The Armenian Communities Department is committed to supporting Syrian students of Armenian origin who have been displaced by the civil war in Syria. We have launched initiatives to help them with their university costs whether they are studying in Armenia or in other countries.

Grants in Armenia

The board of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has just approved a grant of $260,000 to support Syrian students of Armenian origin studying in Armenia. It will be distributed over two years. This is in addition to $125,000 attributed in September 2013.

The aim of this funding is to enable Syrian-Armenian refugee students to attend university in Armenia by providing scholarships to cover up to 75% of their tuition fees. In the 2013-14 academic year, 380 students benefitted from this initiative.

The programme is managed jointly with AGBU and the Diaspora Ministry of the Republic of Armenia. The selection of the students is made by a committee in Armenia, on which the Foundation has representation.

Syrian students of Armenian origin who have had their studies interrupted or have yet to begin studying are encouraged to apply for grants to cover their university education in Armenia.

Grants in other countries

The ACD is partnering with former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio’s Global Platform for Syrian Students (GPSS) to support undergraduate Syrian students of Armenian origin as part of its Emergency Grants programme. These grants are valid for study in countries other than Armenia.

Applications for GPSS grants are currently closed, but will reopen again in spring 2015 for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Find out more about what else the Armenian Communities Department is doing to improve the lives of Armenians caught up in the Syrian Civil War.

Read about our ongoing grants to Syria, totalling $800,000 in 2013.