Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program

Country: Multiple countries 

Type: Fully funded 

Details

The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies, in order to develop effective scholars and leaders and to prepare them for employment, primarily within the AKDN.  Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year in June or July.  The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master's level courses but is willing to consider applications for Ph.D. programs, only in the case of outstanding students who are highly recommended for doctoral studies by their professors and who need a Ph.D. for the fulfillment of their career objectives.

Eligibility

• Students of the following countries: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
• The Foundation only accepts applications of eligible nationals listed above who are residing in one of the countries where there are local Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan Education Services, or Aga Khan Education Board offices which process applications and interview candidates.
• students under 30 years of age are preferred.
• candidate should demonstrate consistently excellent academic records.
• candidate has genuine financial need,
• Relevance of the field of study to AKDN’s focus areas.  
• Candidates are also evaluated on demonstrating thoughtful and coherent educational and career plans, their extra-curricular interests and achievements, potential to achieve their goals and the likelihood to succeed in a foreign academic environment.  Applicants are expected to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.

Scholarship Assistance 

The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only.  The cost of travel is not included in AKF scholarships.

Loan condition

Half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which 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.

Application Procedure and deadline

Students may obtain application forms as of 1st  January 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.

and The deadline for submission of entire completed applications is 31 March.

Official Link