By submitting an application for the Zuheir Scholarship for Medical Education (the “Scholarship”), the applicant confirms that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
1. Definitions
1.1 “Foundation” means Zuheir Foundation.
1.2 “Applicant” means any individual who submits an application for the Scholarship.
1.3 “Recipient” means an Applicant who has been awarded the Scholarship and has accepted the award in writing.
1.4 “Eligible Institution” means a public university in Sudan offering an accredited Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree program.
1.5 “Academic Year” means the academic year as defined by the Recipient’s Eligible Institution.
2. Eligibility
2.1 To be eligible, an Applicant must:
- (a) hold Sudanese nationality;
- (b) be enrolled in, or have received an offer of admission to, an MBBS program at an Eligible Institution;
- (c) meet the minimum academic requirements published by the Foundation for the current cycle, which include, for Applicants who have completed at least one year of university study, a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale (no fixed minimum certificate score applies to Applicants who have not yet completed a year of university study); and
- (d) submit a complete application, including all required documents, by the published deadline.
2.2 Immediate family members of the Foundation’s Executive Board, Advisory Board, and selection committee members are not eligible to apply.
2.3 Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection or an award.
3. Application Process and Deadlines
3.1 Applications open on March 12 and close on March 31 of each cycle at 11:59 p.m. Sudan time (CAT). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
3.2 Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Each Applicant will be notified of the outcome once a decision has been made on their application.
3.3 Applications must be submitted through the official application portal at zuheirfoundation.org. Applications submitted by any other means will not be accepted unless the Foundation has approved an alternative method in writing.
3.4 Each Applicant may submit only one application per cycle.
3.5 The Foundation may request additional documents, references, or an interview at any stage. Failure to respond within the stated time may result in disqualification.
3.6 There is no fee to apply. The Foundation will never ask Applicants for payment at any stage of the process. Any such request should be reported to scholarships@zuheirfoundation.org.
4. Required Documents
4.1 Applicants must provide, at a minimum:
- (a) a valid national ID card or passport;
- (b) official academic transcripts or certificate results;
- (c) proof of enrollment or admission at an Eligible Institution;
- (d) a personal statement; and
- (e) any additional documents listed on the application portal for the current cycle.
4.2 Submitted documents will not be returned. Applicants should retain copies of all materials.
5. Accuracy of Information
5.1 Applicants must ensure that all information and documents submitted are true, complete, and accurate.
5.2 Submitting false, misleading, altered, or plagiarized information, including personal statements not written by the Applicant, will result in immediate disqualification.
5.3 If false information is discovered after an award has been made, the Foundation may terminate the Scholarship and require repayment of funds disbursed under Section 10.
6. Selection
6.1 Applications will be assessed by a selection committee according to criteria set by the Foundation, which may include academic merit, commitment to the medical profession, personal statement, interview performance, and other factors published for the cycle.
6.2 The Foundation will assess all applications fairly and without discrimination on the basis of tribe, ethnicity, region, religion, sex, disability, or political affiliation.
6.3 The number of Scholarships awarded each cycle is at the sole discretion of the Foundation and depends on available funds. The Foundation is not obligated to award any Scholarship in a given cycle.
6.4 All selection decisions are final. The Foundation is not required to provide reasons for its decisions, and no appeals will be considered.
6.5 Any attempt by an Applicant, or anyone acting on their behalf, to influence the selection committee or Foundation members will result in disqualification.
7. The Award
7.1 The Scholarship covers full tuition fees and approved academic materials for the Recipient’s MBBS program at an Eligible Institution. The Scholarship may also include access to mentorship and career guidance programs offered by the Foundation.
7.2 Tuition payments will be made directly to the Eligible Institution before the start of each semester or Academic Year. Payments for academic materials will be made in the manner determined by the Foundation.
7.3 The Scholarship does not cover living expenses, accommodation, transportation, or any costs not expressly listed in Section 7.1, unless the Foundation agrees otherwise in writing.
7.4 The Scholarship is personal to the Recipient. It is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
7.5 An award becomes effective only after the Recipient signs and returns the Scholarship Acceptance Agreement within the period stated in the award letter.
8. Renewal
8.1 The Scholarship is awarded for one Academic Year at a time and may be renewed each year until the Recipient completes the MBBS program, up to the standard duration of the program.
8.2 Renewal depends on the Recipient:
- (a) maintaining full-time enrollment in good standing;
- (b) achieving satisfactory academic progress, meaning a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
- (c) submitting official results for the previous Academic Year; and
- (d) complying with these Terms and Conditions.
8.3 Where a Recipient is required to repeat an Academic Year, the Foundation will review the circumstances and may, at its discretion, continue, suspend, or end the Scholarship.
9. Recipient Obligations
9.1 Each Recipient agrees to:
- (a) inform the Foundation in writing within 14 days of any change in enrollment status, program, institution, contact details, or circumstances that may affect eligibility;
- (b) submit academic progress reports when requested;
- (c) participate in mentorship activities and Foundation events where reasonably possible;
- (d) uphold standards of academic integrity and professional conduct expected of a future physician;
- (e) not hold another scholarship that covers the same tuition costs without the Foundation’s written approval; and
- (f) fulfill the commitments set out in Sections 13.4 and 14.
10. Suspension, Termination, and Repayment
10.1 The Foundation may suspend or terminate the Scholarship if the Recipient:
- (a) withdraws from or is dismissed from the MBBS program;
- (b) fails to meet the renewal requirements in Section 8;
- (c) is found to have provided false or misleading information;
- (d) commits serious academic or professional misconduct; or
- (e) materially breaches these Terms and Conditions.
10.2 In cases of fraud or misrepresentation under Section 10.1(c), the Recipient may be required to repay all amounts disbursed.
10.3 A Recipient who voluntarily withdraws from the program should notify the Foundation immediately. Any funds paid for a period after withdrawal that are refunded by the Eligible Institution must be returned to the Foundation.
10.4 The Foundation will notify the Recipient in writing before terminating a Scholarship and will give the Recipient an opportunity to respond, except in cases of fraud.
11. Disruption to Studies
11.1 If study at an Eligible Institution is suspended, relocated, or significantly disrupted due to conflict, natural disaster, public health emergency, or other circumstances beyond the Recipient’s control, the Foundation will review each case individually.
11.2 In such circumstances, the Foundation may, at its discretion, defer, adjust, or continue the Scholarship, including support for study at a relocated or alternative campus of the same Eligible Institution.
11.3 The Foundation is not liable for any failure or delay in disbursement caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including banking restrictions and transfer disruptions.
12. Privacy and Data Security
12.1 The Foundation collects and uses Applicants’ personal information solely to administer the Scholarship, including assessment, verification, disbursement, reporting, and program evaluation, and for the purposes described in Section 13.
12.2 Personal information may be shared with Eligible Institutions to verify enrollment and academic records, and with selection committee members and advisors bound by confidentiality.
12.3 The Foundation will not sell or disclose personal information to third parties for commercial purposes.
12.4 Application records of unsuccessful Applicants will be retained for three years and then securely deleted.
12.5 By applying, the Applicant consents to the Foundation contacting their Eligible Institution to verify the information provided.
12.6 The Foundation takes reasonable measures to protect personal information. However, no system of electronic storage, processing, or transmission is completely secure, and data breaches occur even at institutions with highly advanced security infrastructure. The Foundation does not and cannot guarantee the security of any information submitted to it.
12.7 By submitting an application, the Applicant acknowledges and expressly assumes this risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Applicant irrevocably waives and releases any right to hold the Foundation, its founders, board members, advisors, officers, staff, volunteers, and contractors liable for any unauthorized access to, or disclosure, loss, alteration, or misuse of, personal information, whether resulting from cyberattack, hacking, system failure, human error, or the acts or omissions of any third party.
13. Publicity and Marketing
13.1 By submitting an application and agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, the Applicant opts in to the Foundation’s use of application materials for publicity, marketing, outreach, and fundraising purposes as set out in this Section.
13.2 Use without full disclosure of identity. The Foundation may use, reproduce, excerpt, adapt, translate, and publish portions of application materials, including excerpts from personal statements, descriptions of academic achievements and backgrounds, and aggregated statistics, in any medium, provided that such use does not fully disclose the Applicant’s identity. This may include omitting the Applicant’s surname, photograph, and other directly identifying details.
13.3 Consent required for full disclosure before award. Any use that fully discloses the identity of an Applicant or finalist, including photographs, video or audio recordings, and names combined with identifying details, whether obtained during the application, interview, or any other stage before an award is made, requires the Applicant’s separate written consent. Declining such consent will not affect the assessment of the application.
13.4 Recipient participation. Upon accepting the Scholarship, Recipients agree to participate in activities that promote the Scholarship and encourage future applicants, which may include testimonials, interviews, photographs, video and audio recordings, information sessions, and social media features. Recipients grant the Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, and perpetual license to use their name, image, likeness, voice, university, and story, together with all materials created through these activities, for the Foundation’s publicity, outreach, and fundraising purposes. The Foundation will schedule such activities with reasonable notice and with regard to the Recipient’s academic commitments.
13.5 Recipients are not entitled to compensation for, or approval rights over, materials produced under this Section.
14. Zuheir Scholars and Alumni
14.1 Every Recipient is a Zuheir Scholar for the duration of the Scholarship and, upon completion of the MBBS program, becomes a lifelong member of the Foundation’s alumni community.
14.2 Development programs. It is in the best interest of Scholars and alumni to participate in the fellowship activities, career guidance sessions, courses, workshops, and mentorship programs offered or facilitated by the Foundation, and they are strongly encouraged to do so.
14.3 Supporting new Scholars. As a condition of the award, each Recipient is required to tutor, mentor, and extend academic and professional support to newer Scholars, in a form and schedule reasonably determined by the Foundation, for a minimum of 10 hours per semester. Alumni are expected to continue this support after graduation where possible.
14.4 Failure to meet the requirement in Section 14.3 without reasonable justification may be treated as a material breach under Section 10.1(e).
15. No Guarantee of Employment
15.1 The Scholarship does not create an employment relationship with the Foundation and does not guarantee any future employment, residency placement, or professional opportunity.
15.2 Participation in the activities described in Sections 13 and 14 does not create an employment, agency, or partnership relationship with the Foundation, and Recipients are not entitled to any compensation for such participation.
16. Nature of the Scholarship, Waiver, and Limitation of Liability
16.1 A privilege, not a right. The Scholarship is a discretionary charitable award made at the sole discretion of the Foundation. It is a privilege and not a right. Submitting an application, being shortlisted, being interviewed, or receiving an award does not create any entitlement, vested right, expectation, or legal claim to selection, funding, renewal, continued participation, or any other benefit.
16.2 Foundation discretion. Except as expressly provided in these Terms and Conditions, the Foundation may modify, suspend, or discontinue the Scholarship program, or any future renewal of a Scholarship, at any time and for any reason, including the availability of funds, without liability to any Applicant or Recipient.
16.3 Release of claims. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Applicant and Recipient, on behalf of themselves and their heirs, guardians, representatives, and assigns, irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases, and forever discharges the Foundation and its founders, family members, board members, advisors, officers, staff, volunteers, contractors, donors, and partners (the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, demands, actions, damages, losses, costs, and liabilities of any kind, whether known or unknown, arising out of or relating to the application, the selection process, any award or decision not to award, renewal, suspension, termination, participation in Foundation programs and activities, or these Terms and Conditions.
16.4 Waiver of damages. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in no event will any Released Party be liable for any damages of any kind, whether direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive, including loss of educational opportunity, career prospects, income, reputation, or emotional distress, regardless of the legal theory on which a claim is based and even if the Released Party was advised of the possibility of such damages.
16.5 Covenant not to sue. Each Applicant and Recipient agrees not to commence, join, or voluntarily assist in any lawsuit, arbitration, complaint, or other proceeding against any Released Party with respect to any matter released under this Section. Any concern regarding the Scholarship must be submitted in writing to the Foundation, whose determination is final.
16.6 Fallback limitation. If any waiver, release, or limitation in this Section or in Section 12 is held unenforceable in whole or in part, the liability of the Released Parties will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by applicable law, and the remainder of this Section will continue in full force and effect.
16.7 Acknowledgment. By submitting an application, the Applicant confirms that they have read this Section carefully, understand that they are giving up legal rights, have had the opportunity to seek independent advice, and agree to these terms freely and voluntarily. Applicants under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian agree to these Terms and Conditions on their behalf.
16.8 Survival. Sections 5, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, and 17 survive the rejection or withdrawal of any application and the completion, expiration, or termination of any Scholarship.
17. General
17.1 Changes. The Foundation may amend these Terms and Conditions. Changes will be published on the Foundation’s website and will not reduce any benefit already awarded for the current Academic Year.
17.2 Language. These Terms and Conditions are published in English and Arabic. If there is any inconsistency between the two versions, the English version will prevail.
17.3 Governing law. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, United States of America.
17.4 Severability. If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full effect.
17.5 Entire agreement. These Terms and Conditions, together with the award letter and the Scholarship Acceptance Agreement, form the entire agreement between the Foundation and the Recipient regarding the Scholarship.
18. Contact
Questions about these Terms and Conditions or the application process should be directed to:
Zuheir Foundation
Email: scholarships@zuheirfoundation.org
Website: zuheirfoundation.org