Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship; The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme is an initiative launched by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies. The AKDN operates in over 30 countries, aiming to improve the quality of life of communities, primarily in the developing world.

The scholarship program is designed to provide financial assistance to outstanding students from developing countries who lack the means to pursue higher education.

It aims to enable these students to access quality education at reputable institutions around the world, with a particular focus on developing leadership skills and contributing to the development of their home countries upon completion of their studies.

The program typically covers tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the course of study, and it often includes mentoring and support networks to help scholars succeed academically and professionally.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarships Programme

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. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year.

Host Institution(s)

Any reputable university or postgraduate institution of higher learning.

Field of study

The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses but is willing to consider applications for PhD programmes. Applications for short-term courses are not considered. 

Target group

Nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada*, Egypt, France*, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Portugal*, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the USA*.

*Note: in Canada, France, Portugal and the USA, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the above developing countries, are interested in development-related studies and who have no other means of financing their education.

Scholarship value/inclusions/duration:

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

Scholarships for Master’s studies are granted for the entire duration of the degree course. Funding for PhD programmes is only provided for the first two years of study, after which the students are expected to find alternative sources of assistance.

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.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for an AKF ISP award, you must:

• • have excellent academic records;
• • hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training/professional experience;
• • demonstrate genuine financial need**;
• • construct a thoughtful, reliable, multi-source funding plan**;
• • be admitted to a reputable postgraduate institution***; and
• • have strong leadership potential, professional experience, extracurricular and/or entrepreneurial achievements, and volunteer contributions.

Note: preference is given to young professionals under 30 years of age.

How To Apply For Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

Application instructions:

Applicants are advised to contact the local offices for internal deadline dates and requirements as these may vary from country to country. Completed applications should be returned to the agency from which the form was obtained. They should not be sent to Geneva.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website:  https://www.akdn.org/our-agencies/aga-khan-foundation/international-scholarship-programme.

The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme is highly competitive, and candidates are selected based on their academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to community development.

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