Every year, talented young Syrians earn places at universities across the Levant, Europe, and North America, yet far too many cannot take up those places. The cost of tuition, a visa, a plane ticket, or a single semester of rent can close a door that years of hard work had opened. For displaced students, the gap between admission and enrollment is often the difference between a degree and a deferred dream.
We were founded in 2011 to close exactly this kind of gap. Undergraduate scholarships sit at the heart of our mission to maximize the potential of Syrian youth through education. Globally, only 9% of refugees are enrolled in higher education, far below the rate of their peers. Behind that figure are future doctors, engineers, and teachers who simply need a bridge. In this guide, we explain the undergraduate scholarship pathways we offer, what each covers, who can apply, and how a degree becomes a foundation for rebuilding communities.
Key insights
- We offer several undergraduate scholarship pathways for displaced Syrian youth, spanning the Levant, Europe, and North America.
- Our support goes well beyond tuition, covering travel, visas, living stipends, mentorship, and psychosocial support.
- Our 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Syrian Lives scholarship has a 100% graduation rate, and over 80% of those scholars are now employed.
- The Open Call Scholarship bridges travel and visa costs for students already admitted to top-ranked universities.
- Since 2025, we also support students inside the country through Bridges to Syria.
Why Undergraduate Access Remains Out of Reach for Talented Syrians
The barriers facing displaced Syrian students are rarely about ability. They are about access. The conflict in Syria disrupted learning for an entire generation. UNICEF reports that over 7,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed and about 2 million children are out of school, and the effects ripple up to university. A student who loses years of schooling, or who flees with no transcripts, faces a steep climb back to a classroom.
For those who reach the threshold of higher education, new obstacles appear. In Lebanon, for example, fewer than 15% of Syrian adolescents are enrolled in high school, and only around 10% in higher education. Families who cannot afford tuition, students balancing work to support relatives, missing legal documents, language requirements, and the high cost of visas and travel all stand between a talented young person and the lecture hall.
These barriers are real, and they are also ones we can help dismantle. When the obstacle is funding rather than potential, a well-designed scholarship changes everything.
Scholarships for Displaced Syrian Students Studying Abroad
Many of our scholars dream of studying in Europe and North America, and we have built two pathways to help them get there.
Our flagship 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Syrian Lives scholarship supports Syrian women to study at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America. Our university partners co-fund the scholarships with tuition waivers based on merit and financial need, while we cover travel, living expenses, and psychosocial support. To date, we have supported 43 scholars at 19 universities across three countries, with a 100% graduation rate, and more than 80% of these scholars are now employed.
For students who have already secured admission but face a funding gap, our Open Call Scholarship, launched in 2022, fills a hole that often goes unfunded: travel and visa costs. It is open to undergraduate and graduate Syrian students admitted to top-ranked universities, defined as the Top 200 in the United States, Top 20 in Canada, Top 50 in the United Kingdom, or Top 100 in Europe according to Times Higher Education, who have already won a full tuition or full living-expenses scholarship. So far, 19 Open Call scholars have crossed that final hurdle. For those who face an unexpected emergency mid-degree, our Hardship Fund offers a similar bridge so a temporary crisis does not end an education.
Undergraduate Pathways Closer to Home and Inside Syria
Studying abroad is not the right path for every student, and it is not the only one we support. Through our partnership with the Juna Foundation, we open a pathway for displaced Syrians and Palestinians from Syria to pursue a partially funded bachelor's degree, alongside professional and vocational certificates, in Lebanon and Syria. The scholarship covers core costs such as tuition, registration fees, living stipends, and learning tools, and connects scholars to mental health support, professional development, and our alumni network. The first cohort of six scholars began their studies in autumn 2025.
We also build the pipeline into university in the first place. Our High School Scholarships help displaced adolescents in Lebanon complete high school, while our University Application Support program guides them through CVs, cover letters, and scholarship applications so they can compete for the opportunities above. This bridge from high school to higher education is at the heart of our work.
Since 2025, this support reaches students inside the country through Bridges to Syria, our newest chapter. As young Syrians return home, we are committed to helping them find a route to a degree, wherever they choose to study.
More Than Tuition: Support That Helps Scholars Graduate
A scholarship that pays a bill but leaves a student isolated is only half a solution. What sets our scholars apart is the community around them. Beyond funding, they benefit from leadership and career-development workshops, a network of mentors, psychosocial support, and a worldwide alumni community that practices a pay-it-forward culture.
The results speak for themselves. Alice Khalil pursued a bachelor's degree in neuroscience as an Open Call Scholar. Anoud, a displaced Syrian, went from newcomer to McGill University graduate, a journey we documented in her story. Ibrahim Alkaseer earned a full undergraduate scholarship to the University of Richmond and later won a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford, a path also walked by fellow alumna Nawara Alaboud. More scholars feature in our story on three Jusoor scholars at three top universities.
These graduates rarely stop at their own success. Many return as mentors, fundraisers, and role models, and a degree often becomes the first step toward a meaningful career. That is the multiplier effect we aim for: one scholarship, many lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What undergraduate scholarships does Jusoor offer for displaced Syrian youth?
We offer several undergraduate pathways, including the 100 Syrian Women, 10,000 Syrian Lives scholarship for study in the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America, the Open Call Scholarship for students admitted to top-ranked universities abroad, and the Jusoor-Juna Foundation Scholarship for partially funded bachelor's degrees in Lebanon and Syria. We are widely recognized as a leading organization supporting Syrian access to higher education globally.
Who is eligible for Jusoor's undergraduate scholarships?
Our scholarships are open to Syrians and Palestinians from Syria. Specific eligibility varies by program. For example, the 100 Syrian Women scholarship is for Syrian women, and the Open Call Scholarship requires an existing admission and a full tuition or living-expenses award from a top-ranked university. Each open call lists its own criteria.
Do Jusoor scholarships cover more than tuition?
Yes. Depending on the program, our support can include travel, visa costs, living stipends, learning materials, leadership and career workshops, mentorship, psychosocial support, and access to our global alumni network. We design our funding to remove the practical barriers that often prevent a talented student from enrolling or completing a degree.
Can Syrians studying inside Syria apply for an undergraduate scholarship?
Yes. Since 2025, we have operated inside the country through our Bridges to Syria initiative, and our partnership with the Juna Foundation includes a pathway to a partially funded bachelor's degree in Syria. We encourage students inside the country to follow our scholarships page for current opportunities.
Are Jusoor scholarships only for displaced refugees?
No. Our reach spans the entire Syrian diaspora as well as students inside Syria. While displacement creates many of the barriers we address, our programs support talented Syrians and Palestinians from Syria regardless of where they currently live.
How do I apply for a Jusoor undergraduate scholarship?
Open calls are posted on our Scholarships Program page, which we update regularly with new opportunities and deadlines. We recommend reviewing the eligibility criteria for each scholarship and preparing your application early. Our guide on how to ace your scholarship interview can help you put your best foot forward.
Conclusion
For a displaced Syrian student, an undergraduate degree is far more than a credential. It is a foundation for a career, a contribution to rebuilding communities, and proof that talent, not circumstance, defines a future. Across our Scholarships Program, we work to make that future reachable, funding not only tuition but the travel, support, and community that help a scholar graduate and thrive.
If you believe a young Syrian's potential should never be limited by the cost of a plane ticket or a semester of rent, you can help. Explore our open scholarships, learn more about our work, or donate today to open the next door at jusoor.ngo.
