The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship for Egyptian nationals to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree at one of four US universities – Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, or the University of Pennsylvania. It covers full tuition, living allowance, travel, and health insurance, and the application deadline is July 31, 2026. In exchange, scholars commit to returning to Egypt for two years after graduation. Here’s everything you need to know before you apply.
If you are Egyptian and you’ve been quietly hoping for a scholarship that doesn’t make you choose between “prestigious” and “actually fully funded,” this is the one worth stopping for. It’s been running since 2000, it’s funded by Orascom Construction, and it’s already sent more than 99 students through some of the most selective universities on earth. That’s not a huge number, which tells you something important upfront: this is small, deliberate, and genuinely competitive – not a volume program.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
| Program name | Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program |
| Funded by | Orascom Construction / Sawiris Foundation for Social Development |
| Who it’s for | Egyptian nationals residing in Egypt |
| Degree levels | Bachelor’s and Master’s |
| Endorsed universities | Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania |
| Covers | Full tuition, living allowance, travel, health insurance |
| Application deadline | July 31, 2026 |
| Minimum GPA (undergrad) | 3.5 / 90% (or equivalent) |
| Minimum SAT / ACT | 1450 / 32 |
| Minimum TOEFL / IELTS | 100 / 7.5 |
| Post-graduation commitment | Return to Egypt for 2 years |
| Program running since | 2000 |
Who Can Actually Apply
This one is specific, so let’s get the eligibility out of the way first.
You need to be:
- An Egyptian national, residing in Egypt (dual nationals are not given preference)
- Planning to start your studies in the US in 2027
- Committed to returning to Egypt for two years directly after your degree
- Someone who hasn’t lived abroad for more than two years (preference goes to applicants without significant time abroad)
For undergraduate applicants, you also need:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.5, or 90% in Thanaweyya Amma (or an equivalent secondary certificate)
- TOEFL iBT 100+ or IELTS 7.5+
- SAT I score of 1450+ or ACT score of 32+, taken within the last two years
- Evidence of extracurricular involvement
Both grade 11 students (by the application deadline) and grade 12 students are eligible to apply, as long as you’re starting as a freshman in August 2027.
For graduate applicants, the bar is similarly high:
- A bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.5, or “Very Good” or above
- TOEFL iBT 100+ or IELTS 7.5+
- For MBA applicants: GMAT 650+ (or GMAT Focus 595+) or GRE 315+ with a 4.5 Analytical Writing score, plus a minimum of three years of work experience
- For Master of Engineering applicants: GRE 315+ with a 4.5 Analytical Writing score
- Male applicants must show proof of completed, exempted, or postponed military service
One detail worth flagging: computer science and computer engineering are not covered as majors under this scholarship. They can only be included as a minor within the Engineering school. If you’re set on a CS degree specifically, this isn’t your program — but if engineering broadly interests you, note that preference goes to sustainability-linked fields like civil, environmental, energy, mechanical, chemical, and water engineering.
What It Actually Covers
This is a genuinely comprehensive package, not a partial scholarship dressed up as a full one:
- Full university tuition
- Monthly living allowance
- Travel expenses
- Health insurance
- Educational materials
- Possible internship opportunities with Orascom Construction for selected scholars
How the Process Works
- Create an account on the application portal
- Fill in your personal and educational details
- Write your Statement of Purpose, answering two required essay questions:
- A 500-word essay on how attending your chosen university would help you succeed on a personal, local, and national level
- A 350-word essay on what you’re passionate about and how you’ve pursued that passion
- Upload your required documents – resume, test scores, transcripts, certificate, two recommendation letters, and proof of extracurricular activities
- Submit before July 31, 2026
A quiet but important rule: applications missing any required document or test score are automatically disqualified before they’re even reviewed. This isn’t a program where you can submit now and add materials later, so build your document checklist well before the deadline, not during the final week.
Being nominated doesn’t guarantee a spot, either. Nominees are expected to be ready to start their actual university applications by October 2026, and the scholarship award is only finalized once you’ve secured admission to one of the four endorsed universities.
Where the Essay Actually Matters Here
Given that this scholarship requires two separate personal essays as a core part of the Statement of Purpose, this is exactly the kind of application where essay quality can be the deciding factor between a strong academic profile and an actual nomination. If you’re working on either of the two required essays, our guide to writing a scholarship essay that actually gets you selected walks through structure, common mistakes, and how to avoid the generic writing that blends into every other application. And since GPA is such a hard cutoff here, our piece on what sleep deprivation is quietly doing to student GPA is worth a look if you’re finishing out a semester while also building this application.
If Stanford Is the Draw, Here’s Another Option
If Stanford specifically is what caught your eye on that endorsed university list, it’s worth knowing the Onsi Sawiris Scholarship isn’t the only fully funded path there. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is a separate, globally open scholarship at Stanford worth comparing eligibility and terms against, since it doesn’t carry the same return-to-home-country commitment.
For more fully funded options at the undergraduate and PhD level, check our roundups of 15 Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students and 40 Fully Funded PhD Scholarships for International Students, or browse everything currently open in our Education section.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible for the Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program?
Egyptian nationals residing in Egypt, planning to start undergraduate or master’s studies in the US in 2027, and committed to returning to Egypt for two years after graduation.
- What universities can I attend with this scholarship?
Only four endorsed universities: Harvard, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania.
- Does the scholarship cover computer science degrees?
No. Computer science and computer engineering are not covered as majors, though they may be included as a minor under the Engineering school.
- What is the application deadline?
July 31, 2026, for studies starting in 2027.
- Do I have to return to Egypt after graduating? Y
es. Scholars commit to returning to Egypt for two years directly after completing their degree.
- Is dual nationality a problem for eligibility?
It’s not disqualifying, but preference is not given to dual-nationality applicants, and preference goes to those who haven’t lived abroad for more than two years.
Ready to apply? Start your application through the official application portal before the July 31, 2026 deadline.
