Combined Master PhD Research Teaching Scholarship (CMDRTS) for UAE Nationals

Khalifa University of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi runs a combined route that carries a UAE national from a master’s degree directly into a doctorate at the same university. Both degrees are studied full-time on campus.

The two stages are funded differently. The master’s stage waives tuition and pays no monthly stipend. Students who move on to the PhD are placed on one of the university’s standard PhD scholarships, which waives tuition and pays a stipend.

There is no separate scholarship form. Funding is decided inside the admission process, and the student has to apply for the PhD as soon as the master’s is finished.

Benefits & funding

Master’s stage: full tuition fee waiver, with no monthly stipend attached.
PhD stage: one of Khalifa University’s standard PhD scholarships, covering full tuition plus a stipend.
The scholarship tier and its exact package are stated in the admission offer letter.
Scholarship places are limited, and meeting the minimum entry marks does not guarantee an award.
Teaching duties are not compulsory for master’s students, who may be paid separately for services they provide.

Eligibility

Open to UAE nationals only.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with a CGPA of at least 3.0 out of 4.0 for master’s admission.
A master’s CGPA of at least 3.25 out of 4.0 to carry the funding into the PhD stage.
TOEFL iBT 91 or IELTS academic 6.5, taken at a test centre.
Two referee recommendations submitted through the university’s online form, plus a statement of purpose of 500–1,000 words.
An admission interview for shortlisted applicants.
Full-time study at Khalifa University, with the PhD application made immediately after the master’s.

Can you apply?

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Eligible nationalities
UAE
Education required
Bachelor

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Application process

1
Pick a master’s program from Khalifa University’s graduate offerings in engineering, computing and mathematics, or medicine and health sciences.
2
Apply online through the postgraduate portal at pgapply.ku.ac.ae by the deadline the university publishes for that semester; the application fee is AED 200 including VAT.
3
Upload the certified degree certificate, official transcripts with the grading scale, English test scores, CV, statement of purpose, passport photograph, passport copy and Family Book or National ID, plus a UAE Ministry of Education equivalency certificate for a degree earned outside the country.
4
Ask two referees to file their recommendations through the online referee form.
5
Attend the admission interview if shortlisted.
6
Wait for the decision, normally sent by email within eight weeks of the deadline; the scholarship tier arrives with the offer.
7
Apply to a Khalifa University PhD program immediately after finishing the master’s, holding a master’s CGPA of 3.25 or above.

Program timeline

Fall 2026 semester classes begin.
Aug 24, 2026
The admission round open at the time of writing closes; it covers PhD programs only, so the combined route is not part of it.
Sep 14, 2026
Spring 2027 semester classes begin.
Jan 11, 2027
Next master’s intake
Khalifa University posts each semester’s deadline on its postgraduate admissions page; no date is published yet.