1.3.5

Institutional Commitment

Canadian University Dubai (CUD) is committed to promoting equitable access to higher education for students experiencing economic disadvantage, including students originating from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

The University recognises that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds may face substantial financial barriers to accessing and completing higher education, particularly when pursuing university studies outside their home countries.

To address these challenges, CUD provides scholarship opportunities, need-based financial assistance, external sponsorship coordination and student-support services intended to reduce the financial and practical barriers associated with university education.

CUD's Financial Hardship Scholarship is available to eligible students irrespective of nationality, subject to documented financial need and applicable institutional scholarship requirements.

This inclusive approach enables eligible students from countries classified by the World Bank as low- or lower-middle-income to apply for financial assistance and access the University's wider academic and student-support services.

1. Target Population and Financial Eligibility

CUD's financial assistance arrangements support students experiencing documented financial hardship, including eligible international students from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

For the purposes of identifying these countries, CUD refers to the World Bank's country income classifications.

The relevant classifications distinguish between:

• Low-income countries: Countries classified by the World Bank as low-income economies.
• Lower-middle-income countries: Countries classified by the World Bank as lower-middle-income economies.

CUD recognises that a student's country of origin and individual financial circumstances are distinct considerations.

Originating from a developing country does not automatically establish financial hardship. Accordingly, need-based scholarship eligibility is assessed using documentation of a student's or household's financial circumstances.

Supporting documentation may include:

• Family or household salary certificates.
• Bank statements.
• Residential rental agreements.
• Other relevant documentation demonstrating financial need.

These requirements provide a mechanism for assessing financial disadvantage and identifying eligible students requiring assistance with university expenses.

2. Financial Assistance and Scholarship Opportunities

CUD provides a range of scholarship opportunities intended to make higher education more accessible to eligible students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Financial Hardship Scholarship

The Financial Hardship Scholarship is a central component of CUD's financial assistance arrangements for students experiencing poverty-related financial barriers.

The scholarship provides need-based tuition assistance of up to 40%, subject to assessment of documented financial need and applicable scholarship conditions.

The programme is available to eligible students regardless of nationality, including applicants from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Financial assistance is assessed individually, allowing the University to consider each applicant's circumstances when determining eligibility.

Recipients are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.8 to continue receiving assistance under the stated scholarship conditions.

The scholarship is designed to reduce tuition-related financial pressures and support students' continued participation in higher education.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

CUD also provides other institutional scholarship opportunities, including academic merit-based awards.

The Academic Excellence Scholarship offers tuition assistance of up to 50% to eligible high-achieving students, subject to the University's scholarship regulations.

These opportunities are open to eligible applicants from different nationalities and may benefit students from developing countries.

Merit-based scholarships are distinct from need-based financial assistance because academic achievement does not, by itself, establish financial disadvantage.

Combined Financial Assistance

Under applicable scholarship conditions, eligible students may combine certain scholarships and tuition discounts up to a maximum combined tuition reduction of 60%.

These arrangements may help reduce tuition expenses for students who qualify for multiple forms of assistance.

The amount awarded depends on the student's eligibility and the applicable institutional scholarship regulations.

3. International Student Scholarship Support — Academic Year 2024–25

CUD's international student population includes students originating from developing countries.

The University's 2024–25 institutional records demonstrate the provision of scholarship assistance to a proportion of these students.

Scholarship Coverage Among First-Year International Students from Developing Countries

In academic year 2024–25, CUD recorded 205 first-year international students from developing countries, of whom 50 received scholarships.

This represents a scholarship coverage rate of 24.39% among the reported student group.

The figures provide measurable evidence of scholarship provision to international students from developing countries.

These scholarships form part of CUD's broader institutional financial assistance arrangements, which include need-based and other forms of scholarship support.

The reported developing-country student group is broader than the World Bank's low- and lower-middle-income country classifications. Consequently, the 50 scholarship recipients are reported as beneficiaries from developing countries, rather than exclusively as financially disadvantaged students from low- or lower-middle-income countries.

CUD's need-based Financial Hardship Scholarship provides a specific pathway through which financially disadvantaged students from those countries may receive additional tuition assistance.

4. External Sponsorship and Educational Funding Support

CUD facilitates external sponsorship arrangements to help eligible students access educational funding.

Student Sponsorship Liaison Office

The University's Student Sponsorship Liaison Office coordinates administrative arrangements between students and external sponsoring organisations.

Depending on the individual agreement, sponsoring organisations may include government agencies, employers, corporations or other external institutions.

Sponsorship support may cover:

• University tuition fees.
• Educational materials and textbooks.
• Accommodation expenses.
• Other approved educational costs.

These arrangements provide an additional funding mechanism for students who qualify for external educational sponsorship.

Eligible students from low- and lower-middle-income countries may benefit from sponsorship opportunities where they meet the relevant financial and administrative requirements.

The Student Sponsorship Liaison Office also supports communication between the University and sponsoring organisations concerning applicable financial and academic obligations.

5. Institutional Financial Aid Coverage

In addition to international student scholarship opportunities, CUD maintains financial assistance arrangements for students experiencing poverty-related barriers to university education.

Financial Aid Coverage — Academic Years 2022–23 to 2024–25

In the 2024–25 academic year, 940 of CUD's 1,733 reported students received financial assistance associated with poverty, representing 54.24% of the reported student population.

The number of students receiving financial assistance increased from 618 in 2022–23 to 940 in 2024–25, representing growth of approximately 52.1%.

These figures demonstrate the scale of CUD's financial assistance activities and its ongoing support for students experiencing economic hardship.

The institutional figures cover the wider student population and are separate from the 50 scholarship recipients identified among first-year international students from developing countries.

Together, the datasets provide complementary evidence of CUD's wider financial assistance provision and scholarship access among international students.

6. Academic Support for Financially Disadvantaged International Students

CUD recognises that tuition assistance is only one component of supporting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

International students may also face challenges associated with academic adjustment, access to educational resources and adapting to a different higher education environment.

The University provides academic support services that are accessible to eligible students irrespective of nationality.

Student Success Centre

CUD's Student Success Centre offers free academic tutoring and skills development support.

Available services include:

• Tutoring in mathematics and English.
• Academic writing and communication support.
• Study strategies and effective learning techniques.
• Examination preparation.
• Time management and note-taking workshops.
• Academic skills coaching.

These services enable students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain academic assistance without paying additional tutoring fees.

Academic Advising

CUD provides academic advising and orientation to help students understand programme requirements, plan their studies and address academic challenges.

Academic advising can be particularly valuable for international students adapting to a new educational system.

Scholarship Monitoring

The University's scholarship administration arrangements include monitoring the academic performance of scholarship recipients.

The Scholarship Coordinator reviews relevant academic information and identifies students who may require additional assistance to maintain satisfactory academic progress.

Where appropriate, students can be directed towards academic advising, tutoring and other available student-support services.

These arrangements aim to help students maintain their eligibility for continued financial assistance and progress towards successful completion of their qualifications.

7. Health, Wellbeing and Practical Support

CUD provides student-support services intended to address personal, health-related and practical challenges that may affect continued enrolment.

These services are accessible to students from different nationalities and financial backgrounds, including eligible students from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Health Centre

CUD operates an on-campus Health Centre providing free basic healthcare and first-aid support.

Services include assistance with minor illnesses and injuries, health education and access to nursing support.

These services help reduce the need for students to incur additional expenses when accessing basic campus healthcare assistance.

Mental Health and Counselling

CUD provides free and confidential counselling services to help students manage personal and emotional challenges.

Counselling may address academic stress, anxiety, adjustment difficulties and other concerns affecting student wellbeing.

For financially disadvantaged international students, these services provide access to personal support without additional counselling fees.

Student Accommodation

CUD provides access to student accommodation arrangements designed to offer convenient residential options near campus.

Accommodation includes selected utilities and amenities under applicable residence conditions.

Accommodation is generally provided on a paid basis, although eligible students may receive assistance through applicable external sponsorship arrangements.

Transportation Assistance

CUD provides complimentary shuttle transportation between designated university residences and campus for eligible resident students.

The service helps reduce daily commuting expenses for students residing in university accommodation.

Administrative and Visa Guidance

CUD provides administrative guidance to international students regarding relevant UAE visa procedures and university requirements.

This support helps students understand the administrative obligations associated with studying in the UAE.

8. Institutional Coordination and Student Support

CUD's financial assistance and student-support arrangements involve several university offices with complementary responsibilities.

These services provide financial, academic and personal assistance to eligible students from different socioeconomic and international backgrounds.

The availability of need-based scholarships alongside academic and wellbeing support contributes to CUD's efforts to reduce barriers to higher education for financially disadvantaged students.

9. Continued Support and Educational Inclusion

CUD recognises that students from low- and lower-middle-income countries may face additional financial pressures when pursuing higher education internationally.

These pressures may relate to tuition expenses, accommodation, transportation, educational resources and the cost of living.

CUD's support arrangements seek to address these challenges through a combination of financial aid, scholarship opportunities, sponsorship coordination and accessible student services.

The University's Financial Hardship Scholarship provides a mechanism for assessing poverty-related financial need, while free academic and wellbeing services offer additional assistance throughout students' university studies.

The reported 2024–25 scholarship coverage of 24.39% among first-year international students from developing countries demonstrates the provision of scholarship opportunities within this broader international student population.

CUD continues to support access to financial assistance and student services for eligible applicants, including financially disadvantaged students from World Bank-classified low- and lower-middle-income countries.

10. Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1 — No Poverty

CUD's need-based scholarship arrangements and student-support services aim to reduce poverty-related barriers to higher education for eligible students, including those from low- and lower-middle-income countries.

SDG 4 — Quality Education

Scholarships, free academic tutoring and student-success services help widen access to quality higher education and support continued academic participation.

SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities

Financial assistance available to eligible students irrespective of nationality, alongside accessible academic and wellbeing services, contributes to reducing socioeconomic inequalities in educational opportunities.

Institutional Commitment

Canadian University Dubai remains committed to supporting students experiencing financial hardship, including eligible students from countries classified by the World Bank as low- or lower-middle-income.

Through its Financial Hardship Scholarship, institutional scholarship opportunities, external sponsorship coordination and student-support services, CUD seeks to reduce financial and practical barriers to higher education.

In academic year 2024–25, 50 of the University's 205 first-year international students from developing countries received scholarships, providing quantitative evidence of scholarship provision within this international student group.

CUD continues to promote equitable access to educational funding and support services for students facing economic disadvantage, regardless of nationality.

Responsible Offices: Office of Admissions, Scholarship Committee, Student Sponsorship Liaison Office and Office of Student Affairs.

Contact: scholarship@cud.ac.ae

Primary Reporting Period: Academic Year 2024–25, with historical institutional financial assistance comparisons from 2022–23 and 2023–24.