Jusoor Hardship Fund

The Jusoor Hardship Fund aims at retaining students in higher education in order to invest in the future of Syria and the region. This program is open to Syrian university students at the undergraduate and Master’s levels, who are enrolled at academic institutions outside Syria and are at risk of dropping out due to financial need. 

The program provides financial assistance of up to $5,000 for one time, which the student can use towards university tuition and fees. The funds are awarded as an interest-free loan, with the agreement that the student will repay their loans within 2 years after graduation, and where the returned funds will support new students in the future.

The scholarship stopped accepting applications on Friday November 13th, 2020 at 7pm CET. We are currently reviewing all applications and everyone will receive an update by the end of December

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be Syrian, palestenian-Syrian or having a Syrian Travel Document
• Be currently enrolled at university outside Syria, in an undergraduate or Master’s program
• Have finished at least half (50%) of the current program
• Have a GPA of 3.0 or better
• Have relevant volunteer and/or work experience to the field of study

Selection criteria:

• Academic achievement
• Personal achievement
• Demonstrate financial need
• Interest in and commitment towards rebuilding Syria

A maximum amount of USD$10,000 will be disbursed. In principle, this equals 2 Hardship Fund Scholarships, each up to USD$5,000. Although it is not possible to exceed the limit defined, it is possible to award scholarships of smaller amounts.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Incomplete applications, applications missing required documents or submissions past the deadline will not be considered. No exceptions will be made under any circumstances due to the high applications volume.

Please carefully read the below frequently asked questions before writing to us:

• How much is the scholarship award?

The award maximum is USD $5,000. The amount awarded will depend on the financial need you note in your scholarship application. Please note you are not guaranteed the full amount of funding you state in your application if selected for the scholarship. Jusoor’s Scholarship Selection Committee will determine the amount of each award.

• Which academic institutions are eligible?

All accredited academic institutions are eligible except those located within Syria.

• Is this scholarship award a loan? Why?

Yes, the award is given as a loan at a zero percent interest rate. This scholarship is intended to support future Jusoor scholars and relies on funding received from alumni awardees in order to be a self-sustaining scholarship.

• How much time do awardees have to repay the loan?

Awardees have up to 2 years after their graduation to repay the loan in full. Some graduates have repaid their loans in full in one payment while others choose to make smaller payments over time. This detail will be agreed with each scholar individually and witnessed in the scholarship contract.

• Does awarding this scholarship as a loan really work? Are scholarship alumni repaying their awards on time?

Yes, we are proud to share that all of our awardees to date are repaying their loans on time, and we owe much of the program’s success to their contributions.

• My GPA is slightly less than 3.0. Am I still eligible to apply?

No, we do not accept applications from students who have a GPA of less than 3.0. Please see our main Scholarship Program page for other opportunities to which you may apply.

• What documents are required for submission?

All applicants must submit the following in addition to the application: 1) estimated budget until graduation; 2) full transcript (official or unofficial) of the academic degree you are currently pursuing; 3) scanned copy of either your passport or national ID card; 4) 2 recommendation letters; 5) resume. We recommend you collect these documents as early as possible in order to ensure you complete your application on time.

• I’ve completed less than half of the course credit required for my program. Am I still eligible to apply?

No, the Hardship Fund is intended to serve as gap funding for students who might not otherwise graduate without financial assistance. Please see our main Scholarship Program page for other opportunities to which you may apply.

• I’ve completed 50% of more the course credit required for my program but I am currently taking a semester off. Am I still eligible to apply?

No, in order to apply you must be currently enrolled in a program and registered for at least one course.

• What do you look for in the ideal candidate?

We look for a balance of the following: 1) strong academic achievement; 2) volunteer and/or work experience relevant to your field of study; 3) proven leadership ability as demonstrated through volunteer and/or work experience; and 4) willingness and demonstrated intent to contribute to the redevelopment of Syria; 5) proven financial need as this scholarship is based on the financial need of the applicant.

• How many awards will be given for this cycle?

2 Hardship Fund Scholarships will be awarded, each up to USD$5,000, for the school year 2020 – 2021.

• When will I be notified of my application status?

All applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by the end of November. Please do not send emails requesting an update of the status of your application. 

• How are awards disbursed?

If selected for the scholarship, the funding will be transferred directly to the scholar’s bank account. If you are selected for the scholarship and do not have a bank account, you may request that the funds be transferred to a relative’s bank account or to your university.

For more information, please contact: