by Last verified: 17 October 2026. We checked this Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship against Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s official page.
Correction: this award is offered by Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai campus, not the Edinburgh campus. For January 2027, this award (listed as the Diwali Community Award) gives AED 8,000 (eight thousand UAE dirhams) towards study at Dubai. To get it, you must pay your tuition deposit by 11 November 2026.
Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship at a glance
| Detail | What Heriot-Watt Dubai says |
|---|---|
| Value | AED 8,000 |
| Campus | Dubai |
| Intake | January 2027 |
| Level | Foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate |
| Deadline | Tuition deposit paid by 11 November 2026 |
| Combine with other awards? | No |
Who can apply for the Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship
Any applicant to a Foundation, undergraduate or postgraduate programme starting in January 2027 at the Dubai campus, who pays the tuition deposit by the deadline. The page lists no nationality, community or grade requirements.
The page doesn’t say whether the AED 8,000 is a fee reduction or a cash award, and it calls the award both a scholarship and a discount. Ask the Dubai admissions team how it’s applied.
How to apply for the Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship
- Register your interest using the form on the official page.
- Apply for your January 2027 programme.
- Pay your tuition deposit by 11 November 2026.
Worked example
Priya, based in Sharjah, wants to start a postgraduate programme at Heriot-Watt Dubai in January 2027. She registers interest, applies, and pays her deposit on 5 November. Because she meets the deadline, she qualifies for AED 8,000. She can’t add any other Heriot-Watt Dubai discount on top, so if she’s eligible for a larger award, she should compare before committing.
For study options in the UK itself, see our UK student visa requirements guide.
What the Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship is worth against 2027 fees
Heriot-Watt Dubai lists these fees for its January and September 2027 intakes:
| Programme | 2027 fee | AED 8,000 covers |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Data Science | AED 113,685 | About 7% |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | AED 78,650 | About 10% |
So the Heriot-Watt Diwali scholarship helps, but you still need to fund most of the fee yourself.
Other Heriot-Watt Dubai scholarships to compare
- Undergraduate merit scholarship: 30%, 40% or 50% off tuition, depending on your grades.
- Postgraduate merit scholarship: 10% or 15% off tuition.
On an MSc Data Science fee, a 15% merit award would be worth about AED 17,050, more than twice the Diwali award. Check which awards you qualify for before you pay your deposit.
What you pay when you apply and accept
- Application fee: AED 525 (five hundred twenty-five dirhams), including VAT.
- At acceptance: 10% of your first-year fees plus a refundable AED 1,000 security deposit.
For MSc Data Science, that acceptance payment comes to about AED 12,369 (AED 11,369 plus the AED 1,000 deposit).
Frequently asked questions
Is this scholarship for the Edinburgh campus?
No. It’s for Heriot-Watt University’s Dubai campus.
Do I need to be from a particular community?
The page lists no community or nationality requirement.
Is a merit scholarship worth more than the Diwali award?
Often, yes. A 15% postgraduate merit award on MSc Data Science is about AED 17,050. Check the rules on combining awards with Heriot-Watt Dubai before you choose.
Official sources
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai – Diwali Scholarship
- Official page – Heriot-Watt Dubai scholarships and discounts
- Official page – Heriot-Watt Dubai tuition fees and payments
- Official page – Heriot-Watt Dubai MSc Data Science
- Official page – Heriot-Watt Dubai BBA
Terms change. Always confirm on Heriot-Watt Dubai’s official page before you apply.
