Abu Dhabi: As many as 400 Emirati pupils have outperformed their peers to win scholarships for their university studies, it was announced yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec).

"After we received the applications for the 2011/2012 academic year, we began the process of selecting candidates based on our policies and guidelines, including interviews and tests," Mona Majid Al Mansouri, Division Manager of Guidance and Scholarships at Adec, said.

As part of the programme, Adec will supervise the performance of each recipient throughout the academic year in addition to providing them with a monthly allowance. The minimum GPA required in order to maintain the scholarship is 3.0, however, those who perform outstandingly will be provided with a bonus while those that do not will be subject to Adec's policies.

"We are pleased to see that the number of scholarship applications we are receiving, from both male and female candidates, is increasing every year, especially for those wishing to study for science-based degrees, including engineering, electronics, urban planning, medicine, economics, accounting and finance at universities located across the UAE," Al Mansouri said.

To be a part of the programme, high school pupils were required to submit their registrations online between July 3 and July 29, 2011. Among the documents required were their academic records as well as letters of acceptance to an Adec-approved specialisation based in a university accepted by the council.

"Scholarships are open to Emirati [high school] graduates who have scored 85 per cent or above on their General Secondary Certificate or its equivalent at private schools. Current university students who have completed 30 credit hours while maintaining a cumulative 3.0 GPA are also welcome to apply to the programme," Al Mansouri said.