Summary

This award is exclusively for applicants who are currently studying or have studied at one of the GEMS schools listed below and have achieved one of the following the following: 

• Standard Indian XII Higher(CBSE, CISCE) 85%
• Three A levels A,A,B
• IB 34 over all with higher level (6, 6, 5)  
• USA High School Diploma with CGPA 3.2/4.0 AND 3 AP tests with scores 5,5,4
• £7,500 reduction in tuition fees for the first year of study
• 5 awards are available
• Online application required
• Exclusions apply

As part of our application process, candidates are required to submit an essay of up to 750 words explaining why they want to study at Queen's University Belfast and how this programme will help them fulfil their career aspirations. This is included within our online form.

Closing date for applications: Friday 06 June 2025 at 15:00 BST.

Apply Here

All scholarships are offered subject to terms and conditions.

Terms and Conditions

Eligible Schools

Applicants must be a current student or have studied at one of the following schools:

Please note the following:-

1. The GEMS Academic Excellence Award is exclusively for new international students who are normally domiciled in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Qatar.
2. Applicants must be a student or have studied at one of the above listed schools and must attain one of the following to be eligible:-
   • Standard Indian XII Higher(CBSE, CISCE) 85%
   • Three A levels A,A,B
   • IB 34 over all with higher level (6, 6, 5)  
   • USA High School Diploma with CGPA 3.2/4.0 AND 3 AP tests with scores 5,5,4
3. Students must have firmly accepted an offer for a place on a full-time undergraduate programme at the Queen’s University Belfast campus, starting in the academic year 2025/26 and prior to commencement of study have met any academic and language conditions attached to their offer as stated in their offer letter. Exclusions apply – see point 14 below.
4. Students must be classified as international fee-paying students paying the full international tuition fee rate. Students paying NI or GB fees are not eligible for the GEMS Academic Excellence Award.
5. Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Qatar.
6. Applicants must attend or have attended one of the schools named in the list of eligible schools.
7. Deadline to apply for GEMS Academic Excellence Award is Thursday 05 June 2025 at 15:00 BST
8. The scholarship is awarded for the first year of study only and is deducted from gross tuition fees upon enrolment. The scholarship cannot be used in lieu of any required deposit and no cash alternative is available.
9. Any GEMS Excellence Award is for entry to Queen’s University Belfast in the academic year 2025/26 and cannot be used for 2026/27 entry or any other year.
10. If you wish to defer your entry to the University your scholarship will not be transferred.
11. Students must be self-funded i.e. be paying the tuition fees for the course yourself at the international rate.
12. Where Queen’s University Belfast has agreed discounted tuition fees with partner institutions, those students should contact the International Scholarships team by email on International Scholarships to confirm their eligibility.
13. If you are in receipt of funding (either tuition fees or tuition fees and living costs) from an external sponsorship body such as Government, a charity or a private organisation you will not be eligible for an International Office Undergraduate Scholarship. This excludes students in receipt of educational loans.
14. The following programmes are excluded from eligibility for the GEMS Academic Excellence Award:
    > Undergraduate: Medicine, Dentistry, Agricultural Technology, Theology
    > ALL Distance Learning programmes, foundation degree programmes and non-standard fee courses, including part-time programmes.
15. Students must request authorisation from the International Scholarships team before making any changes to their programme of study. Where changes are made without authorisation being granted, the scholarship may be withdrawn, and students may be required to repay the scholarship in full.
16. In the event that a student has received scholarship offers for a number of different programmes at Queen’s University Belfast, they will only be able to redeem one scholarship award. This will be the scholarship award for the course onto which they enrol in the 2025/26 academic year.
17. Applicants may apply and/or be considered for more than one tuition fee award administered by Queen’s University Belfast but if successful would receive the higher of the awards (with the lower value award cancelled or allocated to another applicant).
18. International scholarships cannot be used in conjunction with any other University tuition fee scholarship except the Early Confirmation Award where eligible.
19. The University is unable to consider requests for increased and/or further funding. The amount of scholarship offered is non-negotiable.
20. The University reserves the right to vary all or any scholarship awards, discounts and regulations at its sole discretion.