Photo courtesy of The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, aims to expand access to quality higher education, support academically excellent students from socially eligible backgrounds, and build a new generation capable of contributing to Egypt’s comprehensive development.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour said the grant represents a strategic investment in human capital and a cornerstone of the national higher education and research strategy for 2030.
“The grant is designed to create globally competitive graduates by ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of academic excellence,” Ashour said.
According to the ministry, the Future Scholars Grant provides full scholarships covering tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses throughout the period of study.
The programme targets priority fields including medicine, engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence, nursing, veterinary medicine, applied arts, arts and design, agriculture, tourism and hotels, and archaeology.
The grant also takes into account geographical balance, with additional support for students from Upper Egypt and border governorates, while allocating specific quotas for female students and students with disabilities.
Ashour said the scholarship programme was launched through a financing protocol signed with the Central Bank of Egypt.
The minister revealed that 1,173 students have already received full scholarships under the “Future Scholars” programme, while universities across Egypt have provided 35,000 full and partial scholarships to high-achieving and underprivileged students.
In addition, cooperation with the Central Bank has enabled financial support for 780 students affected by the suspension of the US aid programme, covering accommodation and living costs.
Ashour also pointed to further partnerships supporting the grant system, including a memorandum of understanding between the Education Development Fund and Misr El Kheir Foundation, in cooperation with JICA, to provide annual partial scholarships for students at the Egyptian-Japanese Kosen Institute starting from the 2025/2026 academic year.
A separate protocol with the Ministry of Social Solidarity will provide 400 scholarships through Nasser Social Bank, reinforcing state efforts to expand educational opportunities.
Ashour noted that Egypt’s higher education sector has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the number of universities rising from around 50 in 2014 to 130 in 2026, serving nearly four million students nationwide.
He stressed that the initiative reflects the state’s broader commitment to education, innovation, and scientific research as key pillars of sustainable development.
The ceremony also included a panel discussion with grant recipients, who shared how the scholarship has helped them continue their studies and plan for future academic and professional success.
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