Zaha Hadid Foundation launches scholars program

The Zaha Hadid Foundation, a London-based cultural charity established to continue the legacy of the late Dame Zaha Hadid, has announced the launch of the Zaha Hadid Scholars Program at the American University of Beirut (AUB). This new initiative pays tribute to Hadid’s profound commitment to education and her enduring ties to AUB, where she studied mathematics in 1968–69 and received an Honorary Doctorate in 2006.

Set to begin in September 2025, the program will provide full scholarships and additional support for two architecture students each year over the next three academic years. The scholarships will cover the full five-year duration of the undergraduate architecture program at AUB’s Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Selected based on both merit and financial need, these scholars will embody Hadid’s belief in nurturing emerging talent and widening access to architectural education.

Commenting on the establishment of the program, AUB President Fadlo Khuri, MD, said, “The visionary work of our alumna, Zaha Hadid, continues to inspire current generations of students. We are very proud to partner with the Zaha Hadid Foundation on this initiative benefiting bright and deserving architecture students at our university.”

The partnership is especially meaningful given Hadid’s personal and professional connections to AUB. In 2014, she completed the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs on campus—now a landmark of contemporary architecture in Beirut and a testament to her signature fluid aesthetic.

“We are thrilled to be able to honor Zaha’s commitment to emerging and future architectural talent by supporting these students and AUB, a university that was so close to Zaha’s heart. We hope this will be just the beginning of a deepening relationship.”,” noted the Board of Trustees of the Zaha Hadid Foundation.

Beyond the AUB collaboration, the Foundation continues to expand its educational and cultural reach through partnerships with institutions including the Architectural Association and Serpentine Galleries, with more initiatives soon to be announced.

Rooted in Hadid’s trailblazing legacy, the Zaha Hadid Scholars Program stands as a powerful affirmation of her belief in the transformative potential of architecture—and of education as its foundation