According to reporting in Times Higher Education, the United Arab Emirates has moved to restrict some funding routes for students to study in the United Kingdom, citing concerns about extremist influences including links to the Muslim Brotherhood. The decision affects scholarships and sponsorships administered or funded by Emirati bodies and could alter previously available support for applicants from the Middle East and North Africa.
For Jordanian and regional students this is consequential: many applicants rely on employer, government or foundation sponsorships to cover tuition, living costs and visa requirements for UK programmes. Students with pending offers, accepted placements, or scholarship applications tied to UAE funding should treat this development as urgent—contact your sponsor and your UK university’s international office to confirm whether your funding is still secure and whether any conditions or timelines have changed.
Immediate practical steps: 1) Contact sponsors and universities now to get written confirmation of funding status; 2) If your sponsor withdraws support, ask your UK university about emergency funds, payment plans, and scholarship reallocation; 3) Review key UK application deadlines — UCAS deadlines for undergraduate admissions (Oct. 15 for Oxbridge/medicine/veterinary/teaching; Jan. 31 for most courses) and Clearing (July–August) — and for postgraduate programmes check individual course pages (many master’s start in September with application windows that can extend through July–August). Also track major UK scholarships such as Chevening (typically opens August and closes in autumn) and university-specific deadlines.
Students should also prepare alternative plans: apply to UK programmes with institutional scholarships or guaranteed funding, widen applications to EU countries (Germany, the Netherlands), Canada, the U.S., or to regional options including UAE and Saudi institutions—note Saudi universities have recently expanded international exchange and scholarship pathways. Review visa implications too: some sponsors assist with Immigration Health Surcharge and visa fees; losing a sponsor may affect your ability to secure financial evidence for a Tier/Student visa.
Shatnawi for College Admissions and Academic Consultations can help Jordanian students review scholarship contracts, contact sponsors, assess alternative funding options, and adjust application strategies. Our advisers can also compile timelines and help you apply quickly for institutional scholarships or Clearing options if needed. For immediate guidance contact us on WhatsApp at +962791888699 or visit shatnawiedu.com.