100 Syrian Women Scholarship at McGill University

• Academic achievement
• Personal achievement and leadership
• Financial need
• Interest in and commitment towards rebuilding Syria

The Scholarship will cover full tuition and mandatory ancillary fees for the normal duration of the awardees’ program based on full-time studies. Additionally, the scholarship will offer a living stipend (CAD $2,000/month) for 46 months, book allowance (CAD $500/semester) for 8 semesters, student health insurance (CAD $1,500/academic year) for 4 years and a total airfare allowance of up to CA D$4,000 disbursed upon receipts submitted to the school. 

Visa fees, including costs for sending documents, and travel to visa appointments and application fees, are counted with the airfare allowance. It is also worth noting that these amounts are not binding and no rights should be obtained from this announcement until a final decision has been made and an agreement has been signed. Although Jusoor is happy and willing to provide financial guidance, the awardee is responsible for managing their funds very wisely.

Please note Jusoor cannot disburse any funds, including the visa cost reimbursement until the awardee arrives in their country of study and opens a local bank account. All 100 Syrian Women scholars receive their awards on a semesterly basis and as transfers to the partner school on behalf of the student. The partner school manages fund transfers to the student. Jusoor will book the scholar’s flight to Canada.

Candidates must apply through this online application. Do not apply to the university. If you are selected by Jusoor as a scholar, you will apply to the university then. 

‍How many awards will be given?  

Up to two awards will be given for the academic year starting in Fall 2023.

Which study programs are eligible?

Please note that the scholarship is available only to female students who are interested in pursuing their undergraduate education at McGill University, Canada. For an overview of available study programs, you may check page 22 of the ViewBook or the searchable webpage here. Please note that Medicine, Dentistry, Law, Music and Architecture are excluded from consideration and students may not apply for these programs as part of the scholarship

My GPA is slightly less than 3.0. Am I still eligible to apply?

No, we do not accept applications from students who have a GPA of less than 3.0. Please see our main Scholarship Program page for other opportunities to which you may apply.

What documents are required for submission?

All applicants must submit the following in addition to the application:

• Motivation letter as described in the application form.
• Full transcript (official or unofficial) of the academic degree you are currently pursuing or from your high school. You must submit both the original and self-translated to English copies. 
• Scanned copy of either your passport or national ID card; 
• Resume. We recommend you collect these documents as early as possible in order to ensure you complete your application on time. For more information, please refer to the “Eligibility Criteria.”
• Two recommendation letters: the recommenders MUST email their letters to scholarships@jusoor.ngo by 31st January, 2023. The letter is confidential and should NOT be seen by the applicant. In the subject line of the email, the recommender must mention the FULL NAME of the applicant. The letter should be on school/organization  letterhead and be signed and dated by the recommender. 

I’ve completed a few course credits required for my program. Am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, you are eligible to apply if you have completed less than a year in your undergraduate degree or if you have just graduated from high school.

I’ve completed my high school education but my education has been interrupted. Am I still eligible to apply?

All applying students whose education has been interrupted but satisfy the following conditions will be considered:

• Provide Grade 10, Grade 11 and mid-year Grade 12, as long as they graduate. Furthermore, students who started a Bachelors before suffering an interruption in their education cycle will also be considered as long as they provide the same as high school applicants plus any university grades.  Must have their math and science requirements taken within the last 5 years to be considered valid.

My TOEFL/ IELTS is expired or I can’t take either of these tests to prove my English Proficiency, am I still eligible?

All applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency by either providing an IELTS/ TOEFL exam certificate or one of the alternatives available on the link here: https://www.mcgill.ca/undergraduate-admissions/apply/english-proficiency

Will Jusoor offer any additional funds to sponsor the English Language Proficiency Exam?

Yes, Jusoor will offer additional funds to shortlisted applicants who wish to take the Duolingo English Test (DET) as an alternative means to demonstrate English proficiency. For further information: englishtest.duolingo.com/

Applicants will be informed if they are shortlisted by the end of February 2023 and will be requested to take the test before their scheduled interview in March. 

What do you look for in the ideal candidate?

We look for a balance of the following: 1) strong academic achievement; 2) volunteer and/or work experience relevant to your field of study; 3) proven leadership ability as demonstrated through volunteer and/or work experience, and 4) willingness and demonstrated intent to contribute to the redevelopment of Syria; 5) proven financial need as this scholarship is partially based on the financial need of the applicant.

What will happen if I’m awarded the scholarship but my visa is delayed?

If selected for the scholarship and admitted to one of the programs offered by McGill University, your enrollment will be prioritized for the academic year 2023-2024. Nevertheless, in case of a delayed/ denied visa, the scholarship will be deferred to the next academic year.

What will happen if I’m denied one or both of my study program choices?

Applicants are asked to indicate two program choices. If deemed not admissible into either of these choices, McGill Admissions may provide options for which the candidate is admissible.

Do I need to apply to McGill University separately to be considered for this scholarship?

Applicants should NOT apply directly to McGill. Once recipient(s) are selected, our Admissions team will guide them through a ‘back door’ application in order to receive their acceptance.

When will I be notified of my application status?

All applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by the end of March 2023. Please do not send emails requesting an update on the status of your application.

How are awards disbursed?

If selected for the scholarship, the funding will be transferred to McGill University which will moderate the financial transactions between the selected candidate and the scholarship awardee on a semesterly basis.