Scholarships
Bethlehem University places central importance on students’ access to education and ensures that financial considerations do not bar our students from a better future, with all its potentials.
In the difficult political, socio-economic context of Palestine, many young people cannot afford to pursue higher education without substantial financial support provided by the scholarship fund. This situation further deteriorated in the aftermath of the global COVID-19 pandemic, where the Bethlehem Governorate was hit hard due to its heavy dependence on the tourism sector. As a result, many more families are no longer able to pay for the education of their children, and more students risk dropping out of University because of such financial constraints.
This is why your kind donation to scholarships is vital to enable us at Bethlehem University to help students to register and stay enrolled in their studies. It also helps us fulfill one of our core Lasallian tasks of providing education to all youth, especially the poor and marginalized, in an inclusive community.
We are proud that we are able to provide scholarship assistance to over 30% of our students every year, while all students enrolled have reduced tuition. Such scholarships particularly encourage students with disabilities and students who are highly competent in their studies. To enable us to continue supporting our students, your gift to the general scholarship fund will be highly appreciated.
We have hope and a good reason to focus on our priority as always – providing quality, inclusive education to the youth of Palestine. You have a chance to be involved with us in this challenge and change lives in the process! With scholarship gifts, the impact of your donation lasts for a lifetime!
Types of Scholarships
Named Scholarship Endowment
A permanent named endowed scholarship, named in honor or in memory of someone, is a “forever scholarship,” as Bethlehem University invests your gift and uses the pooled interest earned to provide your endowed scholarship each and every year into the future, supporting the education of students (i.e., student tuition, student cultural and sports activities, technology enhancements, library resources, and administrative gift management).
With a dedicated donation of $100,000 USD, you can fully fund a permanent and perpetual named endowed scholarship. A minimum gift of $30,000 can establish a base for an endowed scholarship (which may be the sum of gifts over a period of time such as 3 to 5 years – and can also be the result of a number of people pooling their donations together). Additional contributions beyond the $30,000 base are added to the endowment to provide proportionately more scholarship support.
Beyond helping the students, what are the benefits to establishing an Endowed Scholarship?
- Donor Recognition: The name of the donor for a named endowed scholarship, and the name of the person in whose honor or memory the endowed scholarship is named, are displayed in a beautiful donor appreciation plaque that is prominently located at the entrance to De La Salle Hall, the main and original building of Bethlehem University. Additionally, the names of the donors and the endowed scholarship names are published on the Bethlehem University website.
- Personal Connection with Students: The student or students who receive an endowed scholarship write letters of appreciation to the donor each year. Grade reports are also provided to the donor each year. Of course, when donors visit Bethlehem University, opportunities to meet the students are available.
Annual Named Scholarships
An annual named scholarship is established in honor or in memory of someone with a gift of $4,000 per year. Donors generally make a commitment to provide a $4,000 per year scholarship for at least three or four years, as degree programs are four-year programs. The Annual Scholarship covers the cost of all student tuition but not incidental costs.
Beyond helping the students, what are the benefits to establishing an Annual Named Scholarship?
Personal Connection with Students: A donor who provides a $4,000 gift to establish an annual named scholarship receives a letter of gratitude from the student who is supported by the scholarship, and grade reports are provided at the end of the academic year. Additionally, the names of the annual scholarship donors are published on the Bethlehem University website.
General Scholarship Gifts
A donor who wishes to make a contribution to support the Bethlehem University General Scholarship Fund, but prefers not to establish a named annual or an endowed scholarship as described above, may make a gift of any amount to the Bethlehem University General Scholarship Fund.
To make a gift to the general scholarship fund, please contact the Advancement Office: advancement@bethlehem.edu
Tuition & Financial Assistance
A person or organization that wishes to pay part or all of the student tuition costs may do so through a payment to Bethlehem University. Please note that the payment of tuition for specific students chosen by a person or organization outside of Bethlehem University is not considered as a Bethlehem University scholarship, but rather as financial assistance, as such payments do not cover the real cost of educating students at Bethlehem University. Such payments may not be considered a tax-deductible gift to Bethlehem University. Payments made under financial assistance are considered as a payment toward the student portion of the cost of their education. However, if a donor would like to support needy students and the students are selected by Bethlehem University, the gifts can be considered as a tax-deductible donation to Bethlehem University.
While financial assistance payments are appreciated by students, Bethlehem University does not provide grade reports or student appreciation letters to persons or organizations that provide financial assistance.
For more information on Tuition & Financial Assistance, please contact Ms. Shahinda Nassar, Manager of the Advancement Office at shahinda@bethlehem.edu