The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development was founded in April 2001, with an endowment from the Sawiris Family. It provides grants to fund projects implemented by partners in the fields of health, vocational and micro-credit sectors. The Foundation focuses its activities on projects geared towards job creation. Furthermore, the Foundation offers a number of scholarships to Egyptian youth to continue their studies inside and outside Egypt.
Support to Higher Education
The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development supports higher education through grants and a set of different scholarships. The scholars are awarded full scholarships, which include university fees, living expenses, health insurance, accommodation, travelling expenses, educational material, and attendance of seminars.
Type of Support
Scholarships
● The Sawiris Foundation Scholarship to Germany, Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD)
A full scholarship (university fees, health insurance, educational material, and attendance of seminars) for two candidates per year from the three German schools in Cairo (DEO) for a maximum of five years, to earn Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in any field of study in universities within the Federal Republic of Germany.
● The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship
Master’s degrees in Business Administration or Construction Management in universities within the United States of America. The scholarship is sponsored by Orascom Construction Industries and offers about 5 scholarships per year. The scholarship covers university fees, health insurance, educational material, and attendance of seminars.
● The Ibrahim Shihata Scholarship
In memory of its founding chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Shihata, the Foundation provides a full scholarship (university fees, health insurance, educational material, and attendance of seminars) to one student to earn a doctorate degree in International Development Law at Queen Mary's College, University of London. The scholarship is offered every 3 years.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship – Master’s Degrees:
The Foundation, in cooperation with the Learning Resource Center in Cairo and the British Council in Cairo, offers a Master’s Degree scholarship in Special and Inclusive Education for 24 scholars over 5 years. Grants range from 60% to 80% of the total amount of the fees.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship - PhD Program:
The Foundation, in cooperation with the Learning Resource Center in Cairo and the British Council in Cairo, offers a PhD program in Special and Inclusive Education for one scholar every 4 years. The scholarship includes university tuition fees at the University of London.
● Nursing Scholarship – Bachelor’s Degree:
In cooperation with the Maghrabi Mansour International College of Nursing at the British University in Egypt, the Foundation offers full scholarships to 10 students to earn a BSc in Nursing. Scholars are awarded a dual degree from BUE and Queen Margaret University, Scotland.
● Vocational Education Scholarship with the Don Bosco Institute in Cairo:
This is a scholarship for technicians (based on three or five educational years). Maximum number of scholarships is 10 per year. Scholars are awarded a full scholarship (which includes university fees, health insurance, educational material, and attendance of seminars).
Grants
Sawiris Foundation for Social Development in 2010, made a special donation of EGP one million, to two funds established by the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University. The grant aims to provide adequate funding for research. It also funds postgraduate students’ admissions at any of the 100 top ranking universities in the world, in order to complete their studies abroad.
Duration of Support
Scholarships
● The Sawiris Foundation Scholarship to Germany: up to 5 years of studying, depending on the field of study and the degree.
● The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship – Master’s degree: 2 years.
● The Ibrahim Shihata Scholarship – PhD: 3 years.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship – Master’s degree: 3 years.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship – PhD program: 4 years.
● Nursing Scholarship – Bachelor’s degree: 4 years.
● Vocational Education Scholarship: 3 to 5 years.
Grants
vary upon the received request.
Eligibility Criteria
Scholarships
The general terms are that all applicants have to be of Egyptian nationality. They have to do well during their studies and have good grades throughout the scholarship years, and that they return to Egypt (only for those studying abroad) once their agreed upon study years are over.
Following are the selection criteria for each one of these scholarships:
● The Sawiris Foundation Scholarship to Germany.
Applicants should:
o Hold the ABITUR certificate with grades over 1.7.
o Demonstrate academic excellence, and the ability to live and study in Germany.
o Be commendable for community service and extracurricular activities.
o Satisfy the entry requirements of the university of study.
o Demonstrate inability to privately finance the course of study.
● The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship
Applicants should:
o Submit the score of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Computer-based or Internet-based (IBT).
o Applicants interested in pursuing a Master's degree in Business Administration must take and submit the score of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).
o Applicants interested in obtaining a Master's degree in Construction Management must take and submit the score of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- Minimum scores required:
* TOEFL CBT: 250 or above.
* TOEFL IBT: 100 or above.
* GMAT: 650 or above.
* GRE: 1000 or above (in the verbal and quantitative sections) and 4.5 or above (in the Analytical section of the exam).
o Be Egyptian nationals residing in Egypt (preference will be given to non-holders of dual nationalities).
o Be prepared to depart for study in the United States.
o Be planning to pursue their Master's degree in one of the top five universities in the United States in the fields of Business Administration or Construction Management.
o Have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5/4.0 or very good (overall grade).
o Be involved in extra-curricular activities (applicants should be able to provide proof of participation in extra-curricular activities when required).
● The Ibrahim Shihata Scholarship
Applicants should:
o Have a university degree in law or a related discipline (e.g. political science or economics) with a strong law component.
o Have proof of academic excellence and relevant experience or research.
o Satisfy Queen Mary University of London entry requirements for the MPhil/PhD program in law. Information is available on:
www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/index.html
o Demonstrate proficiency and command of the English language.
o Demonstrate inability to finance a PhD abroad from own resources.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship
Applicants should:
o Have a university degree.
o Submit proof of proficiency in English:
- A minimum score of 7.0 in Academic IELTS.
- A minimum score of 650 in TOEFL (280 in the computerized
test).
o Submit two letters of recommendation.
o Submit a qualifying essay of 3,000 words (subject given by the
University of London) or a personal portfolio on which applicant needs to score at least a B to enter the course.
o Demonstrate inability to finance a Master’s degree abroad from own resources.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship - PhD program
Applicants should:
o Have a Master’s degree in fields related to Educational Psychology.
o Have a minimum of two years of work experience after earning the Master’s degree.
o Submit proof of proficiency in English:
* A minimum score of 7.0 in Academic IELTS.
* A minimum score of 650 in TOEFL (280 in the computerized test).
o Submit two letters of recommendation.
o Have Egyptian citizenship.
o Be creative and innovative.
o Be less than 50 years old.
o All short-listed candidates will be interviewed by a Panel formed of the LRC Managing Director, the Director of Professional Services and a representative from Sawiris Foundation for Social Development.
o Be committed to 4 years of work in the nominating organization and to work in Egypt for at least 3 years upon his/her return.
● Nursing Scholarship – Bachelor’s Degree
Applicants should:
o Have a General High School certificate (Thanaweya Amma), or an equivalent degree; science section.
o Have good command of the English language demonstrated through TOEFL or ELPET scores.
o Demonstrate financial need.
o Demonstrate commitment to the program for the duration of study.
o Have medical exam clearance for safe nursing practice.
o Pass the interview and successful assessment of self-learning and problem-solving skills.
● Vocational Education Scholarship with the Don Bosco Institute:
Applicants should:
o Be a Don Bosco Institute student.
o Have obtained a final evaluation in the previous year higher than 60%.
o Demonstrate inability to finance the Institute annual fees from own resources.
Grants
Applicants should:
● Be Egyptian nationals.
● Be Faculty members of Economics and Political Sciences.
● Satisfy the entry requirements of the 100 top ranking universities in the world.
Application Procedures
Scholarships
● The Sawiris Foundation Scholarship to Germany
An advertisement is placed on the DAAD website announcing the scholarship and posters are hung in the 3 German schools in Egypt. The application forms are downloadable from:
www.daad.de/deutschland/download/03118.en.html#headline_0_5
● The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship
Announcements are placed on the AMIDEAST Egypt office website and the application form is available there as well.
● The Ibrahim Shihata Scholarship
An advertisement is placed in the Ahram newspaper by the month of December prior to the deadline.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship-Master’s Degree and PhD Program
Application Forms are obtained from the Learning Resource Center Premises in Cairo. More info is available on the following websites:
www.ioe.ac.uk, and
www.lrcegypt.org
● Nursing Scholarship – Bachelor’s Degree
Announcement and application forms are available on the British University in Egypt website:
www.bue.edu.eg
● Vocational Education Scholarship with the Don Bosco Institute
Students with high grades and financial difficulties are nominated.
Grants
A committee of professors from various universities, in addition to representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations, review the proposals presented by applicants to the Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences, Cairo University.
Deadlines
Scholarships
● The Sawiris Foundation Scholarship to Germany: January of each year.
● The Onsi Sawiris Scholarship: June of each year.
● The Ibrahim Shehata Scholarship: End of January; every 3 years.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship - Master’s degree: September of each year.
● Special and Inclusive Education Scholarship - PhD Program: September of each year.
● Nursing Scholarship/Bachelor’s Degree: September; every 4 years (last one was in 2008).
● Vocational Education Scholarship with the Don Bosco Institute: September of each year.
Grants
Proposals can be submitted all year round.
Contact
Additional Information
The Sawiris Foundation gives funds to NGOs to implement projects geared towards job creation in different fields with a focus on health, vocational training and micro-credit.