About Our Scholarship Program
The Daughters for Life Foundation is committed to building a future in the Middle East, defined by women’s empowerment across the region. We fundamentally believe in the transformative power of education and that it is the key to transcending hardship, allowing every woman to achieve her dreams by tapping into her unique potential. Women have always been agents of change and community building, and with the chance to study, they are able to become industry leaders, innovators and invaluable professionals who help brighten the horizons of their communities.
For over a decade, we’ve offered a scholarship program with the goal of meaningfully investing in the post-secondary education of Middle Eastern women.
Our fully-funded scholarships are open to every level of post-secondary study, including undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies. In line with our core value of recognizing the importance of individuality, DFL does not impose program choice restrictions on applicants, but some of our academic partners are limited in their program offerings from year to year. The scope of our scholarships is broad and includes expense coverage of tuition, residence, food and air travel.
This program has uplifted countless young women, and we’re proud to continuously celebrate the many inspiring achievements of DFL graduates who go on to make an impact in their professional lives.
DFL has joined with renowned academic institutions across North America, Europe and the Middle East who collaborate to deliver this prestigious program. We plan on advancing the effort to broaden our reach, opening more doors for future scholars.
The list of academic partners participating in the scholarship program changes annually. Be sure to check on our active partners for the year before applying.
This program is open to female students from the Middle East, regardless of their religious, ethnic or cultural background. Students must demonstrate a record of academic excellence, must be in financial need, and must convey their experience with overcoming personal adversity. These are the core traits that we look for during our rigorous selection process.
Please review our full eligibility criteria in the program details below for detailed information.
How to Apply
The DFL Scholarship Program application process has two steps.
STEP ONE: Apply to the DFL Scholarship Program
You are eligible to apply for the DFL Scholarship Program if all of the below applies to you:
- You are a female student.
- You are a resident and citizen of the following Middle Eastern countries:
- Palestine
- Israel
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Iraq
- Morocco
- You are in financial need.
- You are committed to returning to your home country once your studies are completed.
If you meet the above criteria, take these steps to apply to the DFL Scholarship Program:
- Complete the DFL Scholarship Program Application form, including the Financial Needs Analysis section.
- Attach the Supporting Documents to the form
- Submit two references
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- One academic reference
- One community reference
For additional assistance, please contact apply@daughtersforlife.com with any inquiries about the application process.
STEP TWO. Apply to Our Academic Partners
All of our academic partners have unique admission requirements, required supporting documents, deadlines and processes for applying. You must also consider the program-specific requirements that apply to every individual program offered.
We encourage you to thoroughly research and apply to more than one of our academic partners as early as possible.
Important Note: DFL does not participate in or oversee the application to academic partners. Applicants are required to apply to academic partners independently.
Academic Partners application deadlines may differ from the DFL Scholarship Program application deadlines.
You are required to have applied to one or more of our academic partners and received an application number or ID to be considered.
The Scholarship Program application for the 2024/25 school year is now closed. We thank all applicants for their submissions. Stay tuned for updates as we prepare to open applications for the 2025/26 scholarship by November 2024.
To be eligible for a scholarship with DFL, you must meet a certain set of criteria.
You are eligible to apply for the DFL Scholarship Program if all of the below applies to you:
- You are a female student.
- You are a resident and citizen of the following Middle Eastern countries: Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Morocco.
- You are in financial need.
- You are committed to returning to your home country once your studies are completed.
Additional required criteria:
- Achieving success despite adversity and hardship
- Making an outstanding contribution to improving the lives of girls and women through work and volunteering at school and in the community
- Reaching significant academic grades (minimum of 75%)
- Having a strong command of English that meets the academic institution’s requirement (English or French for ULB)
- An offer of admission to a program from one or more of Daughters for Life’s four Academic Partners is listed below.
- Compassion
- Creativity
- Perseverance
- To positively contribute to all communities you join
- To return home when your studies are complete, to benefit your community
Contact apply@daughtersforlife.com for further assistance.
The DFL Scholarship Program is applicable to specific academic partners exclusively.
As a scholarship applicant, in addition to the DFL application, you are REQUIRED to apply to the respective academic partner for your desired program and must be given an offer of admission to be considered for the scholarship.
You may apply to multiple programs within each academic partner. Academic partners may only offer scholarship positions to a limited number of programs.
Please be mindful of the application fees associated with each academic partner. This information can be found on each respective institution’s website. DFL is not privy to the unique application systems used by our partners. Therefore, DFL is unable to waive any application fee unless the academic partner specifies.
Please find a list of our academic partners for this year below, alongside important details and a link to apply.
Scholarship Academic Partners 2024/2025
Graduate Scholarship Partners
- University of the Fraser Valley, Canada
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium
- Ghent University, Belgium
Undergraduate Scholarship Partners
- York University, Canada
- University of Antwerp, Belgium
University Description
Graduate Scholarships
The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is the Daughter for Life Foundation (DFL)’s newest partner and is collaborating with the foundation to offer a 2-year Post-Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship in the 2024-2025 academic year.
The University of the Fraser Valley is located in the city of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Eligible candidates who have already completed their 3-year or 4-year undergraduate studies and meet the English proficiency requirements will be offered the opportunity to study International Business or Business Analytics in a 2-year Post-Baccalaureate Diploma program.
Applications are screened by both DFL and the University of the Fraser Valley, and as a candidate, you will need to meet the selection criteria of both.
Note about Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas: Post-Baccalaureate Diplomas are programs designed to provide a level of education that is above an undergraduate degree but is not equivalent to a master’s degree, for example. They provide a unique opportunity for students to advance their knowledge in their chosen field.
The following programs are eligible for a DFL scholarship in 2024-2025:
- Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in International Business
- Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Analytics
Important Links
- International Business Program Page
- Business Analytics Program Page
- UFV International Home Page
- UFV International Student Scholarships
- UFV’s English Language Requirements
To Apply:
- Visit UFV Application Page & Guidelines to start your application.
- UFV has English Language proficiency requirements for international applicants. Diploma applicants are required to meet an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent). For more information, visit UFV’s English Language Requirements Page.
Note: DFL’s scholarship program has a separate application deadline from UFV’s general application deadlines for all international students. Be mindful of important application dates.
The Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) is collaborating with the Daughters for Life Foundation (DFL) for the 2024-2025 scholarship program cycle. ULB is a French-language research university located in Brussels, Belgium, and is a partner of Daughters for Life Europe (DFLE). It offers programs in both English and French, as listed below. ULB will provide eligible candidates with the opportunity to pursue a graduate (Master’s) degree.
Important Links:
- ULB International Admissions Information
- ULB French Language Masters Programs
- ULB English Language Masters Programs
- Application Deadlines for International Students
To Apply:
- Visit ULB’s application page for their application and admission requirements for programs.
- If you plan to apply to ULB, contact DFL directly at apply@daughtersforlife.com BEFORE applying. The subject line of your email should be “ULB Application.”
- Do not apply to ULB without contacting DFL first, as there is a separate process.
Note: DFL’s scholarship program has a separate application deadline from the Université libre de Bruxelles’s general application deadlines for all international students. It’s important to keep track of these application dates.
Belgium’s Ghent University is collaborating with the Daughters For Life Foundation (DFL) in a brand new capacity for the 2024-2025 academic year. In the heart of the city it was named after, Ghent University stands tall as a strong public research university and is DFL’s newest academic partner.
For students who have received an undergraduate degree, Ghent University will provide eligible candidates with the opportunity to pursue a graduate (Master’s) degree. Ghent University is offering applicants free program selection, and the program offered will be taught in English.
Important Links:
- Admission Requirements and International Desk Contact Information
- International Applications Process Guidelines
- English Language Masters Programs
To Apply:
- Visit and review Ghent University’s application guidelines page to initiate the application process.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON APPLICATIONS:
- If you are a new applicant, apply to DFL and the university of interest before the revised deadline. Once you have applied to both DFL and the university of interest, notify us at apply@daughtersforlife.com.
- If you have previously applied and wish to be considered for the additional Master’s scholarship, please apply to Ghent University directly and notify us by email at apply@daughtersforlife.com, indicating your desire to be considered for the new scholarship.
Note: DFL’s scholarship program has a separate application deadline from Ghent University’s general application deadlines for all international students. It’s important to keep track of these application dates.
Undergraduate Scholarships
York University will offer eligible candidates the opportunity to pursue an undergraduate degree. Both DFL and York University screen applications, and as a candidate, you will need to meet the selection criteria of both organizations.
Important Links:
- Undergraduate Programs
- International Student Admission Requirements
- Admission Requirements by Country
- Required Documentation for Undergraduate Applications
To Apply:
- You must apply to York University using the OUAC application
- Visit York University’s application page and use York University’s application to apply.
Note: DFL’s scholarship program has a separate application deadline from York University’s general application deadlines for all international students. Be mindful of important application dates.
The University of Antwerp, in collaboration with the Daughters for Life Foundation (DFL), offers a scholarship program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
The University of Antwerp is located in the city of Antwerp, Belgium and is a Daughters for Life partner. The University of Antwerp will offer eligible candidates the opportunity to pursue an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree programme in Social-Economic Sciences.
Applications are screened by both DFL and the University of Antwerp, and as a candidate, you will need to meet the selection criteria of both organizations.
The University of Antwerp has English Language proficiency requirements for international applicants. For TOEFL and IELTS, the candidate must nominate the University of Antwerp as a valid recipient of the test scores.
Important Links and To Apply:
- Please check the DFL-UAntwerp Scholarships Page for eligible programs and application information.
Note: DFL’s scholarship program has a separate application deadline from the University of Antwerp’s general application deadlines for all international students. Be mindful of important application dates.
Before starting the DFL application process, ensure that you meet the scholarship program’s criteria. It’s essential to have already reviewed the DFL academic partners and scholarships available for the current academic year. Carefully select your preferred academic partner and program, making sure you meet their specific requirements.
Next, proceed with the DFL application as follows:
- Choose the Right Application Form: Select the appropriate application form that aligns with your intended level of study. Use the Undergraduate Application for Bachelor’s programs and the Graduate Application for Master’s programs or post-baccalaureate diploma.
- Access the Application Form: Complete the application form by clicking the link below. Be sure to read and follow all instructions located at the top of the application form.
The application form will ask for the following documents:
- School/college/university transcripts
- CV (Curriculum Vitae)
- Proof of English/language proficiency test
- Financial Needs Analysis
- At least two references (one academic and one community-based) are to be sent directly to apply@daughtersforlife.com. The subject of the email should be “Letter of Reference – [Name of Applicant]”.
If you have any inquiries or require assistance during the application process, please do not hesitate to contact us at apply@daughtersforlife.com. We are here to support you every step of the way.
Please be aware that scholarship positions are limited. In cases where multiple applicants meet these criteria, the selection will be based on a combination of financial need, personal attributes, and academic merit.
Application Process Overview:
Step 1: Application Panel Review
November to January
- Initial review of all applications for completeness and meeting minimum requirements.
- If any issues are found with your application, you will be contacted.
- Applicants are encouraged to contact DFL if they receive admission from any of the academic partners.
Step 2: First Interviews
February to March
- Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be invited to a virtual interview.
- You will be asked about your experiences and assessed for your readiness for post-secondary education in an international context.
- Successful candidates will proceed to the shortlist for the scholarship, while unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Step 3: Second Interviews
March to April
- Shortlisted applicants from the first interview will be invited to a second interview.
- This stage will involve more in-depth questions about becoming a DFL scholar.
- A representative from your chosen academic institution may participate in this interview, and applicants’ parents will also be required to attend.
Step 4: Final Approval of Scholars
April to May
- Applicants who perform well in the interviews will undergo a review by both the scholarship committee and partnering institutions.
- All applicants reaching this stage will receive feedback, regardless of the outcome.
Start Your DFL Scholarship Application Here
Apply Now
THE APPLICATION OPENS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2022
Scholarship Academic Partners
2024/2025 Academic Partners
Over the last 13 years, Daughters for Life has partnered with over 20 Colleges and Universities across North America, Europe and Beyond. Here are some of our previous partners:
GET INVOLVED
Many factors in the Middle East can make education for young women very difficult. But with your donation, we can help many talented women, access the best education possible. We believe that investing in young women’s education is the key to long lasting peace and better future for all of us.