend benefits of higher-tier awards.

At UOS, a Computer Science degree costs AED 60,703 per year. A student who scores 90% in Class 12 saves AED 15,175 in the first semester through the High School Discount. If that student then maintains a term GPA of 3.95 or above, the Distinction Discount of 40% applies every subsequent semester. That adds up to over AED 24,000 saved per year on tuition alone in strong-performing semesters.

The UAE is home to 87 Fortune 500 Arabia companies, and Sharjah’s own economy is one of the fastest-growing in the region. Sharjah attracted $1.5 billion in capital investment in the first half of 2025 alone - a 361% rise year on year - with 2,578 new jobs created in that period across manufacturing, business services, healthcare, logistics, and technology. Sharjah Media City (Shams) and SRTI Park, both located in University City directly beside UOS and AUS, actively recruit graduates from both institutions into media, technology, and research roles. Both AUS and UOS hold international accreditations across engineering, business, and science, and their graduates find employment across the GCC, in India, and internationally.

If you want to calculate your exact monthly savings and time to recover your total education investment, the ROI Calculator button below is built specifically for students from the Indian subcontinent.

Conclusion

Sharjah university scholarships offer Indian students a genuine and well-structured path to an internationally recognised degree at significantly reduced cost. Whether you qualify for the 50% High School Discount at UOS, the fully funded President’s Scholarship at AUS, or a Merit Scholarship that saves you over AED 88,000 over four years, the opportunities are backed by official policy and real numbers.

The single most important thing you can do right now is start early. The AUS President’s Scholarship deadline falls in March each year, and up to only 20 students receive it globally. The UOS High School Discount requires graduation within five years. Both rewards favour students who plan ahead.

Book a free consultation with Study From UAE. The team will help you identify the right university, match you with the best available scholarship based on your academic profile, and guide you from application to arrival.