An extremely competitive and completely financed opportunity for Egyptian students wishing to study undergraduate or graduate degrees in the United States is the Onsi Sawiris Scholarship Program. The initiative, which is sponsored by Orascom Construction and run in partnership with AMIDEAST, assists academically gifted students who exhibit a strong sense of leadership and a certain commitment to Egypt’s future growth.
Since its inception in 2000, the fellowship has facilitated exceptional young Egyptians’ access to prestigious American colleges, encouraging academic achievement, individual development, entrepreneurship, and significant community involvement.
Only Egyptian citizens living in Egypt are eligible for the program. It provides full financial support for chosen scholars to attend prestigious universities, with the hope that graduates will return to Egypt to use their education and expertise to further the nation.
Host Country: USA
Funded By: Orascom Construction, AMIDEAST
University: USA Universities
Opportunity Type: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Eligibility Country: Egyptian students
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded,
Eligibility Criteria:
Undergraduate Applicants:
- Be Egyptian nationals currently residing in Egypt
- Preferably not hold dual nationality
- Have not lived, studied, or worked abroad for more than three years
- Commit to returning to Egypt for at least two years after graduation
Academic & Test Requirements:
- Minimum GPA: 3.5 or 90% (Thanaweyya Amma or equivalent)
- TOEFL iBT score of 100 or higher
- SAT requirements:
- Old SAT: Minimum total score of 2100 (at least 700 per section), or
- New SAT: Minimum total score of 1450 (730 EBRW and 730 Math), or
- SAT II: Minimum score of 600 in three subjects
- Demonstrated strong participation in extracurricular activities
Master’s Applicants:
- Be Egyptian nationals residing in Egypt
- Have not lived abroad for more than three years
- Commit to returning to Egypt for at least two years after graduation
- Hold a minimum GPA of 3.5 (Very Good or above)
- Have at least three years of professional work experience
Language & Test Requirements:
- TOEFL iBT score of 100 or higher
- GMAT (for MBA applicants): Minimum score of 650 (taken within the last five years), or
- GRE (new version): Minimum overall score of 302, with 4.5 in Analytical Writing
Eligible Fields of Study:
- Engineering
- Business Administration
- Construction Management
Important Note:
- Applicants who already hold a foreign master’s degree or an Egyptian master’s degree in the same field of study are not eligible to apply.
Benefits:
- Whole Tuition Coverage: The whole cost of tuition at the university for the duration of the program.
- A monthly living stipend is a consistent sum of money used to pay for housing, food, travel, and other personal costs.
- Costs of International Travel: Round-trip flight between Egypt and the US is covered.
- Health Insurance: Full-scope medical coverage for the duration of the study.
- Opportunities for Internships: Possibility of obtaining internships with businesses connected to Orascom in order to obtain real-world experience.
Important Notes for Applicants
- Being nominated for the scholarship does not ensure admission to a university.
- The final scholarship award is confirmed only after securing acceptance from one of the approved partner universities.
- Priority is given to applicants with limited prior international exposure.
- Applications submitted directly to universities are not considered valid for this scholarship program.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
