- Students from within and beyond the GEMS Education network can apply for merit-based scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition fees.
- Scholarships will be awarded for exceptional achievement and potential across academics, leadership, innovation, sport and the arts, and a wide range of other talents
Dubai, UAE – GEMS Education has opened applications for the third year of its GEMS Genius Scholarship, inviting talented students currently studying within and outside the GEMS Education network, offering awards covering up to 100% of tuition fees for two academic years at participating GEMS schools.
Scholarships will be available to students entering Grade 9 or Grade 11 in the American and Indian curricula, or Year 10 or Year 12 in the British curriculum, for the 2027–28 academic year.
The previous scholarship cycle attracted more than 2,400+ applications, with more than 550 shortlisted students. Scholarship Open Days were held across 43 GEMS schools in the UAE and Qatar.
Applications for the 2027-28 academic year open on 15 October and close on 15 December 2026, giving families the opportunity to put forward students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement or potential across areas in academics and other areas of talent, such as sport, the arts, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, among many others.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in assessments and interviews as part of the selection process. They will also be invited to the GEMS Genius Scholarship Open Day event on 30 January 2027, where families will be welcomed onto campuses for guided tours, student showcases, offering an authentic insight into school culture, learning environments and the wider GEMS community.
Lisa Crausby OBE, Group Chief Education Officer, GEMS Education, said:
“At GEMS, we see scholarships as more than financial awards. They are about recognising potential, widening opportunity and giving talented young people the platform to go further. Excellence does not have one definition, and neither should opportunity. What a student has already achieved matters, but so does what they could become with the right encouragement, challenge and support. Talent does not always emerge at the same age or in the same way. Some young people distinguish themselves academically; others demonstrate exceptional ability through sport, the arts, leadership or innovation. We hope to discover and support more of them through the scholarship programme, giving them the opportunity to develop their strengths and see just how far they can go.”
The scholarship also reflects the wider direction of education in Dubai, where expanding access to high-quality learning, recognising individual strengths and preparing young people for the future are important priorities. It is in line with Dubai’s Education 33 Strategy (E33), which places learners at the centre of education and emphasises equitable access, personalised learning and future-ready capabilities.
Key details:
- Application window: 15 October to 15 December 2026
- Who can apply:
- Open to both current GEMS students and students currently attending other schools.
- Students of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.
- Scholarship eligibility:
- Students entering Grade 9 or Grade 11 in the American or Indian curricula for the next academic year.
- Students entering Year 10 or Year 12 in the British curriculum for the next academic year.
- Scholarship value: Up to 100% of tuition fees for two academic years
- Selection: Merit-based, considering demonstrated achievement and potential, followed by assessments and interviews for shortlisted candidates
- Scholarship Open Day: 30 January 2027
- Applications: [GEMS Genius Scholarship Application]
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About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is one of the world’s leading private K-12 education providers, educating over 200,000 students from 176+ nationalities across its global network of owned and managed schools. With nearly half a million alumni, GEMS has built a legacy of impact that spans generations and continents.
Established in Dubai in 1959, GEMS remains a family-founded and family-led organisation, guided by its visionary founder and chairman Sunny Varkey, and his sons Dino Varkey (Group CEO) and Jay Varkey (Deputy Group CEO).
With a focus on delivering high-quality education to students from all walks of life, GEMS offers a wide range of curricula and learning pathways. Each year, GEMS students graduate into the world’s top universities, including all eight Ivy League institutions and every UK Russell Group university, and go on to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers in every sector.
Through its expanding school network and philanthropic initiatives, GEMS is committed to its mission: to put a quality education within reach of every learner, everywhere.
Learn more at www.gemseducation.com
Media Contact
Ambika Jadeja: ajadeja@webershandwick.com
