Shireen Abu Akleh MA Scholarship in Palestine Studies

The Shireen Abu Akleh MA Scholarship 2026/27 recognises high academic achievement and ambition.  The award amount is the full tuition fee plus maintenance of £18,000.

This award is available to a Home or International fee status applicant who already holds an offer to study the MA Palestine Studies in the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter beginning in the 2026/27 academic year. The Scholarship is open to Palestinian candidates or who are Palestinian by descent.

There will be one opportunity to apply this year, the deadline being 29^th May 2026.  You should apply at the earliest opportunity following receipt of your programme offer to ensure consideration for this scholarship.

With the exception of any Prompt Payment Reward for which you might be eligible, you cannot receive more than one scholarship from the University of Exeter; if you are eligible for multiple scholarships you will be awarded whichever scholarship has the higher value.  If your tuition fees will be financed by an external body (such as an overseas government or Chevening, Commonwealth or a partner Institution) with whom the University has a shared financing agreement this award may be invalidated or superseded with a different fee arrangement.

If you expect to receive funding from a charity this may also make you ineligible to receive this scholarship.

It is your responsibility to inform us if you are in receipt of any external funding prior to enrolment; please send a soft copy of the award letter to admissions pg-ad@exeter.ac.uk.

If you defer your 2026/27 offer or change fee status then your scholarship offer will be invalidated. In the event that you withdraw or interrupt your studies post enrolment then the University Finance regulations at that date will apply as regards any repayment or other requirements: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/finance/studentfinanceregulations/

Entry requirements

This scholarship is open to both Home and  International  students who hold an offer with the start date of September 2026 for the MA Palestine Studies. Applicants must either be Palestinian or Palestinian by descent.

How to apply

To apply, you must complete and submit an online application form and upload certain documents, including:

A letter of reference supporting your academic ability (you are required to provide the actual reference rather than just contact details).
A copy of your CV.
Transcript(s) detailing grades and content from your previous qualification(s).
A covering letter of no more than 300 words responding to the following questions:
1. What is your interest in your chosen programme of study and what are you hoping to learn?
2. What are your future ambitions and how will your studies help you to achieve them?
3. What would being awarded this Shireen Abu Akleh MA Scholarship mean to you – what difference would it make?
4. As an Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies Masters Excellence Scholar, how might you act as an ambassador for the University?

You may only make one application for the Shireen Abu Akleh MA Scholarship  per eligible programme for which you are holding an offer.

Applications will be checked initially to ensure that the eligibility criteria have been met.  Applications will then be considered by a nominated panel within the College. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email by no later than  21 June.

Summary