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Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP)

Overview​

  • Provider: Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP)
  • Type: NGO (nonprofit, registered as NGO #134 in Lebanon)
  • Founded: 2010
  • Description: ULYP empowers marginalized children, youth, and women living in Lebanon with the skills and knowledge they need to become active agents of change, without any discrimination. Through its flagship Bridge Program, ULYP assists capable secondary school students in Lebanon to prepare for university, secure funding for undergraduate degrees at Lebanese and international universities, and transition into the workforce. Over 900 students have benefited from the Bridge Program, with 850+ graduates located across 46+ countries and an 80%+ employment or further-education rate among alumni. (ULYP Bridge Program | Meem Foundation | AUB LEAD)

Grade & background requirements​

  • Academic level: Secondary school students (grade 10-12) applying for undergraduate scholarships (ULYP Bridge)
  • Baccalaureate / official exam score: Must score above 72% on official exams (Refugee Education Fund)
  • Nationality / residency: Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian students residing in Lebanon (AUB LEAD)
  • Financial need: Yes — the program targets underprivileged and marginalized youth; applicants must meet means-testing criteria (Refugee Education Fund)
  • Selection process: Two-phase selection starting in 10th grade — top achievers join ULYP, then go through interviews to join the Bridge Program (Refugee Education Fund)

Application window​

StageTypical date
Selection begins (10th grade cohort)Spring of 10th-grade year
University Preparatory Course (UPC)Summer before 11th grade
Scholarship matching & university applications12th-grade year
Scholarship decisionsBefore university enrollment

TODO: ULYP does not publicly post fixed application deadlines. Contact scholarships@ulyp.org for current cycle dates. (ULYP Bridge)

Supported universities​

ULYP scholars have been placed at the following institutions (Refugee Education Fund | ULYP News | Meem Foundation):

In Lebanon:

  • American University of Beirut (AUB) — via the LEAD initiative
  • Lebanese American University (LAU)
  • American University of Science and Technology (AUST)
  • Beirut Arab University (BAU)
  • Rafik Hariri University (RHU)

International:

  • Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), North Cyprus
  • University of Malta
  • Yeditepe University, Istanbul

Fields of study are aligned with market demand and sectors where refugees have the right to work, including clinical lab science, radiology, nursing, journalism, bioinformatics, physiotherapy, computer engineering, biomedical engineering, teaching, computing, and nutrition (Refugee Education Fund).

Benefits​

The Bridge Program provides comprehensive support that extends 5-6 years from secondary school through university graduation (ULYP Bridge):

  • Tuition: Full tuition scholarships for undergraduate degrees, funded through university partnerships, private donors, and organizations including USAID, Mastercard Foundation, Al Ghurair Foundation, and Asfari Foundation (ULYP News)
  • Living expenses: Funding to cover living and other costs (AUB LEAD)
  • Test preparation: University Preparatory Course (UPC) covering SAT, TOEFL, and IELTS preparation for ~150 students annually (ULYP Bridge)
  • University counseling: Application assistance, career counseling, and guidance for ~350 scholarship applicants per year (ULYP Bridge)
  • Academic & psychosocial support: Ongoing academic mentoring and psychosocial services throughout university (AUB LEAD)
  • Civic engagement & leadership training: Workshops and activities to develop leadership skills (AUB LEAD)
  • Career readiness: Workplace transition assistance and career readiness skills training (Refugee Education Fund)

ULYP awards approximately 100 scholarships per year (ULYP Bridge).

Contacts of recipients​

NameYearUniversityContact

TODO: If you are a ULYP scholar or alumnus willing to share your experience, please submit a pull request to add your name here.

Official program contact: