The American University of Beirut (AUB) runs a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program that pays for master's and PhD study on its Beirut campus. The funding is full: tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance, housing support and books. AUB was founded in 1866 and is the oldest English-language university in the Middle East, with a strong name in medicine, engineering and business.
Before you get excited, read the eligibility section of this guide carefully. This program is aimed at citizens of African countries, Lebanon, and refugees living in Lebanon or Africa. It is not a fully open global scholarship, so most Pakistani students will need to confirm with AUB whether they can apply at all. You can see the full scholarship details on Titans Abroad.
A fully funded AUB degree with a leadership agenda
Most scholarships judge you mainly on grades. This one is different. AUB and the Mastercard Foundation select for leadership potential and a real commitment to giving back to your home community. Scholars take part in structured leadership development, community engagement and civic-responsibility programming alongside their degree. The idea is that graduates go home and lead change in their communities.
So who does this suit? A student from an eligible country with solid academics, a track record of community work, and a clear plan to return home and use the degree there. If your main goal is to settle abroad permanently, the program's mission will not match your story, and selectors will notice.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | American University of Beirut, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Study level | Master's (thesis and non-thesis) and PhD, on campus |
| Fields | All fields |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Deadline | March 26 each year (the 2026 cycle closed on March 26, 2026) |
| Usually opens | November |
| Age limit | 35 or younger at the time of application |
| Official site | AUB Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page |
What the funding package pays for
The coverage is broad. As listed for the program, it includes:
- Full tuition for an on-campus master's (thesis or non-thesis) or PhD program
- A monthly living stipend
- Health insurance
- Housing support
- Books and study materials
- Leadership development and civic-engagement programming alongside your studies
Travel arrangements are also mentioned as being covered where applicable. That phrase "where applicable" matters, so do not assume your flights are paid until AUB confirms it in writing for your case. The same goes for the exact stipend amount, which the program information does not state. Ask the scholars office if you need a figure for planning.
Teaching at AUB is entirely in English, and its degrees are widely recognised internationally. Many graduates move on to top graduate schools and multinational employers, and the alumni network is strong across government, business and international organisations in the Middle East and North Africa.
The nationality rule Pakistani students must check first
Here is the eligibility list as published for the program:
- Citizen of an African country or Lebanon, or a refugee residing in Lebanon or Africa
- 35 years old or younger at the time of application
- For master's applicants, you must not already hold a master's degree
- Strong academic performance in previous studies
- Demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to community engagement
- English proficiency shown through AUB's RUSE test or an equivalent, by the stated deadline
Pakistan is not in the eligible group as currently described. Country eligibility for this program can be updated between cycles, though, so the honest advice is simple: email or contact AUB's Mastercard Foundation Scholars office and ask directly whether citizens of Pakistan can apply in the coming cycle. Do this before you write a single essay. If the answer is no, you have saved yourself weeks of work, and you can still apply to AUB through its regular graduate route if the university itself interests you.
Pakistani students who also hold citizenship of an eligible country, or who are recognised refugees living in Lebanon or Africa, are in a different position. Read the criteria closely and confirm your status with AUB.
Paperwork for the AUB application and the financial aid form
You will need:
- The AUB graduate program application with supporting academic documents
- The AUB Financial Aid Application (required for master's applicants)
- A statement of purpose or personal statement that addresses leadership and community engagement
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- An English proficiency result (RUSE or equivalent)
- Letters of recommendation
If you are preparing Pakistani degrees and transcripts for any foreign application, our documents checklist for international scholarships and the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explain how to get them in order. Check with AUB what form of certification it wants, since that detail is not given in the program information.
How the application actually works
There is no separate scholarship portal. You apply to AUB first and opt in to the scholarship inside that application.
- Apply to your chosen graduate program through AUB's standard online graduate application.
- In the application, select the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program under the Financial Opportunities section.
- Submit the AUB Financial Aid Application if you are applying for a master's.
- Complete the English proficiency requirement (RUSE) by its deadline. For the most recent cycle this was May 31.
- Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and selected Scholars are told before the Fall semester begins.
Step 2 is where people slip. If you forget to tick the Mastercard Foundation option, you are just a regular AUB applicant. Step 3 is the other trap: the financial aid form is a separate submission, and it is required for master's applicants. The AUB Office of Financial Aid handles that side of things.
Two deadlines, not one
The most recent cycle ran on this timeline:
- November 2025: applications opened
- March 26, 2026: application deadline
- May 31, 2026: English proficiency (RUSE) deadline
- Summer 2026: interviews and selection
- September 2026: Fall semester begins
The program is currently closed and is expected to reopen around November. Dates can shift from cycle to cycle, so confirm the exact deadline on the official portal once the next round opens. Note that the English test deadline falls after the main deadline. That gap tempts people to leave RUSE until late. Do not. Sit it well ahead of time so a scheduling problem cannot knock you out at the final stage.
Where strong applicants go wrong
The biggest mistake is writing a generic statement of purpose that reads like any other scholarship essay. This program says openly that it selects for leadership and community commitment. Your statement should show concrete things you have done: a group you organised, a project you ran, people you helped, and what changed because of it. Then connect your degree to a specific plan for your home community.
The second mistake is treating eligibility as a formality. Because the nationality focus is narrow, applicants from outside it should get a clear answer from AUB before spending money on tests or document attestation.
Third, check the age rule against the application date, not the start date. You must be 35 or younger at the time of application. And if you already hold a master's degree, you cannot apply for a second master's under this scheme, although the PhD route remains open to you if you meet the other criteria.
Finally, think about Lebanon itself. Beirut has a rich, diverse student life, but anyone planning several years of study there should keep up with the country's economic and political situation and factor it into their decision.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for the AUB Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program?
Current eligibility focuses on citizens of African countries, Lebanon, and refugees residing in Lebanon or Africa. Pakistani students should confirm eligibility for their nationality directly with AUB's Mastercard Foundation Scholars office before applying, as country eligibility can change between cycles.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
Yes. It covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance, housing support and books for on-campus master's or PhD study. Travel is covered where applicable, so confirm the details for your situation.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Applicants must be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
Do I need a separate financial aid application?
Master's applicants must submit the AUB Financial Aid Application in addition to the graduate program application.
Which English test does AUB accept?
AUB asks for its own RUSE test or an equivalent. Check with AUB which equivalents it accepts for your program, and meet the RUSE deadline, which was May 31 in the most recent cycle.
Which subjects can I study?
The program is open to all fields, at master's and PhD level, provided the program is taught on campus at AUB.
For the latest cycle dates and eligibility, go to the AUB Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page, and keep the full scholarship details page bookmarked for quick reference.