Iran Cultural and Educational Center
Iran Arbabi Scholarship
The Iran Arbabi Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to students of Iranian descent entering or attending an accredited post-secondary institution. The scholarship is granted annually to at least one eligible applicant, selected based on the eligibility criteria listed below. An independent Selection Committee consisting of distinguished scholars and chaired by a member of the ICEC Board of Trustees screens applications. Members of the Selection Committee may also interview the finalists. The recipient(s) may use the scholarship to attend a U.S. based college or university accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education, in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program. Scholarships are not limited to any specific field or career objective and may be used to pursue any academic discipline for undergraduate or graduate studies.
2025-2026 Scholarship
For the academic year 2025-2026, up to two separate scholarships of $1500 each ($750 each semester) will be awarded to applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and are selected by the Selection Committee.
Basic Requirements
Applicants should meet the following requirements to be considered for the Iran Arbabi Scholarship. They must:
- Be of Iranian
- Lawfully reside in the Maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia, United States.
- Submit verification of participation in activities that promote Persian culture and heritage to include, but not limited to, attendance at a Farsi language school, participation in Persian art or cultural group (music, dance, theater, etc.), volunteer activities for a Persian community-based charity, active participation in a Persian student association, etc.
- Attend, or be accepted for attendance, at a college or university, physically located in the U.S., accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education, in a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree program.
- If attending, or accepted for attendance in, an undergraduate program:
- a) Possess a high school diploma, or the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma,
- b) Have good academic standing (GPA of 0 or higher)
- If attending a graduate program:
- a) Possess proof of successful completion of undergraduate studies, i.e., bachelor’s degree.
All participants need to:
- Complete and submit a Scholarship Application
- Two letters of recommendation; at least one letter should be from an instructor/professor or other high school/college professional.
- An official transcript with the college seal on
- Two one-page essays each on:
- What are your dreams and aspirations?
- How has your cultural heritage formed the person you are, and in what way will this serve you as an asset to promote Persian language and culture in the future?
Transcripts and letters of recommendation should not be sent separately. Incomplete, e-mailed, or faxed applications will not be considered.
Important Application Dates
The Application Form is available for download from the ICEC website at: https://iraneducationalcenter.org/scholarship-application/
July 15, 2025– Final postmarked deadline in order to be considered for the 2025- 2026 Scholarship Program. Application materials must be mailed in one packet to ICEC mailing address at:
Iran Abrabi Scholarship Program Iran Cultural and Educational Center
14644 Pinto Lane, Rockville, MD 20850-3536
Incomplete, e-mailed, or faxed applications will not be considered.
August 16, 2025: Winners of the scholarship will be notified, and names will be posted on the ICEC web site.
Scholarship Conditions
The Iran Arbabi Scholarships may be used to supplement existing benefits from the student’s college or university, or from other foundations or organizations. Funds will be paid to selected candidates upon receiving transcripts and proof of course registration and enrollment. Although the scholarship is merit-based, in cases of equal merits, financial need may be taken into consideration in awarding a scholarship. If the Scholarship Committee determines that financial need will be taken into consideration, the applicant may be required to provide financial information at a later time.
A recipient’s scholarship can be revoked if the student:
- fails to graduate from high
- fails to enroll in an institution of higher education in the year for which the scholarship was awarded (the scholarship cannot be deferred).
- fails to comply with the rules, regulations, or conditions of the institution the student attends; or
- receives the scholarship through error or contrary to
- Retroactive payment of the scholarship and deferment of awarded scholarship is not permitted.
