Annual Scholarships Plan vs Merit Scholarships Plan in Kuwait 2026/2027
In This Blog:
- Introduction
- Kuwait Merit Scholarships Plan 2026/2027
- What is the difference between the Annual Scholarships Plan and the Merit Scholarships Plan?
- Everything you need before applying for a Merit Scholarship
- What are the distinguished lists, and how do you verify the university, major and country?
- Financial allowances and retaining Merit Scholarship status
- Everything students and parents need to know about Merit Scholarships
- Everything students and parents need to know about Merit Scholarships
- How does Acceptix support your Merit Scholarship application?
Introduction
Requirements, university admission, grades, distinguished lists, countries, financial allowances and everything you need before applying
Kuwait Merit Scholarships Plan 2026/2027
28 July 2026: registration for the Annual Scholarships Plan has closed and its results have been announced. Registration for the Merit Scholarships Plan remains open until 24 February 2027 under the Ministry’s announcement. Distinguished university and programme lists may change, so applicants must recheck their selection when applying.
The Annual Scholarships Plan is based on competition for specified seats, majors and countries. Students select up to eight preferences and do not need a final university offer when they first register. The Merit Scholarships Plan starts with a final, certified offer from a university or programme shown as distinguished on the official lists. It requires 90% for most majors and 95% for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. A final offer alone does not guarantee a scholarship: all eligibility, documentary and official classification requirements must be satisfied when the application is submitted.
What is the difference between the Annual Scholarships Plan and the Merit Scholarships Plan?
A clear comparison to help you identify the right route before you begin
The official name of the first route is the Annual Scholarships Plan, although students often call it the basic scholarship plan. Both routes are administered by Kuwait’s Ministry of Higher Education and share general eligibility rules, but their admission process, majors, countries, timelines and documents differ substantially.
Comparison | Annual Scholarships Plan | Merit Scholarships Plan |
Status for 2026/2027 | Registration closed on 7 July 2026; results were announced on 11 July 2026. | Registration is open from 14 June 2026 until 24 February 2027 under the Ministry’s announcement. |
How the route works | Students compete for seats in majors and countries specified in the annual plan. | The application is built around a final offer from a programme or institution officially classified as distinguished. |
Preferences and placement | Up to eight preferences; order matters, but selection depends on competition, eligibility and available seats. | It does not use the same preference-placement model; the student submits one specific final offer. |
University offer at registration | Not required for initial registration; the Ministry and Cultural Offices continue admission procedures after nomination. | A final academic offer certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office responsible for the study destination is required. |
Secondary-school grade | Initial and actual cut-offs vary by country, major, school-certificate type and competition. | 90% for most majors and 95% for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy under the 2026/2027 guide. |
National aptitude tests | Required for specified medical and engineering majors and included in the equivalent score. | Not listed as a general condition in the current guide, although any university test remains part of admission. |
IELTS or TOEFL | May be attached if available; accepted students can have up to one calendar year to meet the university condition within the rules. | An original or certified result is required with the application, meeting both the university and Ministry minimum. |
Minimum English score | IELTS Academic 5.5 with no skill below 5.5, or TOEFL 47, while any higher university requirement still applies. | The same minimum applies, but the score required for the final offer must be met; UK requirements may include IELTS Academic UKVI. |
Majors | Specified majors for each country in the annual plan. | Potentially broader, provided the university, programme and major appear on the current official distinguished lists. |
Countries | Nine countries appeared in the current plan results. | The current undergraduate distinguished-programme search returned results in 18 countries; results are dynamic, not a permanent list. |
Monthly allowance | The approved basic allowance for each country. | A 50% increase in the monthly allowance while the student qualifies for Merit Scholarship status. |
Keeping the status | Subject to scholarship regulations, study load and academic progress. | May revert to ordinary scholarship status if Merit Scholarships Plan conditions, GPA or full study load are not maintained; status can be restored under specific rules. |
Is acceptance guaranteed? | No. It depends on competition, seats, accurate data and complete documents. | No. A university offer is essential but does not replace grade, classification, documentary and Ministry approval requirements. |
General conditions shared by both routes
1. The applicant must be a Kuwaiti citizen.
2. The applicant must be between 16 and 23 years old when registering under the current guide.
3. The applicant must hold an eligible secondary-school certificate and must not already hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
4. The applicant must not have previously been sent on an external scholarship or grant that ended in dismissal or withdrawal after enrolment.
5. The applicant must not combine the scholarship with another scholarship or grant and must not be employed by a government entity.
6. If previously accepted for an internal scholarship or grant, repayment rules may apply according to the case and regulations.
7. The secondary-school certificate must be within the validity period; the 2026/2027 guide specifies the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic years.
Placement in the Annual Scholarships Plan: what do eight preferences mean?
Students select up to eight preferences from the available countries and majors. Early registration does not itself create priority; eligibility, accurate information and complete documents matter. Specified medical and engineering majors use an equivalent score, while other majors may use the secondary-school percentage. Results are then ranked through competition for available seats. The minimum stated in the plan is therefore not a promise of acceptance: the actual cut-off after results may be higher.
Do not compare the 90% distinguished-scholarship requirement with the last accepted score in the Annual Scholarships Plan as though they were the same. The 90% or 95% figure is an eligibility condition for the Merit Scholarships Plan; the Annual Scholarships Plan cut-off is a competitive result that can change each year.
Everything you need before applying for a Merit Scholarship
From the final offer and school grade to English, documents and the start of funding
The Merit Scholarships Plan is not a route where the Ministry first finds a university for you. You must begin by selecting the correct university and programme and obtaining an eligible final offer. You then submit the application through the online system after verifying your identity through the Kuwait Mobile ID app.
Who can apply for the Merit Scholarships Plan?
1. A student who meets the general external-scholarship conditions.
2. A student with a secondary-school score of at least 90% for most majors.
3. A student with at least 95% when the offer is for Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy.
4. A student holding a final academic offer from an officially recommended distinguished programme or institution.
5. A student whose offer has been certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office responsible for the study destination.
6. A student who meets the English condition for final admission and submits IELTS or TOEFL evidence under Ministry rules.
7. A student who applies within the registration period and uploads every correct document; incomplete files are not reviewed.
What does a final university offer mean?
It is an academic offer that allows the student to begin the specified programme after satisfying the conditions accepted by the Ministry. If the offer remains conditional on English, a subject, a test or an interview that has not been completed, do not assume it meets the final-offer requirement. The university, campus, degree, major and programme must match the official search result and the Cultural Office’s decision.
A university offer does not prove by itself that the programme is distinguished. The university may be recommended while your major, campus or mode of study is not listed as distinguished. In that case, the offer does not meet the Merit Scholarships Plan condition.
IELTS and TOEFL requirements
The current registration guide requires an original or certified test result. The student must meet the university’s final-admission score, with a Ministry minimum of IELTS Academic 5.5 overall and no skill below 5.5, or TOEFL 47. If the university requires a higher score, the higher score applies. For the UK, IELTS Academic UKVI should be checked against the university’s requirements. The guide also provides a limited exception for eligible tests taken abroad by students who completed secondary school outside Kuwait, subject to its rules.
Documents required at registration
1. The final secondary-school certificate and certified transcript, with an uninterrupted secondary-school sequence as required by the guide.
2. Secondary-school equivalency when the certificate is from a foreign system or issued outside Kuwait.
3. The final academic offer certified by the relevant Kuwait Cultural Office.
4. The student’s and guardian’s Kuwait Civil IDs.
5. The personal-details page of the student’s passport.
6. The original or certified IELTS Academic or TOEFL result.
7. Any additional document required by the system for the certificate type, country or programme.
Application steps: from university selection to the Ministry’s result
1. Choose the major and country, then search the National Bureau platform using the undergraduate and distinguished filters.
2. Match the university, programme, campus, degree and mode of study; never rely on the university name alone.
3. Review admission, English, test, interview and university-deadline requirements.
4. Apply to the university and obtain a final offer.
5. Send the offer to the Kuwait Cultural Office responsible for the study destination for certification.
6. Prepare the secondary-school certificate, equivalency, Civil IDs, passport and English test result.
7. Enter the scholarship registration system, verify your identity through Kuwait Mobile ID, complete the data and upload clear files.
8. Review the application before submitting it and follow any note or missing-item request shown in the system.
9. After acceptance, the student and guardian must authenticate the academic and financial undertaking through the Sahel app within 60 days.
10. Complete the post-acceptance forms online; the scholarship does not take effect before all official procedures are completed.
When do the scholarship and allowances begin?
Sponsorship and payment begin from the semester or academic year in which the required documents were completed and the official action was issued. The student is not paid retrospectively for an earlier semester or year started before the file was complete. If the student and guardian do not authenticate the required undertaking through Sahel within 60 days of the result, the scholarship is cancelled under the programme guide.
What are the distinguished lists, and how do you verify the university, major and country?
The difference between a recommended university and a distinguished programme, with the correct search process
The distinguished lists form part of the National Bureau for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality Assurance platform. The platform does more than show recommended universities: it has separate filters for Distinguished Programme and Distinguished University. The search result must match the student’s offer when applying because the lists are updated.
A recommended university is not automatically a distinguished university
A recommended university meets the Bureau’s requirements for enrolment and study under its decisions. Distinguished status requires the programme itself to appear under Distinguished Programme or the institution to appear under Distinguished University for the relevant degree. Every distinguished university or programme must also be recommended, but the reverse is not true.
Distinguished programme or distinguished university?
1. Distinguished Programme: status is attached to one specified major or programme and does not automatically extend to other majors at the university.
2. Distinguished University: the institution appears under the Distinguished University filter, subject to any notes or limits on degree and major.
3. All Majors or all faculties: do not interpret this label outside the full search result and decision; always read the university details and notes.
4. An X mark means the programme is no longer included on the Bureau’s official lists.
How to search the distinguished lists correctly
1. Open the recommended-universities platform and read its terms and conditions.
2. Choose whether to search by major or by university.
3. Select the country and Bachelor’s degree.
4. Activate Distinguished Programme or Distinguished University for your case.
5. Enter the major and university, then open the full result and notes.
6. Match the official programme name, degree, campus and mode of study with your offer letter.
7. For the UK, ask the university for the HECoS, CAH or JACS/HESA programme code and search under the correct classification.
8. Obtain Cultural Office approval before enrolment; the absence of a clear result is not approval.
9. Repeat the search on the day you submit the scholarship application because the list may have changed after you received the offer.
A programme’s marketing name may differ from its official classification. For example, a programme containing Data or Business may be listed under another code or academic field. Ask the university for the official code before relying on the search result.
What criteria do the official lists consider?
The Bureau’s platform explains that assessment includes institutional and programme accreditation, programme standing under rankings adopted by the Bureau, admission and transfer policies, regular attendance, field-visit reports and Cultural Office reports. It also requires traditional study and a programme that has graduated its first cohort, and excludes continuing-education or part-time evening programmes even when the university itself is recommended.
Countries in the 2026/2027 Annual Scholarships Plan
The current Annual Scholarships Plan results included seats in nine countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Malta, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. A country’s inclusion does not mean every major is available there; majors are allocated by destination.
Countries with undergraduate Distinguished Programme results in the current search
When the National Bureau platform was reviewed on 28 July 2026 using the Bachelor’s and Distinguished Programme filters, results appeared in 18 countries. This is a changeable search result, not a final guarantee list:
1–6 | 7–12 | 13–18 |
Australia | Republic of Ireland | Denmark |
In the same search, the undergraduate Distinguished University filter returned results for the United States and Canada, while opportunities in other countries appeared mainly through specified distinguished programmes. Do not use this statement alone to make a decision: search for your university and programme on the platform when applying.
Financial allowances and retaining Merit Scholarship status
Financial allowances and retaining Merit Scholarship status
The best-known financial benefit is a 50% increase in the monthly allowance. However, the monthly allowance is not every component of the scholarship. Tuition, insurance, tickets, books, clothing, visa costs and family allowances follow separate regulations and tables for each authority and country; they are not all automatically multiplied by 1.5.
Monthly allowance comparison across five destinations
Country | Basic monthly allowance | Merit Scholarship monthly allowance | Increase |
United States | US$3,900 | US$5,850 | 50% |
United Kingdom | £2,850 | £4,275 | 50% |
New Zealand | NZ$7,400 | NZ$11,100 | 50% |
Australia | A$5,850 | A$8,775 | 50% |
Republic of Ireland | €3,450 | €5,175 | 50% |
These figures reflect the current comparison table used for this guide. Confirm the amount and start date with the responsible Cultural Office, particularly if the currency, decision or student’s circumstances have changed.
Detailed official example: allowances in the United Kingdom
The Kuwait Cultural Office in London publishes a basic monthly allowance of £2,850 and a Merit Scholarship monthly allowance of £4,275. It separately lists a spouse allowance of £1,425, £570 for each of the first three children, book, equipment and clothing allowances that differ between theoretical and scientific majors, as well as ticket, visa and clinical allowances. This separate table confirms that the Merit Scholarship increase applies to the monthly allowance, not every other item.
When does payment begin?
Entitlement starts after sponsorship, arrival and the Cultural Office’s document, bank-account and enrolment requirements are complete, according to each destination’s system. In the UK, the Cultural Office states that payment begins from arrival, or up to two weeks before the course starts when the student is already in the country, and the monthly allowance is paid in advance on the twentieth day. Do not assume that identical operational rules apply in every country.
When does a Merit Scholarship revert to an ordinary scholarship?
1. If the student exceeds the approved programme duration without graduating.
2. If the cumulative GPA falls below 2.67 under a credit-hour system, below 60% in the UK system, or the equivalent.
3. If the student transfers to an institution outside the distinguished lists and the major is offered in the Annual Scholarships Plan.
4. If the student does not complete the minimum full study load or fails the year under an annual system.
5. If the student takes more than two courses and their related laboratories in majors or institutions outside the distinguished lists.
6. If the student exceeds the permitted number of courses delivered through a non-traditional study mode under the regulations.
Can Merit Scholarship status be restored?
Yes. The regulations allow restoration from the following semester or academic year if the student raises the GPA to at least 2.67, reaches at least 60% in the UK, or achieves the equivalent. If status was removed because of an insufficient study load, the student must complete the minimum load for two consecutive regular semesters from the semester in which status was removed, or pass the year under an annual system.
Can a scholarship under the Annual Scholarships Plan move to Merit Scholarship status?
A student on an ordinary scholarship may move to Merit Scholarship status from the following semester or academic year after obtaining an eligible offer from a distinguished programme or institution and meeting the conditions. The programme rules also allow a major to be changed no more than twice during the scholarship, provided the new programme or institution remains distinguished and the general major-change rules are satisfied.
Student responsibilities for keeping the scholarship
1. Follow the laws of the study destination and the university, immigration and accommodation rules, while representing Kuwait responsibly.
2. Continue studying without interruption or suspension unless official approval has been obtained.
3. Complete the programme within the approved period and meet the required study load and academic-progress rules.
4. Maintain contact with the Ministry and Cultural Office and submit enrolment evidence, transcripts and required reports.
5. Obtain approval before changing the university, major, country or mode of study.
6. Notify the Cultural Office before leaving the scholarship location during study, in line with the applicable rules.
Everything students and parents need to know about Merit Scholarships
Direct answers about registration, admission, distinguished lists, countries, allowances and continuation The highest-intent questions students and parents ask on Google and AI tools are grouped under four headings so readers can find a detailed answer quickly without turning every question into a separate section.
What is the difference between the Annual Scholarships Plan and the Merit Scholarships Plan?
Students may use “basic scholarships” informally, but the official route is the Annual Scholarships Plan, which uses preferences, seats, specified countries and majors. The Merit Scholarships Plan requires a final offer from a distinguished university or programme and a 90% score, or 95% for specified medical majors.
When does registration for the 2026/2027 Merit Scholarships Plan close?
Under the Ministry’s announcement, registration continues until 24 February 2027. University admission, certification and English requirements take time, so do not delay preparation until the final days.
Is registration prioritised by speed?
No. The Ministry states that registration is not based on who submits first. Eligibility, accurate information and complete documents determine whether a file can be considered, although the deadline remains binding.
Can I apply if I did not register for the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Yes, if you meet the Merit Scholarships Plan requirements and apply during its registration period. The two routes use separate application processes.
Can I apply if I was not accepted under the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Yes. Not receiving an Annual Scholarships Plan scholarship does not prevent a Merit Scholarships Plan application if you meet the grade requirement, obtain an eligible final distinguished offer and satisfy the other conditions.
Do I select eight preferences for a Merit Scholarship?
No. It is not managed through the same preference-placement process. The application is based on your one specified final university offer.
Does a 90% school score guarantee acceptance?
No. It is an eligibility condition for most majors. You must also hold a final certified offer, meet English and classification requirements, submit all documents and receive the Ministry’s decision.
Does Medicine require 90% or 95%?
The 2026/2027 guide sets 95% for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy and 90% for other majors.
Can I apply with an older secondary-school certificate?
The current guide accepts certificates from the two academic years specified for this cycle: 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, subject to the certificate system and equivalency requirements.
Can a government employee apply?
A general condition is that the applicant must not be employed by a government entity at the time of application.
2. University admission, English and document questions
Is university admission the main factor in a Merit Scholarship?
It is central but not the only factor. The offer must be final, certified and matched to the distinguished lists, while the school grade, English and general conditions must also be met.
Is a conditional offer sufficient?
Not every conditional offer meets the final-offer requirement. Check the outstanding condition with the Cultural Office and Ministry before relying on it.
Does the offer need to be certified?
Yes. The programme guide requires a final offer certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office responsible for the study destination.
Is IELTS required when applying?
Yes. An original or certified result is among the required documents, and the score must satisfy the university and Ministry minimum.
What IELTS score is required?
The university’s requirement applies when it is higher. The Ministry minimum is IELTS Academic 5.5 with no skill below 5.5, or TOEFL 47.
Does the UK require IELTS UKVI?
Students should check IELTS Academic UKVI against the university’s requirement and the destination-specific guide.
Are aptitude tests required for the Merit Scholarships Plan?
The current registration guide does not list national aptitude tests as a general Merit Scholarships Plan condition. Any admission test or interview required by the university remains necessary for the final offer.
Why might a file that appears complete still be rejected?
Common reasons include a programme that does not match the distinguished list, a non-final offer, missing certification, an insufficient English result, or unclear and inconsistent data or documents.
Do I need to visit the Ministry after acceptance?
The guide directs students to complete forms electronically and authenticate the undertaking through Sahel. Follow any new instruction displayed in the live system.
What happens if the undertaking is not authenticated within 60 days?
Under the guide, the scholarship is cancelled if the student and guardian do not authenticate the academic and financial undertaking within the stated period.
3. Distinguished lists, universities and countries
What are the distinguished lists?
They are official results on the National Bureau platform showing programmes or universities classified as distinguished under accreditation, quality, ranking and reporting criteria.
Is every approved or recommended university distinguished?
No. Recommended status is broader; distinguished status is a specified filter for a programme or university.
If a university is distinguished, are all its majors distinguished?
Do not assume this. Check the university result, notes, major and degree, particularly when status is attached to one specified programme.
If a major is distinguished, is every university campus accepted?
No. The campus, branch, mode of study and degree must match the official result.
Does online study qualify for a Merit Scholarship?
The platform requires traditional study and the regulations restrict non-traditional courses. Do not enrol in an online or evening programme without official approval.
What does an X beside a programme mean?
It means the programme is no longer included on the Bureau’s official lists.
What should I do if my major does not appear?
Search by university and review All Majors where shown, then ask the university for the official programme code and contact the Cultural Office. The absence of a clear result is not approval.
Why do UK programme codes matter?
Programmes are categorised using HECoS, CAH and JACS/HESA. A marketing title may be insufficient, so ask the university for the official academic code.
How many countries are in the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Nine countries appeared in the 2026/2027 plan results, with different majors assigned to each country.
How many countries appear in the Distinguished Programme lists?
The undergraduate search returned results in 18 countries on 28 July 2026. The number and results can change as the lists are updated.
4. Allowances and keeping Merit Scholarship status
How much higher is the Merit Scholarship allowance?
It is 50% higher than the monthly allowance while the student qualifies for Merit Scholarship status.
Are tickets, books and insurance also increased by 50%?
The increase should not be understood that way. Other allowances and benefits follow separate tables and rules for each country and authority.
Does the allowance begin from the date of the university offer?
No. It begins after sponsorship, documents and official procedures are complete and according to the Cultural Office’s entitlement date, without retrospective payment for an earlier semester.
Are tuition fees included in the monthly allowance?
The monthly allowance supports living costs and is separate from how the sponsoring authority handles university tuition under its regulations and procedures.
What GPA is required to keep Merit Scholarship status?
At least 2.67 under a credit-hour system, at least 60% in the UK system, or the equivalent, together with the required study load and academic progress.
If my GPA falls, does the entire scholarship end?
The scholarship may revert from Merit Scholarship status to ordinary scholarship status from the following semester or year, depending on the reason. Full termination follows separate provisions in the regulations.
Can I regain Merit Scholarship status after improving my GPA?
Yes, from the following semester or year after meeting the GPA threshold, or after completing the required load for two consecutive semesters when insufficient load caused the change.
Can I change my major?
The major may be changed no more than twice during the scholarship, provided the new programme or institution remains distinguished and the general change rules are met.
Can I move from the Annual Scholarships Plan to Merit Scholarship status?
Yes, from the following semester or academic year after obtaining an eligible offer from a distinguished programme or institution and receiving official approval.
Does a distinguished offer guarantee the higher allowance until graduation?
No. Continuation depends on GPA, study load, duration, remaining within distinguished study and compliance with the regulations.
Checklist before submitting a Merit Scholarship application
1. I checked my secondary-school score and major category: 90% or 95%.
2. I confirmed that my school certificate is within the validity period and obtained an equivalency if required.
3. I matched the university, programme, campus, degree and mode of study on the National Bureau platform.
4. I obtained a final academic offer and had it certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office.
5. I met the IELTS or TOEFL condition and prepared the original or certified result.
6. I prepared the student’s and guardian’s Civil IDs, passport, school certificate and all attachments.
7. I checked file clarity and made sure names and dates match before submission.
8. I saved copies of the application, offer, certification and English result.
9. I planned to authenticate the undertaking through Sahel within 60 days if accepted.
Everything students and parents need to know about Merit Scholarships
Direct answers about registration, admission, distinguished lists, countries, allowances and continuation The highest-intent questions students and parents ask on Google and AI tools are grouped under four headings so readers can find a detailed answer quickly without turning every question into a separate section.
What is the difference between the Annual Scholarships Plan and the Merit Scholarships Plan?
Students may use “basic scholarships” informally, but the official route is the Annual Scholarships Plan, which uses preferences, seats, specified countries and majors. The Merit Scholarships Plan requires a final offer from a distinguished university or programme and a 90% score, or 95% for specified medical majors.
When does registration for the 2026/2027 Merit Scholarships Plan close?
Under the Ministry’s announcement, registration continues until 24 February 2027. University admission, certification and English requirements take time, so do not delay preparation until the final days.
Is registration prioritised by speed?
No. The Ministry states that registration is not based on who submits first. Eligibility, accurate information and complete documents determine whether a file can be considered, although the deadline remains binding.
Can I apply if I did not register for the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Yes, if you meet the Merit Scholarships Plan requirements and apply during its registration period. The two routes use separate application processes.
Can I apply if I was not accepted under the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Yes. Not receiving an Annual Scholarships Plan scholarship does not prevent a Merit Scholarships Plan application if you meet the grade requirement, obtain an eligible final distinguished offer and satisfy the other conditions.
Do I select eight preferences for a Merit Scholarship?
No. It is not managed through the same preference-placement process. The application is based on your one specified final university offer.
Does a 90% school score guarantee acceptance?
No. It is an eligibility condition for most majors. You must also hold a final certified offer, meet English and classification requirements, submit all documents and receive the Ministry’s decision.
Does Medicine require 90% or 95%?
The 2026/2027 guide sets 95% for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy and 90% for other majors.
Can I apply with an older secondary-school certificate?
The current guide accepts certificates from the two academic years specified for this cycle: 2024/2025 and 2025/2026, subject to the certificate system and equivalency requirements.
Can a government employee apply?
A general condition is that the applicant must not be employed by a government entity at the time of application.
2. University admission, English and document questions
Is university admission the main factor in a Merit Scholarship?
It is central but not the only factor. The offer must be final, certified and matched to the distinguished lists, while the school grade, English and general conditions must also be met.
Is a conditional offer sufficient?
Not every conditional offer meets the final-offer requirement. Check the outstanding condition with the Cultural Office and Ministry before relying on it.
Does the offer need to be certified?
Yes. The programme guide requires a final offer certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office responsible for the study destination.
Is IELTS required when applying?
Yes. An original or certified result is among the required documents, and the score must satisfy the university and Ministry minimum.
What IELTS score is required?
The university’s requirement applies when it is higher. The Ministry minimum is IELTS Academic 5.5 with no skill below 5.5, or TOEFL 47.
Does the UK require IELTS UKVI?
Students should check IELTS Academic UKVI against the university’s requirement and the destination-specific guide.
Are aptitude tests required for the Merit Scholarships Plan?
The current registration guide does not list national aptitude tests as a general Merit Scholarships Plan condition. Any admission test or interview required by the university remains necessary for the final offer.
Why might a file that appears complete still be rejected?
Common reasons include a programme that does not match the distinguished list, a non-final offer, missing certification, an insufficient English result, or unclear and inconsistent data or documents.
Do I need to visit the Ministry after acceptance?
The guide directs students to complete forms electronically and authenticate the undertaking through Sahel. Follow any new instruction displayed in the live system.
What happens if the undertaking is not authenticated within 60 days?
Under the guide, the scholarship is cancelled if the student and guardian do not authenticate the academic and financial undertaking within the stated period.
3. Distinguished lists, universities and countries
What are the distinguished lists?
They are official results on the National Bureau platform showing programmes or universities classified as distinguished under accreditation, quality, ranking and reporting criteria.
Is every approved or recommended university distinguished?
No. Recommended status is broader; distinguished status is a specified filter for a programme or university.
If a university is distinguished, are all its majors distinguished?
Do not assume this. Check the university result, notes, major and degree, particularly when status is attached to one specified programme.
If a major is distinguished, is every university campus accepted?
No. The campus, branch, mode of study and degree must match the official result.
Does online study qualify for a Merit Scholarship?
The platform requires traditional study and the regulations restrict non-traditional courses. Do not enrol in an online or evening programme without official approval.
What does an X beside a programme mean?
It means the programme is no longer included on the Bureau’s official lists.
What should I do if my major does not appear?
Search by university and review All Majors where shown, then ask the university for the official programme code and contact the Cultural Office. The absence of a clear result is not approval.
Why do UK programme codes matter?
Programmes are categorised using HECoS, CAH and JACS/HESA. A marketing title may be insufficient, so ask the university for the official academic code.
How many countries are in the Annual Scholarships Plan?
Nine countries appeared in the 2026/2027 plan results, with different majors assigned to each country.
How many countries appear in the Distinguished Programme lists?
The undergraduate search returned results in 18 countries on 28 July 2026. The number and results can change as the lists are updated.
4. Allowances and keeping Merit Scholarship status
How much higher is the Merit Scholarship allowance?
It is 50% higher than the monthly allowance while the student qualifies for Merit Scholarship status.
Are tickets, books and insurance also increased by 50%?
The increase should not be understood that way. Other allowances and benefits follow separate tables and rules for each country and authority.
Does the allowance begin from the date of the university offer?
No. It begins after sponsorship, documents and official procedures are complete and according to the Cultural Office’s entitlement date, without retrospective payment for an earlier semester.
Are tuition fees included in the monthly allowance?
The monthly allowance supports living costs and is separate from how the sponsoring authority handles university tuition under its regulations and procedures.
What GPA is required to keep Merit Scholarship status?
At least 2.67 under a credit-hour system, at least 60% in the UK system, or the equivalent, together with the required study load and academic progress.
If my GPA falls, does the entire scholarship end?
The scholarship may revert from Merit Scholarship status to ordinary scholarship status from the following semester or year, depending on the reason. Full termination follows separate provisions in the regulations.
Can I regain Merit Scholarship status after improving my GPA?
Yes, from the following semester or year after meeting the GPA threshold, or after completing the required load for two consecutive semesters when insufficient load caused the change.
Can I change my major?
The major may be changed no more than twice during the scholarship, provided the new programme or institution remains distinguished and the general change rules are met.
Can I move from the Annual Scholarships Plan to Merit Scholarship status?
Yes, from the following semester or academic year after obtaining an eligible offer from a distinguished programme or institution and receiving official approval.
Does a distinguished offer guarantee the higher allowance until graduation?
No. Continuation depends on GPA, study load, duration, remaining within distinguished study and compliance with the regulations.
Checklist before submitting a Merit Scholarship application
1. I checked my secondary-school score and major category: 90% or 95%.
2. I confirmed that my school certificate is within the validity period and obtained an equivalency if required.
3. I matched the university, programme, campus, degree and mode of study on the National Bureau platform.
4. I obtained a final academic offer and had it certified by the Kuwait Cultural Office.
5. I met the IELTS or TOEFL condition and prepared the original or certified result.
6. I prepared the student’s and guardian’s Civil IDs, passport, school certificate and all attachments.
7. I checked file clarity and made sure names and dates match before submission.
8. I saved copies of the application, offer, certification and English result.
9. I planned to authenticate the undertaking through Sahel within 60 days if accepted.
How does Acceptix support your Merit Scholarship application?
Acceptix starts with the student’s profile, not only a university name.
We review the school score, major and country, compare distinguished universities and programmes, and verify the campus, degree and mode of study. We then prepare the university application and follow the English requirements, documents and deadlines. After admission, we organise the certification file and the steps that precede the Ministry application. We do not guarantee the scholarship decision, which remains with the official authorities, but we reduce selection, admission and document errors that could cost the student time or the application deadline.
Do you have a 90% or 95% school score and want to apply for a Merit Scholarship? Contact Acceptix now to review your major and the distinguished lists and begin university admission before the registration deadline approaches or university places fill.
