Jusoor High School Scholarship

High schools around the world which are interested in hosting students are encouraged to reach out to us (contact at the bottom of this page). We would love to hear from you and share stories about our students’ success.

Every year Jusoor receives a list of nominations from UWC Syria consisting of students who have applied to their scholarship. Jusoor itself does not receive applications. In order to qualify, students must meet these eligibility criteria:

• Are Syrian, or Palestinian with a Syrian travel document (Palestinian refugees in Syria);
• Have an above average academic record;
• Have completed or are currently enrolled in 10th grade;
• and Are 16 to 18 years of age by September of the year in which they apply.

Applications are considered complete if they included a complete application form, transcripts, letter of recommendation, and a copy of a Syrian passport or national ID. Cases where students may not have access to their transcripts due to the war are accommodated on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to assessing skills, interests, and academic performance, applicants are assessed as individuals, group members, and members of society. The core criteria are:

• Intellectual curiosity
• Active commitment
• Social competence
• Personal integrity and responsibility
• Ability to represent Syria

The collective pool of information the committee considers to assess an applicant includes:

• The application form (with questions about where students have lived, what they’ve achieved, what they do in the areas of arts and sports, how they’ve helped others, what they would change in their society if they had only one chance, what they think is the most important experience in their lives, their ambitions, and why they think they should be selected).

• A letter of recommendation.
• Academic transcripts for the previous two years.
• An academic test in English and Arabic languages, general culture, and math. We require basic proficiency in English; we maintain that if students don’t speak their native language well, then they are not good students, hence the testing in Arabic. Math is at the basic level of 10th grade in Syria; and general culture includes sections about Syria and the world. The rationale for requiring a test is having a single standard against which all students can be compared, ensuring that no one has helped the student with some of the input we receive. We have especially used the English and Arabic essays on the test in the past to learn more about the students’ values.
• Skype interview (25-30 min.). We use previously collected information to formulate questions.
• Potential additional Skype interview (also 25-30 min.), for a few students as needed.

Students are nominated to participating schools in the program, and schools have the final decision over accepting students. Factors that are involved in allocating students to schools are foremost “best fit,” where Jusoor assesses that the institution and the student are a good match, diversity preferences by the receiving schools, the ability of families to cover extra expenses if any (including plane tickets), and in a few cases, visa precautions based on our own assumptions and previous experiences of what works better in different countries.

Jusoor will communicate all conditions of admission, sponsorship details, and orientation details to the student. Partner institutions shall directly communicate with the students and their families any information about their formal acceptance, as well as all information pertinent to the program of study, dorm life, acquiring a visa, and other information that any international student may need. We ask that we are copied on all the materials the student receives before arriving at the academic institution to ensure a smooth transition, and to assist with the visa application process as needed.

Students are required to submit a report at the end of each semester with their grades and a progress report to Jusoor. Partner institutions are asked to help with that process as needed. We use this information to track students’ performance and offer support to them and the academic institutions where needed, and within our capacity.

Jusoor meets with the families after selections and offers an orientation program for the students before their departure to help them succeed, adjust to life after transitioning to another country, and make the best use of the resources that will be available to them. During the program, we include them in our 600+ alumni and current students’ group, allowing them access to leadership and professional development training opportunities, and a network of mentors around the world.