Programme application cycle is now closed and applications are no longer being
accepted. Applications for the 2012-13
academic year will be available starting January 2012.
Before
contacting the AKDN, please read the information below. Addresses and contact
information are available under ApplicationProcedures. In case you are looking for information about scholarships for
your further studies, this list of scholarship links may be helpful.
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 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 Aga Khan 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 Aga Khan 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
Aga Khan Foundation notifies all students of the outcome of their
application shortly thereafter.
