International Scholarship Programme

The 2012-2013 International Scholarship Programme application cycle is now closed and applications are no longer being accepted. Applications for the 2013-14 academic year will be available starting January 2013.

Before contacting the AKDN, please read the information below. Addresses
and contact information are available under Application
Procedures. In case you are looking for information about scholarships for your further studies, this list of scholarship links may be helpful.

The AgaKhan 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 in June or July. The Foundation gives priority to requests
for Master's level courses but is also willing to consider applications
for PhD programmes, when doctoral degrees are necessary for the career objectives
of the student. Requests will also be considered for travel and study awards
for PhD students doing their research in Third World countries on topics
judged to be of interest to the AgaKhan Development Network. Applications
for short-term courses are not considered; neither are applications from
students who have already started their course of study.

Geographic Scope
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, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique,
Madagascar, France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada.

Selection Criteria
The main criteria for selecting award winners are: l) excellent academic
records, 2) genuine financial need, 3) admission to a reputable institution
of higher learning and 4) thoughtful and coherent educational and career
plans. 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.

Age Limit
Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.

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

Application Procedures
The application procedures of AKF's International Scholarship Programme
are decentralised. Students may obtain application forms as of January 1st
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. The deadline for submission of applications
is March 31, although in certain countries internal deadlines may be earlier.

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.

The annual Scholarship Selection Meeting takes place in late June or early
July and the AgaKhan Foundation notifies all students of the outcome
of their application shortly thereafter.