Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship Program for International Students

The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme was set up with the primary aim of giving international students the opportunity to become productive scholars and effective leaders.

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.
This programme gives priority to scholars interested in pursuing courses at the master’s level.
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.

Host School(s)

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

Field(s) of Study

The Foundation gives priority to requests for master’s level courses but may consider applications for PhD programmes where doctoral degrees are deemed 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 done annually in June or July.
The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. Applicants are encouraged to obtain funding from other sources as well so that the amount requested from the Foundation can be reduced to a minimum. Preference is given to those who have been able to secure some funding from alternative sources.
Half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, repayable at an annual service charge of 5%. A guarantor must co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period for the 50% loan is five years, beginning six months after the study period.

How many scholarships are given?

Which countries are targeted?

Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

NOTE:

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.

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 likelihood to succeed 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.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

Students may obtain application forms as of January 1^st 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 academic performance, financial situation, 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:

How do I get more information?