In 2021, there were approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, making it the country with the highest number of refugees per capita – with 1 refugee for every 4 nationals. The refugee problem adds to Lebanon’s economic crisis, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut blast in August 2020.   Educational exclusion, particularly among the most disadvantaged Lebanese and non-Lebanese youth, also persists.

The goal of the Qatar Scholarship Programme EAA-AUB is to ensure access to quality higher education for Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian deserving and underserved young women and men. 30% of the total scholarships are allocated for beneficiaries who are designated Syrian and Palestinian refugees, while 70% of the scholarships are allocated for marginalized Lebanese nationals.