Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program

The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Program was set up with the primary aim of giving international students the opportunity to become productive scholars and effective leaders.
This program gives priority to scholars interested in pursuing courses at the Master’s level.

Scholarship Overview

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies.

Host School(s)

Any university around the world, apart from schools in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Norway, The Netherlands, Ireland, and Italy.

Field(s) of Study

The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses but is also willing to consider applications for PhD programs, where doctoral degrees are necessary for the career objectives of the student.

What does the scholarship cover?

Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant – 50% loan basis through a competitive application process. This process is done once a year in June or July.
The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only and does not cover travel costs. Applicants are required to obtain funding from other sources as well so that the amount requested from the Foundation can be reduced to a minimum. Preference is usually given to those who have been able to secure some funding from alternative sources.
Half of the scholarship amount is disbursed as a loan and must be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%. A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period is five years, starting six months after the study period funded by the Aga Khan Foundation.

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

The Foundation accepts applications from countries where it has branches, affiliates or other AKDN agencies, which can help with processing applications and interviewing applicants.
At present, these are Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
Applications are also accepted from individuals who currently reside in France, Portugal, UK, USA, and Canada but are originally from one of the developing countries listed above. Applicants must also have a desire to pursue development-related studies while being able to prove that they have no other means of financing their education.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

The main criteria for selecting award winners are:

In addition;

Candidates are also evaluated on their extra-curricular interests and achievements, potential to achieve their goals and their likelihood of succeeding in a foreign academic environment.
Applicants are expected to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
Candidates should demonstrate thoughtful and coherent career and educational plans.
Candidates should also be residing in one of the countries where there are local Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) offices which process applications and interview candidates.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

The application procedures of AKF’s International Scholarship Program are decentralized.
Students may obtain application forms as of January 1 each year from AKF offices or Aga Khan Education Services / Boards in their countries of current residence.
Completed applications should be returned to the agency from which the form was obtained, or to the address indicated on the front of the form. They should not be sent to Geneva.
Applicants should be prepared to be interviewed by local Scholarship Committees about their financial situation, their academic performance, extra-curricular achievements, and career plans. Interview reports are sent with the applications to Geneva for the final selection.
Incomplete or overdue applications will not be accepted.

Closing Date

The deadline for submission of applications is March 31, 2020.
Note that in certain countries internal deadlines may be earlier. Contact the local AKF or AKES offices to get information on deadline dates and requirements, as these vary depending on the country in question.

How do I get more information?