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By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026
The Yousriya Loza-Sawiris Scholarship (YLSS) is a fully funded master’s award from Egypt’s Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (administered by Newton Education Services). It sends outstanding Egyptian students to study a Master of Development Practice (MDP) at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, in the USA.
What the YLSS covers
- Full tuition for the two-year MDP (fully funded first year; partial costs in the second year per the Foundation’s terms)
- Living expenses / allowance
- Travel expenses
- Health insurance
Who is eligible?
- Be an Egyptian national residing in Egypt (dual-nationality holders are not given preference).
- Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a reputable institution in a related field.
- Demonstrate around two years of work experience in development and a strong academic and professional record.
- Meet the MDP program’s admission requirements and English-language standards (e.g. TOEFL iBT 100 / IELTS 7, taken within two years of program start).
- Show financial need, plus strong interpersonal skills (volunteer/community/entrepreneurial activity).
- Commitment: work in Egypt’s development sector for at least two consecutive years after graduating.
Documents you’ll need
- Completed application form with a personal statement (essay, typically up to ~1,000 words)
- Copy of passport ID page and National ID
- Updated CV/resume
- All undergraduate (and graduate, if any) transcripts
- TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo score
- Two letters of recommendation and a personal photo
- An HR/employment letter (or bank statement if unemployed) and a guarantor’s National ID, per the Foundation’s terms
How to apply: step by step
- Submit the scholarship application to the Sawiris Foundation (via Newton) through the official link, before its deadline (recent cycle: 25 October).
- Separately apply for MDP admission to the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School by its own deadline (recent cycle: 15 December). Being shortlisted for the scholarship does not guarantee MDP admission — the two decisions are independent.
- Selection & guidance: shortlisted scholars receive guidance on completing the University of Minnesota application.
- Final award depends on both being selected by the Foundation and admitted to the MDP program.
How competitive is it?
The YLSS funds a small number of scholars each year for one specialised program, so it’s selective. It rewards a clear development-sector focus: relevant work experience, strong quantitative/analytical skills and a genuine commitment to return and work in Egypt. Because you must also gain competitive admission to the University of Minnesota’s MDP, a strong overall academic profile is essential.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Yousriya Loza-Sawiris Scholarship?
Only Egyptian nationals residing in Egypt, with a relevant bachelor’s degree and development-sector experience, applying for the MDP at the University of Minnesota.
Do I apply once or twice?
Twice — a scholarship application to the Sawiris Foundation and a separate graduate-admission application to the Humphrey School’s MDP program, each by its own deadline.
Is there a work commitment after graduation?
Yes. Scholars must work in Egypt’s development sector for at least two consecutive years after completing the degree.
Apply / verify on the official site: Sawiris Foundation – YLSS. Deadlines and terms change yearly — always confirm on the official page (email: [email protected]).
Free tools for this
- Scholarship Odds Estimator — real award-to-applicant ratios where funders publish them
- Scholarship Eligibility Checker — which of our tracked scholarships you can actually apply for
- Scholarship Deadlines Calendar — never shows a deadline that already passed
- How to Verify a Scholarship Is Real — the red flags that separate real funders from scams
Explore more on our Scholarships hub.
Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.
