The Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme aims at supporting and encouraging excellent, outstanding students from developing countries to study, full-time postgraduate studies in prestigious higher institutions of their choice. The Aga Khan Foundation is a subsidiary agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). It uses a multifaceted approach to improve the quality of life for the most marginalized communities in selected regions of the world. This includes South and Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.
Eligibility
First, the International Scholarship Programme (ISP) is available in 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 only 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.]
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Applicant must be a citizen, residing in one of the above-mentioned countries. It is important to note this, as applications are processed locally in each country by any of these Aga Khan’s offices: Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), or Aga Khan Education Board (AKEB). They receive the applications and also interview the applicants. The various contact units are listed below this post.
The nature of the Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme is it seeks to assist applicants who have secured a part of the funding through other alternative sources. That is to say, the scholarship is not expected to cover the full funding. What occurs is that the funds required for the scholarship is sourced by the applicant externally and the balance(difference) is provided by the International Scholarship Programme (ISP). This shows that preference is given to applicants who are able to source more of the funds alternatively. The International Scholarship Programme is considered a lender of last resort.
Preference is also given to professionals under 30 years. Students who have begun their postgraduate studies or who are enrolled in part-time programmes are not considered.
Application
- Excellent academic records.
- Actual financial need: As stated above, an applicant must exhaust all other options for raising the funds required. This helps minimize the input of the International Scholarship Programme.
- Admission to a prestigious postgraduate institution of higher learning. The ISP gives first consideration to Masters applicants, although the Ph.D. programmes are granted too.
- Great professional experience, career achievements, volunteer contributions, and other personal skills.
Scholarship Award Conditions
The International Scholarship Programme (ISP) awards are planned as a half grant and half loan (i.e. 50 percent of the award sum needs to be paid back by the applicant).
Scholarships for Master’s studies are granted for the duration of the degree course. Ph.D. students, on the other hand, have their scholarships awarded for the first two years. The students are expected to find funding for the remainder period from alternative sources.
Also, note that a cumulative service charge of five percent per annum is levied on the amount of the loan. The award only covers tuition fees and living expenses for the student. It does not cover living expenses for family members or the cost of international travel.
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