Egypt launches ‘Future Scientists’ grant initiative to support high-achieving students

CAIRO – 21 January 2026: Egypt launched the national “Future Scientists” grant initiative to support outstanding students at Egyptian universities, in a move aimed at nurturing high-performing talent and building a new generation capable of competing globally.

The initiative was officially unveiled during a major ceremony held at Cairo University on Tuesday, attended by senior state officials, under the patronage of First Lady Entissar El-Sisi and in the presence of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.

The initiative, the Ministry of Health said, provides comprehensive support for high-achieving students through full and partial scholarships that ease financial burdens and enable recipients to focus on academic and research excellence.

The program also includes skills development initiatives, support for scientific research, and efforts to link education with labor market needs, implemented through cooperation between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Central Bank of Egypt, and a number of national institutions.

 

The “Future Scientists” protocol covers tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses throughout the entire period of study, the higher education ministry noted in a statement.

It offers full scholarships across a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, computer science and artificial intelligence, nursing, veterinary medicine, applied arts, arts and design, agriculture, tourism and hotels, and archaeology.

The program also prioritizes geographical balance, allocates dedicated quotas for female students and persons with disabilities, and places special emphasis on supporting students from Upper Egypt and border governorates.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour said the scholarship system has already begun operating through the signing of two protocols with the Central Bank of Egypt.

The first covers accommodation and living costs for students affected by the suspension of the USAID-funded scholarship program, while the second provides funding for the “Future Scientists” initiative.

 

Ashour also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Education Development Fund and Misr El Kheir Foundation, in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to support students at the Egypt-Japan KOSEN institute in Cairo’s 10th of Ramadan City. Beginning in the 2025/2026 academic year, annual partial scholarships will be offered to high-achieving and most-in-need students.

Also, a cooperation protocol was signed with the Ministry of Social Solidarity to provide 400 scholarships through Nasser Social Bank, as part of broader efforts to invest in education.

The minister confirmed that applications for the “Future Scientists” scholarship opened last September, alongside upgrades to the digital scholarship platform in preparation for the 2026/2027 academic year, ensuring continuity and improved services for applicants.

During the ceremony, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt Hassan Abdalla said the initiative places human development at the heart of sustainable development efforts.

Abdalla revealed the establishment of a dedicated fund to support the initiative, pooling contributions from the private sector, business leaders, and institutions, with special bank accounts opened to receive donations.

 

The Central Bank governor underscored that they have sufficient resources for the initiative but their goal is to expand it to benefit the largest possible number of students.

He further reaffirmed the Central Bank’s commitment to supporting students whose USAID scholarships were suspended, ensuring they can complete their studies through graduation, underscoring the state’s belief in education as a vital investment in Egypt’s future.

In September, the Central Bank of Egypt, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, announced the provision of fully funded scholarships covering tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses for high-achieving Thanaweya Amma (high-school) graduates.

The grants target beneficiaries of the social protection program Takaful and Karama, as well as students exempted from school fees by the Ministry of Education during the current academic year.

 

Eligible students will enroll in national universities in the 2025/2026 academic year to pursue bachelor’s degrees in scientific disciplines aligned with the state’s development needs across various regions.

The initiative aims to prepare a generation capable of innovation and meaningful contribution to sustainable development, provided applicants are Egyptian nationals and demonstrate academic excellence.