The Falak Sufi Scholarship 2027–2028 at New York University (NYU) offers an excellent opportunity for students from majority-Muslim countries in South Asia to pursue a Master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies in New York City, USA.
The scholarship is offered through NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science and the Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies. It honors the memory of Falak Sufi, a Pakistani scholar whose academic interests included women and gender in South Asia, the history of the region, and the humanities.
The scholarship provides a minimum academic-year stipend of $37,132, along with tuition, student health insurance, and registration and services fees. Funding can continue for up to two years, subject to the recipient maintaining the required academic standards.
Falak Sufi Scholarship 2027–2028 at a Glance
- Scholarship: Falak Sufi Scholarship
- University: New York University (NYU)
- School: Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS)
- Center: Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies
- Country: United States
- Location: New York City
- Degree: Master’s
- Main Program: Near Eastern Studies
- Duration: Up to 2 years
- Minimum Stipend: $37,132 per academic year
- Tuition: Covered
- Health Insurance: Covered
- Registration and Services Fees: Covered
- Eligible Region: South Asian countries with a majority-Muslim population
- Preference: Female applicants
- Fall 2027 Deadline: January 15, 2027
What Is the Falak Sufi Scholarship?
The Falak Sufi Scholarship was established in memory of Falak Sufi, a graduate student at NYU’s Near Eastern Studies program who passed away in 2008.
The scholarship aims to support students from countries with a majority-Muslim population in South Asia who might otherwise face difficulty obtaining a graduate education.
Preference is given to female students who demonstrate academic interests connected to the issues that Falak Sufi explored, particularly women and gender, the Near East, the Middle East, and South Asia.
The scholarship also seeks students who demonstrate intellectual promise and a strong commitment to scholarship in these areas.
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What Does the Falak Sufi Scholarship Cover?
The Falak Sufi Scholarship provides substantial financial support for selected students.
According to the current 2027–28 scholarship information, recipients receive:
- Minimum $37,132 academic-year stipend
- Tuition coverage
- Student health insurance
- Registration fees
- Services fees
- Funding for up to two years, subject to academic requirements
This makes the scholarship a fully funded master’s opportunity in terms of the listed tuition, fees, health insurance, and stipend package. Applicants should still review NYU’s final award terms carefully because the stipend is described as a minimum and funding is subject to the university’s academic requirements.
Who Is Eligible for the Falak Sufi Scholarship?
The scholarship is intended for candidates applying to the Master’s program in Near Eastern Studies at NYU.
The main target group is students from countries with a majority-Muslim population in South Asia.
Female applicants are particularly encouraged because the scholarship gives preference to women, reflecting Falak Sufi’s academic interests and commitment to the role of women in academia.
Applicants should also demonstrate strong academic potential and an intellectual connection to subjects related to the Near East, Middle East, and/or South Asia.
Which Programs Are Eligible?
The scholarship is primarily connected to NYU’s Master’s in Near Eastern Studies.
Candidates applying to the following options can also be considered:
- MA in Near Eastern Studies
- Near Eastern Studies and Journalism joint degree
- Near Eastern Studies with Museum Studies concentration
- Near Eastern Studies business track
Applicants should confirm the current program structure and admission requirements through NYU’s official Graduate School of Arts and Science application resources before applying.
What Academic Interests Are Relevant?
The Falak Sufi Scholarship is particularly relevant to applicants whose academic interests connect with subjects such as:
- Women and gender studies
- Gender and society
- South Asian studies
- Near Eastern studies
- Middle Eastern studies
- Islamic societies
- History and politics
- Human rights
- Development
- Culture and society
- The role of women in academia
- Humanities
Applicants do not necessarily need to study exactly the same topic that Falak Sufi studied. However, their academic goals should demonstrate a meaningful connection to the intellectual areas associated with the scholarship.
How Long Does the Scholarship Last?
The scholarship can support recipients for up to two years, corresponding to the master’s program, provided students continue to satisfy the academic standards of NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science and their degree program.
Students must therefore maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout their studies to remain eligible for continued funding.
What Are the General NYU Admission Requirements?
Applicants must first apply for admission to the relevant NYU graduate program.
NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science generally requires applicants to submit materials such as:
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of academic purpose
- Résumé or CV
- Letters of recommendation
- Required test scores, where applicable
- Other program-specific materials
- Application fee
The exact requirements can vary by program. NYU states that applicants should consult the specific program requirements in the GSAS Application Resource Center before submitting their application.
Is the GRE Required?
The GRE requirement depends on the specific graduate program.
Applicants should not assume that the GRE is universally required or waived across NYU GSAS. Check the current Near Eastern Studies admission requirements before preparing your application.
Is IELTS or TOEFL Required?
NYU GSAS requires applicants whose native language is not English to demonstrate English proficiency, with certain exemptions and program-specific rules.
NYU’s graduate bulletin recommends a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 100 or IELTS overall score of 7.0, although the university notes that individual programs may establish higher standards and that applicants with lower scores are not automatically prohibited from applying.
Applicants should therefore check the current Near Eastern Studies requirements and determine whether they qualify for an English-language testing exemption.
How to Apply for the Falak Sufi Scholarship
The Falak Sufi Scholarship is connected to the NYU graduate admission process.
Applicants should:
- Review the Master’s in Near Eastern Studies requirements.
- Prepare the required academic and supporting documents.
- Create an NYU GSAS application.
- Select the appropriate master’s program.
- Complete the application and required essays.
- Indicate their interest in the Falak Sufi Scholarship where required.
- Clearly explain their academic interests and connection to the scholarship in the application.
- Submit all required supporting materials before the deadline.
NYU’s online application system states that the complete application, including required supporting materials such as recommendation letters and official test scores where applicable, must be submitted by the program’s deadline.
What Should You Write About the Scholarship in Your Application?
Applicants interested in the Falak Sufi Scholarship should make the connection between their background, academic interests, and the scholarship’s purpose clear.
A strong application can explain:
- Why you want to study Near Eastern Studies
- Your academic and research interests
- Your interest in the Near East, Middle East, or South Asia
- Your interest in gender, women, human rights, development, history, politics, or related fields
- How your graduate education fits your long-term goals
- Why financial support is important for pursuing the degree
The goal should not be to simply mention the scholarship. Your application should demonstrate why you are a strong intellectual and academic fit for the program and scholarship.
When Does the Falak Sufi Scholarship 2027–2028 Open?
The exact opening date for the Falak Sufi Scholarship 2027–2028 is not separately published as a scholarship opening date.
The scholarship is tied to the NYU GSAS graduate admission application. Applicants should therefore monitor the NYU GSAS application system and the Near Eastern Studies program for the Fall 2027 admission cycle.
What Is the Falak Sufi Scholarship Deadline?
For Fall 2027 admission, the current deadline is:
January 15, 2027
Applicants should submit the complete NYU graduate application and all required supporting materials by the relevant deadline. The current scholarship notice specifically lists January 15, 2027 as the Fall 2027 application deadline.
Do not wait until the final day because recommendation letters, test scores, and other third-party materials may also need to be received by the deadline.
Is the Scholarship Available to Afghan Students?
The scholarship is intended for students from South Asian countries with a majority-Muslim population.
Because Afghanistan is a majority-Muslim South Asian country, Afghan applicants may fall within the scholarship’s intended regional eligibility. However, applicants should confirm their eligibility with NYU/Kevorkian Center before relying on this interpretation, particularly because the official scholarship wording should control the final eligibility decision.
Is the Falak Sufi Scholarship Fully Funded?
Yes, it is reasonable to describe the 2027–28 Falak Sufi Scholarship as a fully funded master’s scholarship based on the published package.
It provides:
- Tuition
- Minimum $37,132 annual academic-year stipend
- Student health insurance
- Registration fees
- Services fees
The scholarship can continue for up to two years subject to academic requirements.
However, applicants should distinguish this from scholarships that explicitly guarantee airfare, accommodation, and every personal expense. The published Falak Sufi package does not state that international airfare is separately covered.
Why Apply for the Falak Sufi Scholarship?
Studying at NYU gives students the opportunity to pursue graduate-level research in one of the world’s major academic and cultural centers.
The Falak Sufi Scholarship is especially valuable for students whose academic interests focus on the Near East, Middle East, or South Asia and who want to explore questions involving gender, society, politics, history, culture, development, or related subjects.
For eligible students, the scholarship can remove much of the financial burden associated with a master’s degree in New York City.
Final Thoughts
The Falak Sufi Scholarship 2027–2028 at New York University is a highly competitive graduate funding opportunity for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Near Eastern Studies.
The scholarship provides a minimum $37,132 academic-year stipend, tuition, student health insurance, registration and services fees, with funding available for up to two years if academic requirements are maintained.
The Fall 2027 application deadline is January 15, 2027, so eligible applicants should begin preparing their NYU graduate application well in advance.
If your academic interests connect with the Near East, Middle East, South Asia, gender, women, human rights, development, history, politics, or related fields, this is an opportunity worth exploring.
