HRH Prince Al-Waleed Al Saud Awards
These scholarships are for IAIS students who are citizens of countries outside the Arab world. The scholarships are intended to support IAIS students in their University of Exeter assessments, by contributing to the cost of visiting Arab countries to undertake a recognised Arabic language course, or undertake research for a dissertation.
Unfortunately the award cannot contribute to the costs of visiting an Arab country to gain work experience, participate in unpaid or voluntary work, visit friends or family, or assist with writing an essay for a module (except the dissertation).
Who can apply
The amount awarded varies according to the programme of study you are currently undertaking. Please see below for details of the programmes which are eligible for this studentship and the amount awarded.
The amounts listed below are for full-time students only. Part-time (50%) students can apply for up to half these amounts.
IAIS undergraduate students
Undergraduates on an IAIS single or combined honours programmes may apply annually for funding of up to £1,000 for one of the following purposes:
- Study of Arabic at an appropriate institution in an Arab country, or online where circumstances demand it.
- Travel to the Arab world to undertake research for a dissertation (prior to final examinations).
University of Exeter undergraduate students studying Arabic at IAIS as an optional module
Students currently registered on an Arabic module at the Institute who have previously successfully completed an IAIS Arabic module may apply for an award of up to £1,000 for the study of Arabic at an appropriate institution in an Arab country, or online where circumstances demand it.
Undergraduate students from Flexible Combined Honours or Liberal Arts
Students who are studying at least 60 credits of modules in the Institute are eligible to apply for an award of up to £1,000 for the same purposes as IAIS Undergraduate students.
The student must be studying 60 credits of modules in the Institute in each year they apply.
MA Programmes in Islamic Studies or Middle East and Islamic Studies
Students undertaking these programmes are eligible to apply for an award of up to £1,500 for the following purposes:
- Study of Arabic at an appropriate institution in an Arab country, or online where circumstances demand it.
- Travel to the Arab world to undertake research for a dissertation.
MArabic in Arab and Islamic Studies
£1,500 (Stage 4) for additional Arabic study or research for dissertation (minimum of two weeks) following the compulsory Study Abroad placement in term 1 or in Easter vacation prior to exams.
MA Advanced Arabic
£1,500 for additional Arabic study or research for dissertation (minimum of two weeks). This cannot be used to pay for flights for the compulsory Study Abroad placement alone. However, if students wish to extend their compulsory period of study with an additional course of study (minimum of two weeks), Al Waleed funded flights could be used to cover both.
MA IR/Politics and Arabic (2 year programme)
£1,500 for additional Arabic study or research for dissertation (minimum of two weeks). This cannot be used to pay for flights for the compulsory Study Abroad placement alone. However, if students wish to extend their compulsory period of study with an additional course of study (minimum of two weeks), Al Waleed funded flights could be used to cover both.
£1,500 for Arabic language study and dissertation fieldwork (year 2)
IAIS PhD Programmes
Awards of up to £2,000 are available to support PhD students for Arabic language study or fieldwork in an Arab country, normally, in part, attached to an Arab educational or research institution. Awards are made on the basis of academic excellence.
How to apply
Applications should be submitted at least 6 weeks in advance of travel.
In order to apply for this award you must complete the application form (pdf) in its entirety. You must also attach:
- A word-processed rationale for your trip (no more than 2 A4 sides), detailing where you wish to go abroad and the benefits this will have on your study.
- An academic reference from your language tutor or dissertation supervisor.
On approval of your application, please submit:
- Risk Assessment (In Country)
- Proof of purchase of insurance:
Terms and Conditions
The Award Committee may not approve awards intended for travel to areas where Foreign Office alerts are given, or where there may be particular concern for your safety. Please see the Foreign Office travel advice here.
Should your application be successful, within two weeks of your return to the UK you will need to submit your expenses, accompanied by all receipts totalling the amount awarded to you. We accept that in the Middle East formal receipts are hard to come by, therefore we accept signed and dated records of amounts in handwritten format or email.
The amounts listed are ceilings, and receipts need to be submitted to justify expenditure.
The following items are acceptable expenses:
Including, but not limited to: food, non-alcoholic beverages, translation services, transport (hire car, taxi, airport transfer, coach, bus, aeroplane, water ferry, etc.), accommodation, course costs, conference costs, insurance costs, inoculation fees, course books, conference books, guided tours.
The following items are not acceptable expenses:
Including, but not limited to: clothes, toys, electrical goods, souvenirs, leisure activities (cinema tickets, shisha, etc), alcoholic beverages, purchasing of live animals, assistant fees.
Deadlines
Only one scholarship may be awarded per student per academic year (October to September). If your application is unsuccessful, you are welcome to submit a revised application. If you are successful, you may not apply again until the following October.
There is no deadline for application. Download the application form here (pdf).