Scholarships for Palestinian Students 2026

2026 opportunities by country

This page covers the main 2026 opportunities for Palestinian students by destination: Germany, Turkey, South Korea, Gulf, and multilateral programmes. Each entry notes what is covered, when to apply, and which Palestinian sub-groups are eligible.

• Germany — DAAD EPOS (full funding, research focus), Helmut-Schmidt Programme (public policy), Heinrich Böll Foundation (social sciences/arts). No IELTS required for most DAAD tracks. Deadline: October–November.
• Turkey — Türkiye Burslari covers tuition, housing, and a monthly stipend. Palestinian nationals consistently rank among the top recipient nationalities. Deadline: February.
• South Korea — KGSP (Korean Government Scholarship Program) covers full tuition, flights, and monthly allowance. Palestinian passport holders are eligible. Deadline: September.
• Multilateral — ISDB (Islamic Development Bank) fully funds OIC-country nationals including Palestinians. Gaza students qualify for the emergency scholarship track. Deadline: January–March.
• Humanitarian — DAFI (UNHCR), the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, and programmes funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) support people displaced by conflict. Telling us you are UNRWA-registered helps us show refugee and UNRWA-specific awards.
• Fully funded options exist at all three levels — undergraduate, masters, and PhD — across all the above programmes.

How to apply in 2026

• Start ISDB prep in October: the application portal opens November and requires a 3-page research proposal, transcripts, and a supervisor letter.
• For Türkiye Burslari, your motivation letter is the deciding factor — focus on what you will contribute to Turkey–Palestine relations or regional development, not just your grades.
• KGSP requires a medical certificate from a licensed clinic and two sealed academic references — give yourself 6 weeks to collect these before the September deadline.
• DAAD applications for Palestinian students are strongest when framed around development or reconstruction — the EPOS track (development-related postgraduate study) was designed for exactly this.
• If you are in Gaza or the West Bank, IIE SRF and ECW have emergency application tracks that run independently of the standard annual cycle — apply as soon as you have an admission letter.
• No IELTS? Türkiye Burslari does not require it. ISDB accepts internal university tests. Use the no-IELTS filter on ScholarPal to find every IELTS-free option.

Frequently asked questions

What scholarships are available for Palestinian students in 2026?

The main fully funded options in 2026 are: ISDB, KGSP, Türkiye Burslari, DAAD EPOS, Chevening, Taawon, and DAFI. These cover tuition, living costs, and in most cases travel. Dozens of additional partial scholarships and university bursaries are also listed on this page.

Can Palestinian students in Gaza or the West Bank apply in 2026?

Yes. ISDB has an emergency scholarship track specifically for Gaza students. IIE Scholar Rescue Fund and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) run expedited processes for students in active conflict zones. Türkiye Burslari and KGSP are also open to Gaza and West Bank students.

Are there fully funded undergraduate scholarships for Palestinians?

Yes. Türkiye Burslari funds undergraduates. ISDB offers undergraduate-level awards. Gulf university bilateral agreements include undergraduate seats. The DAFI programme (UNHCR) covers undergraduate study for refugees.

Do I need IELTS to apply for these scholarships?

Not always. Türkiye Burslari requires no IELTS. ISDB accepts university-administered English tests. DAAD accepts Duolingo for certain tracks. KGSP offers Korean-medium programmes that require TOPIK, not an English test. Use the no-IELTS filter on ScholarPal.

Which Palestinian scholarships have the earliest 2026 deadlines?

Türkiye Burslari closes in February. KGSP closes in September. DAAD EPOS closes October–November. Chevening closes in November. ISDB opens in November for deadlines in January–March. Check each portal for exact 2026 dates.