Scholarship glossary

A stamped official certificate that legalises a document for use abroad. The UK Legalisation Office issues apostilles for UK documents at £45 per paper document, plus postage (gov.uk, updated 15 September 2026).

Official definition: gov.uk: get a document legalised (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

A fee charged to submit an admission application. It differs by provider: none at KAUST or Knight-Hennessy itself, QAR 250 at HBKU, £75 or £20 on the Oxford course pages we checked.

Official definition: KAUST: FAQs (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD), Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

An Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate. gov.uk says you may need a valid one for a UK Student visa if your course and your nationality require it.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa documents (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

Official confirmation that a certificate or transcript is genuine, by the issuing body and then other authorities. Each provider sets its own rule; check its admissions page before paying for attestation.

You are assessed for a scholarship through your admission application, with no separate form. Clarendon considers applicants who apply by the December or January deadline; KAUST gives its Fellowship to every admitted student.

Official definition: Oxford: Clarendon Fund (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil), KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

The Common European Framework of Reference scale for language ability, from A1 to C2. A UK Student visa for degree-level study needs English equivalent to B2.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

A translation whose accuracy is formally confirmed. Knight-Hennessy asks for an official English translation of non-English transcripts; KAUST asks for one if your university does not provide it.

Official definition: Knight-Hennessy: FAQs (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study), KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD)

An admission offer that becomes final only when you meet stated conditions, such as final grades or an English test score. Scholarships such as Chevening need the conditions met before a set date.

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s)

A reference number your UK course provider issues once you have accepted an unconditional offer. You need it to apply for a UK Student visa.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa documents (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

The money you may need to show for a UK Student visa: £1,529 a month in London or £1,171 elsewhere, for up to 9 months, held 28 days in a row (gov.uk, 24 September 2026).

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa, money (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

Recognition by an authority in your home country that a foreign degree equals a local one. Rules are set by each country's ministry; check them before you choose a programme you will need recognised.

An English test taken online, accepted by some providers and not by others. Fulbright Egypt's master's grant lists a Duolingo score of 105 among its accepted English results; check each provider's list.

Official definition: Fulbright Egypt: Master's grant (opens in a new tab) · checked 22 September 2026

An EU-funded master's taught by a group of universities in several countries. The Programme Guide says scholarships can go to students worldwide, with €1,400 a month and a 10% cap per nationality.

Official definition: European Commission: Erasmus+ Programme Guide, Erasmus Mundus (opens in a new tab) · checked 22 September 2026

Written permission from a sponsor that paid your fees and living costs in the last 12 months. gov.uk says a UK Student visa applicant may need it.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa documents (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

A provider's label for a scholarship that pays tuition and living costs. It is not a standard definition: on ScholarMENA each record lists exactly what the official page says is covered, so check flights, housing and health cover item by item.

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil), Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study), KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), MBZUAI PhD Funding 2027 (UAE, fully funded AI PhD)

An extra reference, separate from the two academic references for your Cambridge course, on your fit for the scholarship's four criteria. The referee rates you and may write up to 4,000 characters.

Official definition: Gates Cambridge: how to apply (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD)

Grade point average, a summary of your grades on a scale such as 4.0. KAUST's minimum is 3.0, and it asks you to submit your grades in their original scale rather than converting them.

Official definition: KAUST: FAQs (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD), MBZUAI PhD Funding 2027 (UAE, fully funded AI PhD)

A UK visa to stay and work after completing a degree. gov.uk lists 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027, and 3 years after a PhD or other doctorate.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

A standardised graduate admissions test. KAUST does not require a GRE or PGAT score; HBKU requires it for some PhDs only, and Stanford programmes set their own rules for Knight-Hennessy applicants.

Official definition: KAUST: FAQs (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD), Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study)

An English test with Academic and General Training versions. IELTS says Academic suits university study; IELTS for UKVI is the version accepted by UK Visas and Immigration. KAUST and HBKU both ask for 6.5.

Official definition: IELTS: test types (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

A fee paid with a UK visa application that gives access to the National Health Service. Students pay £776 per year of the visa, for example £1,552 for a 2-year visa, as listed on gov.uk on 24 September 2026.

Official definition: gov.uk: Immigration Health Surcharge (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

A letter from a host supervisor or institution agreeing to receive you. For Fulbright Egypt's Joint Supervision track, the U.S. co-supervisor's letter must evaluate your thesis proposal and describe available facilities.

Official definition: Fulbright Egypt: PhD Joint Supervision (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Fulbright Egyptian Student Program — PhD Joint Supervision 2027–28 (USA, one year of doctoral research)

A PhD arrangement with a supervisor at your home university and a co-supervisor abroad. Fulbright Egypt's track funds Egyptian PhD students for one academic year of research with a U.S. co-supervisor.

Official definition: Fulbright Egypt: PhD Joint Supervision (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Fulbright Egyptian Student Program — PhD Joint Supervision 2027–28 (USA, one year of doctoral research)

The UK term for a living-cost stipend. Gates Cambridge pays a single student £23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate, pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months.

Official definition: Gates Cambridge: the scholarship (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD)

A scholarship that pays only part of the costs. HBKU is an example: it waives 100% of tuition for PhDs, 75% for STEM master's and 60% for humanities, social science and policy master's, and housing is paid from the stipend.

Official definition: HBKU: graduate scholarships (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

A short essay on your motivation and interests, submitted with an application. HBKU's College of Science and Engineering asks for 300 to 500 words and rejects statements below the minimum.

Official definition: HBKU: CSE admission requirements (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

A fixed-term research position for someone who has already completed a PhD. It is a job or fellowship, not a degree, and is listed separately from graduate scholarships.

A person who writes a reference for you. At Oxford you register referees on the application form and each receives an email with a link; 2 references must arrive by the deadline for assessment.

Official definition: Oxford: registering referees (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil), Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study), Fulbright Egyptian Student Program — PhD Joint Supervision 2027–28 (USA, one year of doctoral research), KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD), MBZUAI PhD Funding 2027 (UAE, fully funded AI PhD)

A plan for the research you intend to do: question, methods and timeline. PhD applicants to Gates Cambridge submit one; Fulbright Egypt asks for a thesis proposal evaluated by both supervisors.

Official definition: Gates Cambridge: how to apply (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Fulbright Egyptian Student Program — PhD Joint Supervision 2027–28 (USA, one year of doctoral research)

A condition requiring you to return to your home country after the award. Chevening scholars must return to their country of citizenship for at least two years after the award ends.

Official definition: Chevening: eligibility (opens in a new tab) · checked 22 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s)

Applications are accepted all year and reviewed as they arrive, with no single closing date. On ScholarMENA such a record is marked as rolling instead of showing a deadline.

An English test approved by the UK Home Office for visa applications. For applicants outside the UK the approved providers are PSI, the IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Pearson (gov.uk, updated 21 September 2026).

Official definition: gov.uk: approved SELTs (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

A document explaining what you want to study, why, and what you plan to do next. MBZUAI's PhD application asks for one as a PDF, alongside a separate research statement.

Official definition: MBZUAI: PhD admissions (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: MBZUAI PhD Funding 2027 (UAE, fully funded AI PhD)

Money paid to a scholar for living costs, separate from tuition. Amounts are set per provider: KAUST pays USD 20,000 a year for MS students and USD 25,000 to 30,000 a year for PhD students.

Official definition: KAUST: fees and funding (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD), Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 (Stanford, USA, fully funded graduate study)

The UK visa for courses at a licensed provider. From outside the UK it costs £558, and you can apply up to 6 months before your course starts, as listed on gov.uk on 24 September 2026.

Official definition: gov.uk: Student visa (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s), Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD), Clarendon Scholarships 2027/28 (University of Oxford, fully funded master’s and DPhil)

A date the provider says may change. KAUST states that its admission dates "are tentative and may change based on application volume", so its timeline page needs rechecking before you apply.

Official definition: KAUST: admission timelines (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD)

ETS's English test. Since 21 January 2026 it is scored from 1 to 6 in half-point steps, with a comparable 0 to 120 score shown for two years. KAUST asks for 81 and HBKU for 79.

Official definition: ETS: TOEFL iBT score scale update (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: KAUST Fellowship 2027 (Saudi Arabia, fully funded MS and PhD), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

The university does not charge part or all of your tuition, instead of paying it to you. HBKU's waivers are 100% for PhDs, 75% for STEM master's, 60% for SHAPE master's and 0% for the LL.M. and MS Economics.

Official definition: HBKU: graduate scholarships (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) Graduate Scholarships 2027 (Qatar, master’s and PhD)

A final admission offer with no conditions left to meet. Chevening scholars must submit at least one unconditional offer from their chosen UK courses by 17:00 BST on 8 July 2027.

Official definition: Chevening: 2027/28 timeline (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 (UK, fully funded master’s)

The University of Cambridge's name for the tuition fee charged for a graduate course. Gates Cambridge pays it "at the appropriate rate" for each scholar, alongside the maintenance allowance, flights, visa and health surcharge.

Official definition: Gates Cambridge: the scholarship (opens in a new tab) · checked 24 September 2026

Related scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (University of Cambridge, fully funded master’s and PhD)