The University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) has launched a financial aid scheme under which new undergraduate students with financial difficulties can receive a scholarship covering 10-50 per cent of their tuition fees.

The selection criteria will be based on the applicant’s household income, the number of dependants and their expenses.

The aid will be awarded in the autumn and spring semesters of each academic year, and will cover the entire course of study, provided the recipients maintain the stipulated academic standards.

“Many students may be missing access to good quality education because they cannot afford the cost,” said Professor Mohamad Khalifa, vice president Academic at UOWD.

“Our Financial Aid Scheme has been designed to offer maximum assistance to needy students based on a formula that has been worked out by our scholarship committee.”

In order to be eligible for the scheme, first-time applicants must be enrolling in their first semester of study at UOWD and enroll in the relevant number of subjects and at least one summer semester.

Scholarships awarded to students will be reviewed at the end of each year.

“Recipients will be able to complete their whole degree program under the scheme, as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria and maintain reasonably good academic standards,” added Professor Rob Whelan, UOWD president.-TradeArabia News Service