Dubai: GEMS Education has launched a new scholarship programme for exceptionally gifted students attending the world’s elite universities.

Starting from the 2019-20 academic year, 10 full scholarships valued at over $1.3 million (more than Dh4.7 million) will be awarded annually to GEMS Education students who have been accepted into the programme of their choice at one of 10 select institutions.

GEMS Education will cover each student’s tuition fees for the duration of their degree course for up to four years.

One scholarship will be awarded per university, with institutions spread across the US, UK, Australia and Canada, including the number of highest-ranked Ivy League and Russell Group universities. Institutions that are part of the initiative include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Australian National University, McGill University, and University of Melbourne.

Sunny Varkey, founder of GEMS Education, said: “This initiative is close to my heart, and I am immensely proud that we are able to offer our brightest students the opportunity of a lifetime to study at some of the best universities in the world. We are always looking for ways to support our students both during and after their time with GEMS Education, and this new scholarship offering is a further component of our expanding proposition, complementing existing components such as our UniConnect and college and careers counselling programmes. Crucially, it also takes us a step closer to achieving our mission of putting... quality education within the reach of every child.”