Deadline:
March 31, 2025
Location(s)
Canada France Portugal United States of America Worldwide
Various locations
Overview
The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme (AKF ISP) is an opportunity for outstanding scholars from selected countries*, who have no other means of financing their studies, to pursue postgraduate education. Established in 1969 by His Highness the Aga Khan, the AKF ISP has supported more than 1,000 students to date.
Award recipients are selected through a global, annual, and competitive application process. The AKF ISP offers a limited number of new awards in each cycle. The 2024-2025 award cycle is now closed. Applications for the next cycle, 2025-2026, will open in early January 2025.
Details
The 2025-26 International Scholarship Programme application cycle is open from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025. During this time period, application forms can be obtained from the Aga Khan Foundation or Aga Khan Education Board/Service office in the applicant’s country of current residence. Applicants must be nationals residing in of one of the countries listed below (see Eligibility – Geographic Scope).
NOTE: For the 2025-26 application cycle, the Foundation will not accept applications from students planning to attend universities in UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy, Norway and Ireland.
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 PhD programmes, only in the case of outstanding students who are highly recommended for doctoral studies by their professors and who need a PhD for the fulfilment of their career objectives (academic or research oriented).
Applications for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from students who have already started their course of study.
Application Procedures
The application procedures of AKF's International Scholarship Programme are decentralised. 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. They should not be sent to Geneva.
Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of entire completed applications is 31 March, although in certain countries internal deadlines may be earlier in order to process and review applications. Applicants are advised to contact the local offices for internal deadline dates and requirements as these may vary from country to country. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
INTERVIEW AND SELECTION NOTIFICATION
Applicants should be prepared to be interviewed by local Scholarship Committees about their financial situation, their academic performance, extra-curricular achievements and career plans.
The annual Scholarship Selection Meeting takes place in late June or early July and the Aga Khan Foundation notifies all students of the outcome of their application shortly thereafter.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
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*;
- demonstrate a thoughtful, reliable, multi-source funding plan that covers all years of study**;
- be admitted to a reputable postgraduate institution**;
- be starting the first year of the programme***; 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.
* Awards are provided according to need, but please consider the AKF ISP a resource of last resort and secure multiple sources of funding to reduce the amount you request. See the section Examples of Other Scholarships and Financial Assistance Programmes below for a ‘starter’ list of other sources of funding that may be of interest.
** AKF ISP gives priority to Master’s programmes but will also consider applications for PhD studies. Local/regional universities and distance learning programmes are acceptable for ISP funding, only if the quality of the course is maintained. Applications for part-time programmes and short-term courses are not considered.
*** Applicants must be entering their first year of study in a postgraduate programme. Students who have already enrolled in, or have commenced their postgraduate studies, are not eligible.
Geographic Scope
At present, the AKF ISP is available in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda. (ii) In Canada, France, Portugal and the USA, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the countries listed in point (i). (iii) AKF ISP is not available to students who wish to study in the United Kingdom.
Residency Requirement
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 (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB) offices which process applications and interview candidates.
Age Limit
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The main criteria for selecting award winners are:
- consistently excellent academic records,
- genuine financial need,
- admission to a highly reputable university or programme of study and
- 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 likelihood to succeed in a foreign academic environment. Applicants are expected to have some years of work experience in their field of interest.
Dates
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
Financial Assistance
The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. The cost of travel is not included in AKF scholarships. 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. Financial assistance is provided according to the needs of students, but the ISP must be considered a lender of last resort. Applicants are requested to make every effort 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.
Loan Conditions
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.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
