The American University of Beirut (AUB) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2025/2026 for PhD Study (Fully Funded)

🌟 About the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at AUB

The American University of Beirut (AUB) proudly announces that applications are now open for the highly competitive 2025/2026 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. This initiative represents a profound commitment to transformative education and pan-African development.

The core mission of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is to cultivate a new generation of ethical leaders and agents of change. The Program is meticulously designed to equip exceptional young people with the academic and leadership skills necessary to drive positive socio-economic transformation within their communities, countries, and regions across the African continent.

Beyond rigorous PhD coursework, Scholars are required to immerse themselves in a holistic learning experience. This includes mandatory attendance at a specialized series of leadership workshops, capacity-building courses, and practical fieldwork assignments. This supplemental curriculum ensures that graduates emerge not only as academic experts but also as committed and effective community practitioners.

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🎓 Available Fully-Funded PhD Programs for Spring 2025/2026

The Scholars Program offers full funding for doctoral studies in the following specialized fields:

• Theoretical Physics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Epidemiology

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✅ Eligibility and Scholars Program Requirements

Prospective applicants for the PhD scholarship must satisfy a defined set of criteria, demonstrating both academic excellence and a strong commitment to service. The Program targets individuals who possess exceptional talent but face significant financial barriers to accessing advanced education.

The scholarship is specifically open to:

• Citizenship and Residency: Individuals who are citizens of a country on the African Continent or refugees currently residing on the African Continent.
• Academic Excellence: Demonstration of a strong academic standing in all previous university-level degrees.
• Financial Need: Talent that demonstrably exceeds the financial resources available to fund the doctoral study, necessitating full scholarship support.
• Leadership and Service: Proven leadership skills and a strong, unequivocal commitment to giving back to one’s community, home country, and region upon graduation.
• Age Limit: The applicant must be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
• Program Commitment: A firm commitment to attend and fully participate in all mandatory additional learning experiences, workshops, and courses required by the Scholars Program curriculum.
• English Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate Readiness for University Studies in English (RUSE). Acceptable standardized tests that can be submitted to fulfill this requirement include:
• AUB-EN test
• TOEFL IBT
• IELTS (Academic)
• GRE (Verbal section)
• GMAT (Verbal section)
• DUOLINGO English Test (DET)

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📝 How to Apply for the Scholarship

Interested and eligible applicants should follow a distinct two-step process to ensure their application is considered for both admission and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Step 1: Complete the AUB Online Graduate Application

The applicant is required to complete and submit the standard AUB online graduate application for their chosen PhD program. All necessary supporting documents must be uploaded by the specified deadline.

Step 2: Select the Scholarship Option

Within the application, the applicant must navigate to the Financial Opportunities section and specifically select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to indicate their interest and eligibility for the fully funded scholarship.