Charity educational mission
As per its constitution, approved by the UK Charity Commission, the Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation (YMMF) provides scholarships to students of Greek Cypriot and of Armenian heritage.
While we hope to include students of additional backgrounds in the future, our limited funds given our status as a new charity means that we need to initially start with this limited scope.
YMMF’s university eligibility criteria for scholarship qualifying universities is based on the YMMF European University Ranking.
Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation Administered Scholarships - Bachelor’s Degrees
English University Bachelor’s Scholarships
The Bachelor’s Scholarship is available for exceptional Armenian and Cypriot students accepted at one of the top eight English Universities based on the YMMF European University Ranking.
Top 5 English Universities: The applicants are eligible to apply for any three-year bachelor degrees (except for medical degrees). These are at the:
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- University College London (UCL)
Top 6-8 English Universities: The applicants are eligible to apply to specific bachelor’s degree courses considered as some of the best in their area in the world (only eligible for Armenian students). These are:
- University of Warwick: Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, MORSE, PPE
- King’s College London (KCL): Law, Politics & International Relations
- University of Bristol: Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
In some cases, other relevant courses may be considered. Only three-year long courses are considered, but four-year long courses may be considered if it includes a year in the industry or a year abroad. Successful scholars are invited to join the YMMF Program which includes a scholarship.
Note: The charity specifically makes reference to English Universities and not UK Universities as it does not include Scottish Universities like Edinburgh and St Andrews that might otherwise have been included. This is as most Scottish bachelor degrees are four-year long and the Foundation strongly supports three-year bachelor education where possible especially given the high yearly costs.
Why: This scholarship has been established to provide the most talented young 18-year-old Armenian and Cypriot students the opportunity to develop academically at some of the best Universities in the world, mature and develop culturally living abroad and provide them with the ability to focus on key subjects that can be transformational for the two countries. Simultaneously, it aims to connect these talented young students.
European University Bachelor’s Scholarships
The Scholarship is available for exceptional Armenian and Cypriot students:
- accepted to study Bachelor’s at one of the Top 12 European Universities as per the YMMF European University Ranking
- accepted to study Bachelor’s at one of the Top 25 European Universities as per the YMMF European University Ranking and have received a 70% tuition fees scholarship by the University
- accepted to study Bachelor’s at one of the Top 25 European Universities as per the YMMF European University Ranking and be the recipient of a global Olympiad award or a members of the national Olympiad team
Please note that both English and non-English Bachelor’s degrees are considered.
Why: This scholarship has been established to provide the most talented young 18 year old Armenian and Cypriot students the opportunity to develop academically at some of the best Universities in the world, mature and develop culturally living abroad and provide them with the ability to focus on key subjects that can be transformational for the two countries. Simultaneously, it aims to connect these talented young students.
Successful scholars are invited to join the YMMF Program which includes a scholarship.
Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation Administered Scholarships – Master’s Degrees
STEM Research Specialised Master’s Scholarships
The Scholarship is available for exceptional Armenian students accepted to study a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject at the top three UK Universities based on the YMMF European University Ranking, that have also been known to be the strongest in STEM subjects.
Pre-requisites:
- Students interested in progressing to a PhD and research
- Accepted at one of the three top UK STEM Universities:
- University of Cambridge
- University of Oxford
- Imperial College London
Successful scholars are invited to join the YMMF Program which includes a scholarship.
Why: The Foundation wants to improve the capabilities of Armenia in STEM Research and high education teaching in Armenia. The Foundation hopes that these students will be able to support research in Armenia and also teach the next generation of exceptional talents.
Master’s and PhD Scholarships
The Scholarship is available for exceptional Armenian and Cypriot students accepted at one of the top 10 Universities based on the YMMF European University Ranking.
Successful scholars are invited to join the YMMF Program which includes a scholarship.
Armenian Art and Design University Scholarships
Given YMMF’s ambition to support Armenian Culture and Art, the Foundation has decided to establish a scholarship for upcoming Armenian Artists, Curators and Designers. The Scholarship is available for one exceptional Armenian Master’s and PhD students accepted at one of the universities included in the YMMF Arts and Design University Ranking. Successful scholars are invited to join the YMMF Program which includes a scholarship.
Internal YMMF Scholarships
Sona Mnatsakanyan Scholarship
The Sona Mnatsakanyan scholarship was established in 2024 in honour of Sona Mnatsakanyan, a close friend of the Charity who tragically lost her life in April 2022. The Scholarship is awarded as an additional grant to one existing YMMF Scholars every year. All female YMMF Scholars are automatically eligible for consideration for this award.
STEM Scholarship
The STEM Scholarship was established in 2024 to support one STEM student a year. The Scholarship is awarded as an additional grant to one existing YMMF Scholar every year. All STEM YMMF Scholars are automatically eligible for consideration for this award.
Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Foundation Scholarships Administered by Third Parties – Bachelor’s Degrees
University of Chichester STEM Bachelor’s Scholarship
The £6,500 scholarship is open to Armenian nationals assessed by the University of Chichester to be overseas fee-payers, who are domiciled in Armenia, and who are admitted to one of the following University of Chichester undergraduate programmes commencing September 2026.
- BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering
- BSc (Hons) Computer Science
- BA (Hons) Games Design and Development
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
More information can be found on the University of Chichester website YMMF Chichester Scholarship. This scholarship is administered by the University of Chichester.
American University of Armenia (AUA) Bachelor’s Scholarship
A Yesai and Maria Mazmanian Scholarship has been established at AUA for five students per year originating from either the Artsakh or Gyumri regions with GPAs above 3.6. Students for this scholarship will be directly approached and considered by AUA.
Application Process
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are now open – apply here.
The application deadline is Wednesday 8th of July, 23:00 BST.
Click here to see the students that are or have been a part of the YMMF Program in the past.
Disclaimer: The Foundation Trustees retain the right to provide scholarships to students accepted at other UK or international universities as they deem appropriate.
The YMMF Scholar Community
At YMMF, a scholarship is more than financial support. Our scholars become part of a long-term community built around mentorship, contribution, leadership, and shared opportunity.
YMMF scholarships typically range from £500 to £2,000 per academic year, depending on the scholarship type, level of study, and available funding.
All YMMF Scholars are expected to actively participate in the YMMF Program and contribute to the wider YMMF community throughout their studies.
The YMMF Program
The YMMF Program is designed to support scholars academically, professionally, and personally through mentorship and community engagement.
Mentorship
Each scholar is assigned a mentor within the YMMF network and is expected to meet with their mentor at least three times per academic year.
Speaker Sessions
YMMF hosts 2–3 online sessions each year featuring professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share their experiences and advice. Scholars are encouraged to attend and participate actively.
Annual Gathering
YMMF organizes an annual scholar gathering to strengthen connections across the community. Scholars are expected to attend in person where possible, or online if attendance is not feasible.
The YMMF 1% Contribution Model
Every YMMF Scholar contributes a small portion of their time, skills, and experience to support future generations of scholars and strengthen the YMMF community.
During their studies, scholars contribute in areas aligned with their interests and academic background. Contribution areas may include:
- Community & Outreach
- University Engagement
- Peer Mentorship
- Operations & Administration
- Creative & Arts Initiatives
- Technical & Innovation Support
- Scholarship Selection & Evaluation
- Legal, Policy & Governance Support
- Educational Contributions
Examples of contributions include supporting outreach initiatives, mentoring scholars, representing YMMF at universities, assisting with projects and operations, participating in candidate interviews, or contributing workshops and educational activities.
Contribution expectations are designed to remain flexible and proportionate to each scholar’s academic workload.
A Long-Term Community
YMMF Scholars are encouraged to remain active members of the YMMF community after graduation through mentorship, professional guidance, educational contributions, and support for future YMMF initiatives.
Our goal is to build a global network of scholars who continue to support and inspire future generations.